On June 14th, 1777, congress passed a resolution that “… the flag of the thirteen United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.”

What else could we possibly listen to on this day, except The Stars and Stripes Forever, by John Philip Sousa?

Fun fact (at least for me) – this piece was premiered in the city where I live, not one mile from my house!

It’s crass, it’s low-brow, but yes, I said it.

Julius Fučík is known as the “Bohemian Sousa”. Like Sousa, he was a military band conductor and composer, and wrote prolifically. While many of his marches remain popular in Europe, the only march of his Americans really know is the Entrance of the Gladiators. Fučík wrote the piece with ancient Roman gladiators in mind, but unfortunately, it quickly became so strongly associated with circus clowns that it’s nearly impossible for us Americans to hear it without thinking of dancing elephants.

So whenever a certain clown makes a fool of himself and the nation he represents, just shout “Fučík!” at the top of your lungs, play this piece, and hope we all survive the next four years.

Joking aside, this march has a really cool trio section, starting at 1:25.

Lots of kids want to grow up to be president. Then one day, they realize that being president is probably the worst job ever. The second you’re elected, you’re hated,  despised, and abhorred by millions of people. Then, if anything bad happens – anything – in the next four years, it’s all your fault.***

So I will salute those people who held this very difficult office with a march by John Philip Sousa – “The Gladiator“, because of the bloody arena of politics and the wounds and stress that come with having this job.

An interesting side note – Before writing this, Sousa had only written a few marches, and these were unpopular. He was actually pursuing a compositional career in operettas – light operas that were the precursor to the modern musical. “The Gladiator” became a huge hit and within ten years, he had written all his best-known marches; his place as the master-of-marches was established.

***And for the record, if a meteor carrying zombie ninja Nazi dinosaurs armed with laser crossbows and death rays fell to earth and conquered humankind, it’s all Obama’s fault!