Sousa wrote this march for his band's performance at the Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, NY, in 1901. Soon after its premiere, Sousa described the conviction and spirit, which compelled him to compose this march, noting, "It is what I call one of my sunshine marches. Some of my heavy marches are intended to convey the impression of the stir and strife of warfare, but The Invincible Eagle shows the military spirit at its lightest and brightest – the parade spirit . . . with the bravery of uniform, the sheen of silken stands, and the gleam of polished steel." --James Huff 23:21, March 28, 2007 (EDT) (from the program notes of The Claremont Winds, submitted with permission)