Good-Bye

A Lost Humoresque by Sousa which exhibits each section of the band in a soloistic manner. These works were never published and held in reserve for the Sousa Band to show off its talent. Described in a vintage Sousa program this humoresque folds out: "The members of the band, having taken umbrage at a sharp criticism of their leader, conclude to rebel. The oboe initiates the revolt by rising in his place, playing I'm Going Back to Dixie, and leaving the stage. The others follow in pairs, trios, quartettes, etc. each playing a familiar good bye or farewell song. Finding, after all the fuss, that the leader remains perfectly calm and unconcerned and recalling also that pay-day comes on the morrow, they all suddenly and precipitately march back to their duty, playing, as an index of their repentance, the emotional old song Annie Laurie."