America's "March King," John Philip Sousa, used this silver-tipped baton to conduct his world-famous band. A masterful composer of music to get people moving, Sousa also popularized classical music, first as leader of the U.S. Marine Band and then touring with his own Sousa Band. His stirring military marches, including "The Stars and Stripes Forever," expressed the nationalistic spirit of their times, but they have also gained an enduring appeal as part of the country's patriotic repertoire.
This baton was made by an unknown maker in the United States, from 1878 to 1882, and sold by the J. Howard Foote Company in New York and Chicago. It is made of rosewood.
John Howard Foote (1833-1896) was a musical instrument dealer with shops in New York City and Chicago. This item listed in an 1880 J. Howard Foote catalog, sold as a Modèle de la Conservatoire baton (#6946) for $0.60.
This baton was made by an unknown maker in the United States, from 1878 to 1882, and sold by the J. Howard Foote Company in New York and Chicago. It is made of tulip-wood.
John Howard Foote (1833-1896) was a musical instrument dealer with shops in New York City and Chicago. This item listed in an 1880 J. Howard Foote catalog, sold as a Modèle de la Conservatoire baton (#6947) for $0.70.
This baton was made by an unknown maker in the United States, from 1878 to 1882, and sold by the J. Howard Foote Company in New York and Chicago. It is made of white holly.
John Howard Foote (1833-1896) was a musical instrument dealer with shops in New York City and Chicago. This item listed in an 1880 J. Howard Foote catalog, sold as a Modèle de la Conservatoire baton (#6945) for $0.50.
This baton was made by an unknown maker, provenance and date unknown. It is a white plastic stick with a cork handle. There is illegible green printing (handwriting?) on the cork.
This baton was previously owned and used by William Russo (1928-2003), American composer, arranger, musician, teacher, and founder of the Chicago Jazz Ensemble. Russo composed more than 200 pieces for jazz orchestra. Throughout his career, Russo work included collaborations with Duke Ellington, Leonard Bernstein, Seiji Ozawa, Stan Kenton, Cannonball Adderley, Yehudi Menuhin, Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Carter, Cleo Laine, and Billie Holiday.