A documentary film of the life and work of America's foremost musical interpreter of patriotism, the greatest master of the march form ever known.
The programme draws on rare archive material collected from all over the United States and features a reconstruction of the special sound and style of the famous Sousa Concert Band - the civilian showbiz outfit which Sousa conducted and with which he toured and captivated audiences around America and the world for nearly 40 years.
With the augmented Detroit Concert Band conducted by Dr Leonard Smith
and the help of Helen Sousa Abert, George Balanchine, Bill Bell, Paul Bierley, Sir Arthur Bliss, Gay Corrie, Leopold Stokowski, Lt-Col Sir Vivian Dunn, William Relton,
The Sousa Concert Band Fraternal Society and The US Marine Corps Band of which Sousa was musical director from 1880 to 1892
and with Anne Pashley (soprano), Jack Irons (tenor), pianist Sandy Blair
The voice of Sousa: Ben Lyon

A BBC/NET coproduction
(see page 14)
(Colour)