The Thunderer
Dedicated to Columbia Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar, Washington D.C., The Thunderer was written in 1889, three years after Sousa was ‘knighted' in the organization.
The Thunderer was Sousa's wife's favorite march, and was chosen by Sousa as one of five to be featured by his Great Lakes Naval Training Station Band on their tour on behalf of the American Red Cross during World War I.
At the time this march was written, Sousa was 35 years of age. He had led the Marine Band for nine years and was considered an outstanding conductor and composer. However, he was still naive in many business matters. Before he changed publishers in 1892 and began to make his own business arrangements, he sold many of his most popular marches, including The Thunderer, for $35 each.