The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-07
AMERICA WILL
LEAD WORLD
In Music Is Belief of John
Phillip Sousa.
GENIUS WILL COME
From American Musicians of
the Present Day.
GENIUS WILL
COME

America has future before her in
music said John Philip sousa TO the
Eagle last night. In fact. in twenty-five
years she viii lead the world in that line.
He ascribed that to the energy and in
Custry of the American people. The
same energy that built up the great west
win make America prominent in music,
said the composer There is plenty Of
opportunity for the development of 4
creative genius from the musicians OF to-
day and l believe that a genius will come
from them some day. Environments are
no aid u genius. The next great musi-
/ clan may come from Iceland or anywhere
| else as well as from Poland, the home of
the great pianist When a genius does
come he will be universally recognized as
such
About music distinctly American,
said he. Il believe the Foster class of
music the most American with my own
marches following The Foster music,
such as Suwanee River, is OF the type
I known as negro melodies. when rag-time
vas in popular form, it affected the sale
OF my music TO a marked exteRt. Peo-
! pie seemed to have forgotten the Sousa
music, but ROW the sale of march music
/ is as great as ever.
Wars always affect the sale of martial
music The spirit is in the people and
it must find expression in such music"
MIR Sousa wore three medals last night.
One of Palms was given him by the
French Academy of Music when he was
! elected an officer of that institution.
Another was the Victoria medal. given
him when ne was appointed a member Of
the Victoria order
The third was presented by General J.
H Wilson, in behalf OF the Marine band
of the Sixth army corps or which he is
the honorary musical director Besides
these he has twenty-seven others given
him by crowned heads and others Of note.
Those who attended the concert given
by Sousa's band last night felt that they
had not missed the musical event of the
season; that the concert was the best Of
the kind ever given in Wichita no one
doubts who heard it. Every number
called for an encore and that for another.
The audience was a very enthusiastic
one and thoroughly enjoyed every num-
Der given. The immense auditorium was
filed. The great effect of Sousa's hand
is the superb blending of the reed with
the brass instruments 10 secure the har-
monious whole. The reed instruments
were arranged on one side of the stage
and the brass instruments upon the other
side. When playing marches and band
music the brass instruments were brought
into promineEce. and when playing music
OF other nature. the reed pieces Ere
called upon.
When playing accomplishments the
brass and reed pieces were blended to
make an orchestral effect. The soloists
with the band were especially fine. Mr..
Arthur Pryor on the trombone in par
ticular. taking the house by storm. 1t
did not seem possible that such soft. ex-
quisite notes could come from any wind
! instrument until Mr.. Pryor appeared and
proved that such was true. TIE Honey
suckle and the Bees on the trombone
vas marvellous in execution and feelins.
The immense audience fell into touch