The Thunderer

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John Philip Sousa's "The Thunderer", performed in 1896 by the United States Marine Band

The Thunderer

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Performed in 2007 by the United States Army Band

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"The Thunderer" is a march composed by John Philip Sousa in 1889.^[1] The origin of the name is not officially known, though it is speculated that it gets its name from the "pyrotechnic [effects] of the drum and bugle in [the] score."^[2] It is also one of Sousa's most famous and is one of the more difficult compositions to perform.^[2]

The music[]

The piece is in much the same manner as most of Sousa's music; however, it is one of his first "distinctly American-sounding marches."^[2] The march follows the standard form (IAABBCDCDC) that is used in many of his other works. As is common, his themes are contrasting. During the repeat of the B section, Sousa introduces new countermelodic ideas. The trio is songlike. There is a ritardando leading into the repeat of the final theme, segueing to the piece's conclusion.^[2]

Appearances[]

"The Thunderer" was the election theme for ABC News from 1968 to 1972.^{[citation needed]} The song is also used in the Columbo episode Make Me a Perfect Murder,^{[citation needed]} as well as being the main theme from the 1975 movie Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze. The song is also used in Regimental Reviews at the United States Coast Guard Academy. Beginning in 1954 and for several years thereafter, the song was used by The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Montreal television station CBMT channel 6 as its sign-on intro following the Indian Head test pattern. It was also used in the opening and closing credits of the 1953 film Houdini starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.

References[]

^ "The Works of John Philip Sousa". John Philip Sousa - American Conductor, Composer & Patriot. Dallas Wind Symphony. Archived from the original on September 8, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "The Thunderer, march for band". Answers.com. Retrieved November 21, 2008.

This article about a classical composition is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

[dws-1] "The Works of John Philip Sousa". John Philip Sousa - American Conductor, Composer & Patriot. Dallas Wind Symphony. Archived from the original on September 8, 2007. Retrieved September 10, 2007.

[answers-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d "The Thunderer, march for band". Answers.com. Retrieved November 21, 2008.

[1]

[2]

hide v t John Philip Sousa
Musical compositions	"Anchor and Star" "Columbia's Pride" "The Fairest of the Fair" "The Gallant Seventh" "The Gladiator March" "Hands Across the Sea" "High School Cadets" "Kansas Wildcats" "King Cotton" "The Liberty Bell" "Manhattan Beach" "Minnesota March" "The Royal Welch Fusiliers" "Semper Fidelis" "The Stars and Stripes Forever" "The Thunderer" "Transit of Venus March" "U.S. Field Artillery March" "The Washington Post"
Operettas	Chris and the Wonderful Lamp Désirée El Capitan The Charlatan
Other performing arts	"The Army Goes Rolling Along" Stars and Stripes Stars and Stripes Forever
Other	List of compositions by John Philip Sousa List of marches composed by John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa House United States Marine Band
Honoraria	Armed Forces March Competition John Philip Sousa Bridge John Philip Sousa Foundation John Philip Sousa Junior High School (Bronx) John Philip Sousa Junior High School

The Thunderer

Contents

The music[]

Appearances[]

See also[]

References[]