Paul G Young Ph D

El Capitan March Paul G Young Ph D

El Capitan March is a Sousa favorite, enjoying exceptional popularity since it first appeared in 1896. It was extracted from Sousa's operetta, El Capitan. In that operetta, "El Capitan" was the comical and cowardly Don Medigua, the early seventeenth-century viceroy of Peru. The march was played on the warship Olympia as it sailed out of Mirs Bay on the way to attack Manila during the Spanish-American War. Programming this arrangement would be an ideal way to feature the trombone or low brass section of your high school band. It is arranged for a trombone or low brass ensemble of 6 parts. Those parts could be doubled as needed between trombones, baritones, and tubas. Playing in the keys of F and Bb major (range extends to high G) will present minimal challenges. Performing in 6/8 time can be somewhat demanding, but the arrangement is very playable and provides young musicians an excellent, collaborative learning opportunity as they learn the constructs of an important genre of American music. El Capitan is a spirited, vibrant, rousing march. Audiences will love it. So will you!