Which American composer is commonly known as the 'March King'?

• A. George Gershwin
• B. John Philip Sousa
• C. Aaron Copland
• D. Philip Glass

Answer: (B)

John Philip Sousa earned the nickname because he became the defining figure of the American marching tradition. He wrote and conducted a huge number of marches, helping shape the standard march form and making marches widely popular through performances with the U.S. Marine Band and touring. Pieces like The Stars and Stripes Forever and The Washington Post became staples in bands and parades, cementing his lasting association with marching music. The other composers are known for very different kinds of work—Gershwin for Broadway and jazz-influenced concert pieces, Copland for distinctly American orchestral works, and Glass for minimalism—so Sousa is the figure most closely linked to the title.