—John Philip Sousa (1854–1932)
This three-movement suite depicts the three major races who occupied
the Western World: first, American Indians; then, white settlers from
Western Europe; and finally, the great energy of the African population
who followed. Each are represented by music that would have been
thought to be characteristic in 1910. "The White Man" music depicts the
settling and building of America. It is crowned with a grand symphonic
setting of Sousa's religious anthem “Oh thou American, Messiah of Nations.”
The suite was composed in anticipation of Sousa's celebrated
year-long 1911 round-the-world tour, and was well received in each
country where the band visited. (Source: Keith Brion)
