Liberty Bell March

Sourced context

John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era. Although primarily known for American military marches, he also wrote operettas, which are relatively lesser-known and less performed. They show influences from Gilbert and Sullivan, including short recitatives and chorus finales. According to author Paul E. Bierley, Sousa's operettas displayed a "high standard of morality". Libretti for most of the operettas were written by various prominent as well as less experienced librettists, except for The Wolf and The Bride Elect, which were written by Sousa himself. Several famous stage personalities, including DeWolf Hopper, starred in the operettas.