Hands Across the Sea

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Title page from 1899
Hands Across the Sea , played by the United States Navy Band , 2003
Hands Across the Sea , played by the US Naval Academy band, 1977

Hands Across the Sea ( German  "A handshake across the sea" ) is the title of an American military march , the John Philip Sousa in 1899 composed.

history

Sousa composed the march in 1899. About the history of the march he said in March 1918:

“After the war against Spain there was this war against us concerning different positions in Europe . While some states felt that we had no authority to intervene, others felt that our cause was honest. One evening in a play (by Frere ) I read the following line: 'A sudden thought struck me - let's swear friendship forever.' This quote brought me straight to the title 'Hands Across The Sea' for this composition and within just a few weeks the now famous march was a fact. "

When it premiered in 1899 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia , the audience was so enthusiastic that it was repeated three times . The play is dedicated to "no particular nation, but all friends of America in the distance".

composition

The march is in F and B major and is described as patriotic and idealistic .

One reviewer describes the work as follows:

“Hands Across the Sea opens with a jaunty, carefree theme, the wind sonorities light and generally in their middle and upper ranges. An equally attractive march appears midway through, its manner initially mellow and nonchalant. It gradually turns more animated and colorful, the piccolo dancing merrily above suave wind sonorities. The work closes with this spirited theme playing proudly, the brass flamboyant, the cymbals crashing, and the whole brimming with festivity and vivid color. "

“ Hands Across the Sea begins with a happy, carefree topic that is presented in the middle and higher range. Halfway there is an equally appealing march, initially soft and carefree. It gradually becomes livelier, the piccolo dances happily over the gentle sounds of brass music. The work ends with the courageous theme, which is proudly played by radiant brass instruments and crashing cymbals, everything is full of festivity and joy. "

Web links

Commons : Hands Across the Sea  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ The Works of John Philip Sousa. Dallas Wind Symphony, archived from the original on September 8, 2007 ; accessed on November 12, 2017 (English).
  2. ↑ Hands Across the Sea . rundel.de; accessed on November 12, 2017.
  3. ^ Music: A Monthly Magazine. Volume 16. Verlag WSB Mathews, 1899, p. 231 (English) “A sudden thought strikes me; let us swear eternal friendship ”, Text Archive - Internet Archive .
  4. ↑ American Bandmasters Association: Journal of Band Research. Vol. 38-39, 2002. p. 54 (English).
  5. ^ Paul E. Bierley: The Works of John Philip Sousa. Integrity Press, 1984. ISBN 0-918048-04-4 , p. 60 (English).
  6. ↑ a b Chris Woodstra, Gerald Brennan, Allen Schrott (Eds.): All Music Guide to Classical Music. The Definitive Guide to Classical Music. Blackbeat, San Francisco 2005, ISBN 0-87930-865-6 , p. 1295 (English).