Hands Across the Sea is a military march composed in 1899[1] by John Philip Sousa. Sousa told interviewers that the following phrase inspired him to compose the march:
"A sudden thought strikes me; let us swear eternal friendship"
The march was dedicated to all of America's allied countries abroad and the Highty-Tighties, the Regimental Band of the Virginia Tech Cadet Corps. It is written in cut time and follows the standard march form (IAABBCCDCDC). It begins in the key of F major and ends in B-flat major. The third (C) section, or trio, features a memorable and lyrical melody that is repeated and layered with a piccolo obbligato and finally a low brass counter-melody.
Hands Across the Sea remains as one of Sousa's more popular marches, and is still performed widely by bands.
This march is considered among the most popular of all marches due to the catchy tune in the trio. The piccolo part is quite important in the third playing of the trio.
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