The Loyal Legion March: Concert Band, Ensemble Works, Full Score (LUDWIGMASTERS)

$12.00 USD

The Loyal Legion March: Concert Band, Ensemble Works, Full Score (LUDWIGMASTERS)

Name: The Loyal Legion March: Concert Band, Ensemble Works, Full Score (LUDWIGMASTERS)
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 36-50105202
Price: 12.00 USD
Availability: InStock

By John Philip Sousa, ed. Loras John Schissel

Grade: 3

Item: 36-50105202

$12.00

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Enjoyable and very playable, this stellar march is yet another example of Sousa's complete mastery of the style. "The Loyal Legion" was written to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, an organization composed primarily of American Civil War officers and their descendants. The anniversary celebration was held in Philadelphia on April 15 and 16, 1890, and the U.S. Marine Band was ordered by the Secretary of the Navy to participate. The march was originally an entr'acte to the Sousa opera "The Queen of Hearts," composed in 1885. The work is now available in a superb edition by Sousa scholar Loras John Schissel, which is exclusively endorsed by John Philip Sousa IV.

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Series: Heritage of the Concert Band Series - LudwigMasters

Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.

ISBN10: 1-68-296346-2

ISBN13: 978-1-68-296346-3

UPC: 654690453761

SKU: 36-50105202

Instrumentation: Concert Band

More about this title

About the Composer: John Philip Sousa

John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) defined the American march. As composer, conductor, and bandmaster of the U.S. Marine Band from 1880 to 1892, he elevated concert band music to an art form that rivaled orchestral repertoire. His marches remain the gold standard for pedagogical excellence: they demand precision and musicianship while remaining accessible to intermediate ensembles.

Sousa's marches are built on principles that music teachers still use today. Clear phrasing, memorable melodies, strategic dynamic contrast, and orchestration that balances all sections create a template for how ensemble music should sound. His works teach students what good ensemble playing actually means.

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Why we love this

Sousa's marches are endlessly rewarding to teach because they sound impressive at Grade 3 without requiring superhuman technique. This Loras John Schissel edition, endorsed by Sousa's own family, gives your band an authoritative text that honors the original while remaining performance-ready. The march sits perfectly in that sweet spot where students hear themselves making genuine music.

What to expect

The Loyal Legion March radiates the purposeful dignity of a ceremonial procession. Sousa's melodies are built for projection and clarity, moving with unhurried confidence through the key sections. The trio offers a moment of lyrical warmth before the final march drives home with the kind of straightforward pride that makes audiences sit up and listen.

Who it's for

Concert bands at the Grade 3 level looking for repertoire with real historical substance and immediate musical payoff. Directors seeking a march that teaches proper ensemble balance and phrasing while building student confidence through performance success.

How to get the most out of it

Shape the melodic lines with natural breath support rather than choppy articulation; Sousa's marches sing most effectively when individual phrases breathe as a unit.
Balance the low brass in the trio section so the euphonium melody sits clearly above the tuba foundation without drowning the middle voices.
Lock the snare drum and bass drum together during the march section; crisp, unified percussion timing elevates the entire ensemble's precision.
Resist the urge to push tempo during the final strain; Sousa marches gain their swagger from solid time, not speed.

How to use it

Open a concert with this march to establish ensemble quality and focus audience attention immediately. Pair it alongside other Sousa works to build a program that celebrates American band music, or program it as a contrast to contemporary or non-traditional concert band selections. The historical context (commissioned for the Loyal Legion's 25th anniversary in 1890) makes it a natural fit for programs featuring music tied to specific occasions or commemorations.