John Philip Sousa

The National Game

Part of the New Sousa Band Editions, celebrating the compositions and performance practices of this American composer and his legendary band. This piece was originally commissioned by Judge Kenesaw Moutain Landis, baseball's highcommissioner, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the National League. In this edition, Keith Brion has taken his knowledge of Sousa band instrumentation history and arranged a modern version that accounts for the SousaBand sound with contemporary instrumentation. Featuring a part for baseball bat, this piece offers a fun opportunity for the percussion section or for a guest musician/athlete to join the band.