James Reese Europe

Clef Club March

James Reese Europe (1881-1919) was an influential New York bandleader and composer during the first two decades of the 20th century. He first came to prominence as one of the founders of The Clef Club, an organization that provided musical support and performance opportunities for the city's Black musicians. Europe later commanded the U.S. Army regiment during World War I, and was decorated for bravery for his service on the Western Front. While Clef Club March was originally published in several different arrangements, all but a handful of orchestral parts have been lost to history. This arrangement provides the rare opportunity for string players to perform an outstanding march by this historically important American composer.