“Ben Bolt” (1888)

Public acceptance of the Sousa marches which were entirely of his own creation was almost always greater than those in which he incorporated melodies of others. “Ben Bolt,” which was constructed around a popular song of the same name, is practically unknown today. It included several songs of the day: “The Daisy,” “Go Down Moses,” “Sally in Our Alley,” “O Fair Dove, O Fond Dove,” and “Ben Bolt” (“Sweet Alice Ben Bolt”).

Paul E. Bierley, The Works of John Philip Sousa (Westerville, Ohio: Integrity Press, 1984), 42. Used by permission.