Military marches

Nothing says a parade like military marches, and these lively, 120-steps-per-minute pieces have a proud tradition dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States.

John Philip Sousa

The king of march music was undoubtedly John Philip Sousa, who wrote more than 130 marches in his lifetime, most notably “Stars and Stripes Forever”, “Semper Fidelis”, “The Washington Post”, and “The Thunderer”.

These pieces gained popularity throughout towns and community bands of a bye-gone era, performing at special music events and traditional concerts in gazebos on the town square.

But the elite bands that are more closely associated with military marches belong to the service branches of the United States Armed Forces. These premier bands, comprised by some of the most accomplished musicians in the world, are the U.S. Marine Band, the U.S. Navy Band, the U.S. Army Band, the U.S. Air Force Band, and the U.S. Coast Guard Band. Most perform ceremonial and entertainment events in the Washington, D.C., area, and also travel the U.S. for concert tours.

Listen to these elite service bands play these signature pieces by clicking the audio buttons below. Enjoy!