Sheet Music: The Washington Post

TitleThe Washington Post
ComposerJohn Philip Sousa (1854–1932)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyG major
RangeD4–G6
Time signature6/8
Tempo120 BPM
Performance time2:35
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (61 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (1.2 MB)
Date added2010-04-26
Last updated2010-04-26
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 1.5 (average)
Categories
Marches, Patriotic

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Monday 26 April 2010

Tune of the Day: The Washington Post

by John Philip Sousa

This march has been among Sousa's most popular for years, considered by many his best known after Stars and Stripes Forever. It still stands as one of Sousa's most played works, and is performed widely by concert and marching bands alike; it is considered to be an essential piece for band literature.

The Washington Post newspaper claims in its history that this march was written as a tribute to the newspaper and performed by Sousa and his band in 1899. However, the work dates to 1889; moreover, The Washington Post in the march's title referred to the Marine contingent posted in the nation's capital at the time, not to the newspaper. It is true that Sousa performed the march at ceremonies held in 1899 by the newspaper, and the work's title was obviously fitting for the occasion.