John Philip Sousa, known affectionately as “The March King”, personified turn-of-the-century America, the comparative innocence and brash energy of a still new nation. His ever-touring band represented America across the globe and brought music to hundreds of American towns. This Naxos series of recordings aims to record Sousa’s complete works for wind band, including the 136 marches and numerous other scores. This sixth disc in the series includes The Golden Star, a funeral march dedicated to Mrs Theodore Roosevelt ‘in memory of the brave who gave their lives that liberty shall not perish’, The Federal, composed for Sousa’s 1911 world tour, and The Gladiator, which quickly achieved widespread popularity. The Liberty Bell has achieved popular status as the signature tune for the BBC comedy Monty Python’s Flying Circus.