Marshall's Civic Band

Two complete sets of parts.  One set was donated to Marshall's Band by Scott 
Bradley, director of the Onaga, KS High School Band. 
 
Composed in 1899. "When played for the first time by Sousa's Band in 
Philadelphia's Academy of Music on April 21, 1899, 'many feet were beating a 
tattoo.' The band was obliged to repeat it three times. 'Hands Across the Sea' 
was off to a good start, and it has since remained a standard in band 
literature. 
    "The march was addressed to no particular nation, but to all of America's 
friends abroad. It has been suggested that Sousa was inspired by an incident in 
the Spanish-American War, in which Captain Chichester of the British Navy came 
to the support of Admiral Dewey at Manila Bay. A second (and more likely) source 
is a line by Frere, which was printed on the front cover of the sheet music: 'A 
sudden thought strikes me - let us swear an eternal friendship.' 
    "The line by Frere apparently appeared in a play which Sousa read. In 
answering questions sent to him while serving in the navy, he gave this account 
in the 'Great Lakes Recruit' of March, 1918: 
    "After the Spanish war there was some feeling in Europe anent our republic 
regarding this war. Some of the nations...thought we were not justified while 
others gave us credit for the honesty of our purpose. One night I was reading an 
old play and I came across this line, 'A sudden thought strikes me, - let us 
swear an eternal friendship.' That almost immediately suggested the title 'Hands 
Across the Sea' for that composition and within a few weeks that now famous 
march became a living fact.'" 
 
The Works of John Philip Sousa 
pg. 60 
Paul E. Bierley 
Integrity Press 
1984