12 March 1930

Sousa, John Philip, 1854-1932

Typed letter signed

Title: to John W. Hughes

Sousa writes to Hughes remarking that the only way of judging music is whether or not it has beauty. He discusses differences between composers of the "olden days" and those of today. Sousa believes inspiration for writing music comes from something above oneself, and that contemporary compositions written from knowledge of harmonic structure alone lack the quality of inspiration.

GLC05508.231