Description
King Cotton was a phrase for the crop that underpinned the economy of the American South, and Sousa used it as the title of this 1895 march, composed for the Cotton States and International Exposition held that year in Atlanta. His band also performed at the exposition.
Strain follows strain over a bouncing 6/8 rhythm, and the momentum does not flag until the change of key at the trio. It lasts about 2 minutes 28 seconds and has 2,099 notes, around fourteen per second. The range runs from A-flat 1 up to A-flat 6, so the bass spills over the bottom of a 61-key keyboard.
So many notes make this an advanced piece that needs stamina to keep the chords and octave shifts at the same quality to the end. As fatigue sets in, the second beat of 6/8 tends to grow heavy, so keep the bounce in the pulse. Work strain by strain with the A-B loop, settle the division between the hands at a reduced speed, and then play through.
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About the Composer
John Philip Sousa (1854-1932)
John Philip Sousa (1854-1932) was an American composer and bandleader known as 'The March King.' He composed numerous marches, including 'The Stars and Stripes Forever,' and played a major role in developing the American concert band tradition. This site includes ten of his works, such as 'The Liberty Bell March.'
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