Sheet Music: Semper Fidelis

TitleSemper Fidelis
ComposerJohn Philip Sousa (1854–1932)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyC major
RangeG4–G6
Time signature6/8
Tempo120 BPM
Performance time2:00
Difficulty levelintermediate
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (65 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (972 kB)
Date added2010-09-23
Last updated2010-09-23
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 0.9 (average)
Categories
Marches, Patriotic

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Thursday 23 September 2010

Tune of the Day: Semper Fidelis

by John Philip Sousa, arranged for solo Flute

It was with “Semper Fidelis” that John Philip Sousa had his first runaway hit, in the process creating what is arguably the prototype for the great American march. Sousa wrote the march in 1888, in response to a request by President Chester A. Arthur for something more appropriate than “Hail to the Chief” for use at official functions. Unfortunately, Arthur died without ever hearing “Semper Fidelis”.

Sousa considered this to be his “most musical” march, and it became the official march of the U.S. Marine Corps, whose motto “Semper Fidelis” is Latin for “Ever Faithful”.