Bearkat writes “Article from the Springfield (Missouri) News-Leader
“For years, the world’s largest archive of original compositions and arrangements by John Philip Sousa — more than four tons of it — was stuffed into file drawers and cabinets, accessible to only to a privileged few. Now, with the 150th anniversary of Sousa’s birth today, University of Illinois curator Scott Schwartz is bringing the personal papers, music and other memorabilia from American’s best-known bandmaster out of the dark for a monthlong Sousa Sesquicentennial Celebration.”
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Spirit of U of I
I had no idea how cool being a U of I alum would be! Sousa has always been a favored composer for high school and university bands, nationwide, just because of his marches. Now, musicians will be able to perform and critique his other works thanks to these preservation efforts. Way to go Illini!