Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (march)

{{Infobox musical composition

| name = "Nobles of the Mystic Shrine"

| type = March

| composer = John Philip Sousa

| image = John Philip Sousa, 6-8-23 LOC npcc.08831 (cropped).tif

| alt = Refer to the caption

| image_caption = Sousa at the Shriners' National Convention, June 7, 1923

| form = March

| composed = 1923

| dedication = Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine

| duration = 3 minutes 30 seconds

| premiere_date = June 1923

| premiere_location = Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C.

| misc = {{Audio sample

|file=Sousa's "Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" - United States Marine Band (2020).mp3

|description="Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" as performed by the United States Marine Band.

}}

"Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" is a march composed by John Philip Sousa upon the request of his nephew, A. R. Varela. Sousa dedicated the march to the Almas Temple and the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. It was first conducted in June 1923, with a band of around 6,200 members—the largest Sousa had ever conducted. It is one of the few Sousa marches with the first strain written in the minor mode. Contemporary versions of the march recorded by the Ottoman military band also use the Jingling Johnny in the final strain.

Background

John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor. He served as the director of the United States Marine Band from 1880 to 1892. During his tenure, he was popularly referred to as the "March King".{{Cite web|last=Allsen|first=J. Michael|date=2000|orig-date=1999|title=Sousa, John Philip|url=https://www.anb.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-1801080|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|access-date=January 14, 2022|website=American National Biography|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/anb/9780198606697.article.1801080|isbn=978-0-19-860669-7|archive-date=November 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106175549/https://www.anb.org/view/10.1093/anb/9780198606697.001.0001/anb-9780198606697-e-1801080}} In 1881, Sousa became a Freemason{{Cite magazine|last=White|first=John|date=2009|title=Sousa's March of Greatness|magazine=The New American|volume=25|issue=18|issn=0885-6540}}Freemasonry and on November 18 the same year, he was raised to a third-degree mason.{{Rp|page=65}} After leaving the marine band, Sousa started his own band, which he later called "Sousa's Band".{{Cite book|last=Bierley|first=Paul E.|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780252031472?view=theater|title=The Incredible Band of John Philip Sousa|publisher=University of Illinois Press|year=2006|isbn=978-0-252-03147-2|lccn=2006011277|ol=9859624M|access-date=January 14, 2021|url-access=registration}}{{Rp|page=17}} In April 1922, Sousa became a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (AAONMS). He was soon named their first honorary director.{{Cite web|title='Nobles of the Mystic Shrine' (1923)|url=https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Audio-Resources/The-Complete-Marches-of-John-Philip-Sousa/Nobles-of-the-Mystic-Shrine/|url-status=live|access-date=January 14, 2022|publisher=United States Marine Band|archive-date=June 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611152720/https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Audio-Resources/The-Complete-Marches-of-John-Philip-Sousa/Nobles-of-the-Mystic-Shrine/}}{{Cite book|last=Bierley|first=Paul E|url=https://archive.org/details/worksofjohnphili00bier/mode/2up|title=The Works of John Philip Sousa|publisher=Integrity Press|year=1984|isbn=978-0-918048-04-2|lccn=84080665|ol=2876313M|access-date=January 14, 2021|url-access=registration}}{{Rp|page=74}}

Composition and analysis

On the request of his nephew, A. R. Varela, Sousa composed a march titled "Nobles of the Mystic Shrine". According to author Paul E. Bierley, "The new march saluted Shriners", but was specifically dedicated to the Almas Temple and the AAONMS.{{Rp|page=74}}

"Nobles of the Mystic Shrine" is one of the few of Sousa's marches in which the introduction and the first strain is written in the minor mode. The march is approximately 3 minutes 30 seconds long.{{Cite web|last=Ladd|first=Adam Richard|date=2014|title=An Examination of Works for Wind Band and Brass Ensemble: Toccata for a Band by Frank Erickson, Mutations from Bach by Samuel Barber, and Nobles of the Mystic Shrine by John Philip Sousa|url=http://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2097/17574/AdamLadd2014.pdf?sequence=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113175914/https://krex.k-state.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/2097/17574/AdamLadd2014.pdf?sequence=1|archive-date=January 13, 2022|access-date=January 14, 2021|publisher=Kansas State University}}{{Rp|pages=64–66}} The introduction begins in a minor key, which drops to mezzo-forte during the first strain. According to the Marine Band, Sousa added triangles to the first strain to "reinforce the mystical theme of the march".{{Cite web|date=2020|title=Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (score)|url=https://www.marineband.marines.mil/Portals/175/Docs/Audio/Complete%20Marches%20of%20JPS/Volume%206/98_NoblesMysticShrine.pdf?ver=2020-04-06-121235-433|access-date=January 14, 2021|publisher=United States Marine Band}}{{Rp|page=3}} Piccolo, E♭ Clarinet, cornets, trumpets, trombones, and cymbals are tacet during most of the second strain. The trio has been referred by the Marine Band as one of Sousa's "most elegant trio melodies".{{Rp|page=3}} Bells are first played during the trio. In the break strain, all the instruments are played back with a subito fortissimo ({{serif|sff}}). A diminuendo is also added to the percussion instruments. In the final strain, all the instruments are played with a {{serif|sff}}. A Jingling Johnny bell tower is also added, which is played, according to the Marine Band, to "bring home the exotic character" of the march.{{Rp|page=3–4}}

File:Nobles of the Mystic Shrine — Piccolo introduction and first strain score.png.|alt=Refer to the caption]]

The structure of the march is:{{Rp|page=73}}{{Rp|page=3–4}}

Introduction: F major
First strain: B-flat minor
Second strain: D-flat major
Trio: G-flat major
Break strain: B-flat minor
Final strain: G-flat major

= Instrumentation =

English composer Philip Sparke made few changes to the march, and the instrumentation of his version included:{{Rp|page=65}}

;Woodwind:

: 1 piccolo

: 1 flute

: 1 oboe

: 1 E-flat clarinet

: 3 clarinets

: 1 bass clarinet

: 1 bassoon

: 1 alto saxophone

: 1 tenor saxophone

: 1 baritone saxophone

;Brass:

: 3 trumpets

: 4 horns

: 3 trombones

: 1 euphonium

: 1 tuba

Performance

The march was first conducted during the Shriners' National Convention in Washington, D.C., in June 1923. At the Griffith Stadium, Sousa conducted a band of around 6,200 members—the largest he had ever conducted.{{Cite magazine|last=Cosenza|first=Frank|date=2020|title=Nobles of the Mystic Shrine|magazine=Circus Fanfare|volume=50|issue=5|issn=1056-1463}}{{Rp|page=20}} Sousa was wearing a navy-blue uniform and a red Almas Shrine fez. He conducted the march twice before conducting "The Thunderer".{{Cite magazine|last=Dugan|first=Patrick W.|date=2018|title=The Nobles of the Mystic Shrine Bands|magazine=School Band & Orchestra|volume=21|issue=9|id={{ProQuest|2125591042}}}}{{Rp|page=45}} Various Shriners accompanied Sousa during his tours, and during the later years of Sousa's band, the majority of his members were Shriners.{{Rp|page=74}} Contemporary versions of the march by the Ottoman military band also use the Jingling Johnny with the fortissimo.{{Rp|page=20}}

References

External links

Official music score — via United States Marine band
{{IMSLP|work=Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Sousa, John Philip)|cname=Nobles of the Mystic Shrine}}
{{Commons-inline|Category:The Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (march)|Nobles of the Mystic Shrine}}

Category:1923 compositions

Category:Sousa marches

Category:American military marches

Category:Concert band pieces

Category:Shriners