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Bill > HB1275
PA HB1275
PA HB1275Selecting, designating and adopting the Pennsylvania March as the official march of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
summary
Introduced
04/21/2025
04/21/2025
In Committee
04/21/2025
04/21/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Selecting, designating and adopting the Pennsylvania March as the official march of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, The march style of music has had a long history in the United States; and WHEREAS, John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" is an early example of American march music that is now an iconic part of our collective history; and WHEREAS, Currently, marches are a fixture of high school, college and university marching bands and many states across this nation have their own official march; and WHEREAS, On September 16, 2018, composer Ron DeGrandis' "Pennsylvania March" was premiered in Allentown by The Marine Band of Allentown; and WHEREAS, DeGrandis said he was inspired by this Commonwealth's diverse cities and landscapes; and WHEREAS, DeGrandis described the march as "...a tribute to honor our glorious state. It features the rhythm of the word Penn-syl-vania throughout the music to tie it together. This march is in the style of John Philip Sousa. It is played by a band and is an instrumental piece of music"; and WHEREAS, Prior to this composition, the Commonwealth has never had a tune in the traditional American march genre.
AI Summary
This bill designates "The Pennsylvania March" by composer Ron DeGrandis as the official march of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The legislation establishes the musical piece as a state symbol, recognizing its connection to Pennsylvania's diverse cities and landscapes and its composition in the traditional American march style pioneered by John Philip Sousa. The bill requires the Legislative Reference Bureau to publish the composition's details in the Pennsylvania Bulletin within 30 days of the act taking effect, and the march will become the state's first official tune in the march genre. The bill is short and straightforward, with an immediate effective date, and aims to honor the state through this musical recognition. Notably, the march was first premiered in Allentown on September 16, 2018, by the Marine Band of Allentown, and the composer intentionally incorporated the rhythmic sound of "Penn-syl-vania" throughout the musical piece to create a distinctive state-specific composition.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Tourism, Recreation & Economic Development (on 04/21/2025)
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