"The Thunderer" is among the early set of marches Sousa sold outright to the Philadelphia publisher, Harry Coleman, for thirty-five dollars apiece. Its unusual second strain, music taken from Sousa's "The Trumpet and Drum," introduces the trumpet tune, "Here's to your Health, Sir," above and below which he weaves fascinating conter-tunes for clarinets and trombones. The broad and contrasting music that follows is well-known Sousa.