El Capitan - March (Brass Band) John Philip Sousa arr. Keith Wilkinson

Originally composed in 1896, El Capitan began its life as a spirited operetta that quickly gained popularity following its premiere in Boston. Drawing from the operetta's vibrant musical themes, John Philip Sousa created the now-famous march of the same name, which retains the theatrical flair of its source material. One of the march's most distinctive features is its sudden transition from 6/8 to 2/4 time midway through the piece - a reflection of Sousa's clever adaptation of operatic motifs into a compelling and unconventional march form. This brass band arrangement was specially prepared by Dr. Keith M. Wilkinson for the Brass Band of the Western Reserve's 2013 summer concert series. It is part of a broader collection of Sousa marches arranged by Wilkinson for both brass band and brass sextet, available from BrookWright Music. This work is part of the Alum Creek Music catalogue, now exclusively distributed by BrookWright Music. Difficulty Level: 4th Section + PDF download includes parts and score. Sheet music available at www.brassband.co.uk (UK) or www.cimarronmusic.com (USA) Instrumentation: Soprano Cornet Eb Solo Cornet Bb Repiano Cornet Bb 2nd Cornet Bb 3rd Cornet Bb Flugel Horn Bb Solo Horn Eb 1st Horn Eb 2nd Horn Eb 1st Baritone Bb 2nd Baritone Bb 1st Trombone Bb 2nd Trombone Bb Bass Trombone Euphonium Bb Bass Eb Bass Bb Percussion 1-3