Sousa Makes Me Feel Patriotic, How Ironic!

To pass the time better during the university holidays, the some members of the brass section of my orchestra and I have started playing brass quintets together. For some reason, an arrangement of "The Washington Post March" is among our music selections.



I can see the baton-twirlers in redwhiteandblue spandex, their sequins glimmering in the hot July sun. I see children, smelling of mosquito repellent, twirling overpriced glow-rings, and waiting for fireworks after a picnic of fried chicken and Coke. I can feel my own sunburn and my burning need to say sarcastic things about American democracy. Sousa marches make me feel patriotic.

[This is hugely ironic, of course, because Sousa marches are my absolutely most hated thing I ever had to play in a marching band. I only like the music because my brass quintet part has no rhythm.]