Composer:	J.P. Sousa	Suppliers:
Editor:	Geoff Grainger	Sextet	A/T/T/B/B/GB(B)
Publisher:	Ditty Box Enterprises	Publication:	DBE 1328

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Purchasing information Notice for leaders/bass players
Sousa dedicated Semper Fidelis to "the officers and men of the Marine Corps" of which he himself was the director of the United States Marine Band ("The President's Own"). The title is Latin meaning always faithful and is the motto of the said corps along with countless other military unit, civic entities etc. including my own native town of Worcester (The Faithful City). Semper Fidelis went on to become the official march of the United States Marine Corps acquiring lyrics by Charles Burr. The march itself as can be gathered from the foregoing is stirring stuff indeed and this adaptation for recorder sextet is long overdue. Its form is ABBCDD with an 8-bar introduction whereby the AB- and CD-strains are written in the major keys of C and F respectively. Recorder players will particularly enjoy the tranquil C-strain whereby the rhythm section become the regimental drums, the first tenor takes the melody and the treble soars aloft with delightful grace phrases. A must in any Sousa programme!
Semper Fidelis was published by Carl Fischer Music Publisher, New York, USA.
A tempo of 180 crotchets/min. is suggested.