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Gladiator March, The (1886)
Contents
General Info
Year: 1886
Duration: c. 2:50
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Coleman
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print
For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Bass Clarinet (optional)
E-flat Alto Saxophone (optional)
B-flat Tenor Saxophone (optional)
E-flat Baritone Saxophone (optional)
E-flat Cornet (optional)
B-flat Cornet Solo-I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bells (optional)
- Crash Cymbals
- Snare Drum
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Nothing among Sousa’s memoirs reveals the identity of the “gladiator,” but the first printing of the sheet music carried a dedication to Charles F. Towle of Boston. Towle was a journalist who was editor of the Boston Traveler at the time this march was written, but the nature of his association with Sousa is not known. Sousa’s daughter Helen conjectured that her father might have been inspired by a literary account of some particular gladiator. It is unlikely that he would have dedicated a march to gladiators in general because of their ferocity and deeds of inhumanity, but perhaps one noble gladiator who had been a victim of circumstances might have been his inspiration. There has also been speculation that the march had some Masonic significance, inasmuch as it was written at the time he was “knighted” in Columbia Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar, but this lacks substantiation.
For Sousa, The Gladiator brought back both happy and unhappy memories. In 1885 he had written the dirge The Honored Dead for Stopper and Fisk, a music publisher in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. They were so pleased that they asked him to write a quickstep march. He responded with The Gladiator, but they rejected it. Their shortsightedness cost them dearly; Sousa then sold it to Harry Coleman of Philadelphia, and it eventually sold more than a million copies.
The Gladiator was the first Sousa composition to reach such wide circulation. He himself was unaware of its popularity until its strains startled him one day while in Philadelphia on business. Many years later he gave this dramatic account:
I was taking a stroll along Broad Street. At a corner a hand-organ man was grinding out a melody which, somehow, seemed strangely familiar. As I listened more intently, I was surprised to recognize it as my own ‘Gladiator’ march. I believe that was one of the proudest moments of my life, as I stood there on the street.
- Program Note from U.S. Marine Band concert program, 1 July 2016
Commercial Discography
- Audio CD: United States Marine Band - 2009
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of North Texas (Denton) Concert Band (Nicholas Enrico Williams, conductor) – 8 April 2019
Works for Winds by this Composer
- Across the Danube (1877/2015)
- America (ed. Schissel) (2013)
- America First (1916)
- America First (arr. Gore) (1916/1989)
- America First (arr. Teague) (1916/1940)
- Among My Souvenirs
- Anchor and Star (1918)
- Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company (1924)
- At the Movies (arr. Rogers) (1922)
- Atlantic City Pageant, The (1927)
- Aviators, The (arr. Gore) (1931)
- Ballet of the States. See: March of the States
- Band Came Back, The
- Beau Ideal, The (1893)
- Beau Ideal, The (arr. Bourgeois) (1893/2005)
- Beau Ideal, The (arr. Worman)
- Belle of Chicago, The (Sousa) (1892)
- Belle of Chicago, The (arr. Byrne) (1892)
- Ben Bolt (1888)
- The Black Horse Troop (1924)
- Black Horse Troop, The (ed. Fennell) (1924/1974)
- Blue Ridge! I'm Coming Back to You (1917)
- Bonnie Annie Laurie (1883)
- Bonnie Annie Laurie (ed. Foster) (1883/2014)
- Boots (1916)
- Boy Scouts of America (arr. Schissel) (1916/2008)
- The Bride Elect (1897)
- Bullets and Bayonets (1919)
- Bullets and Bayonets (arr. Fennell) (1919/1989/2005)
- Century of Progress, A (1931)
- Chantyman's March, The (1918)
- Chariot Race, The (1890)
- The Charlatan (ed. Brion) (1898/2017)
- Charlatan, The: Waltzes (ed. Rogers)
- Christmas and Sousa Forever (arr. Giroux)
- Circumnavigators Club, The (1931)
- Circus Galop from "The Irish Dragoon" (ed. Schissel) (1915/2004)
- Columbia's Pride (arr. Corrie) (1914/2018)
- Comrades of the Legion (1920)
- Comrades of the Legion (ed. Byrne) (1920/1996)
- Congress Hall (1882)
- Corcoran Cadets March, The (arr. Fennel) (1890)
- Corcoran Cadets March, The (1890) (1890)
- Crusader March, The (1888)
- Cubaland (1925)
- Daughters of Texas (1930) (1930)
- Daughters of Texas (arr. Fennell) (1929/1987)
- Dauntless Battalion, The (arr. Glover) (1922/1996)
- Diplomat March, The (1904)
- Directorate, The (1894)
- Easter Monday on the White House Lawn (arr. Gore) (1911/1928/)
- Easter Monday on the White House Lawn (arr. Rogers) (1911/1928/2000)
- El Capitan (1896)
- El Capitan (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1896/1999)
- El Capitan (ed. Fennell) (1896/1989)
- Esprit de Corps (ed. Foster) (1878/2011)
- Fairest of the Fair (1908/1951)
- The Fairest of the Fair (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1908/2000)
- Fairest of the Fair, The (ed Fennell) (ed. Fennell) (1908/1978)
- Federal, The (1910)
- Flags of Freedom (arr. Gore) (1918)
- Flashing Eyes of Andalusia, The (arr. Brion) (1920/2014)
- Foshay Tower Washington Memorial (arr. Dorff) (1929/1977)
- Free Lance March, The (1906)
- The Free Lance March (ed. Revelli) (1906/1981)
- From Maine to Oregon (1913)
- From Maine to Oregon (arr Bourgeois) (1913/2004)
- Fugue on Yankee Doodle (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1996)
- The Gallant Seventh (1922/1950)
- Gallant Seventh, The (arr. Bourgeois) (1922/2003)
- The Gallant Seventh (arr. Fennell) (1922/1971)
- George Washington Bicentennial March (1930)
- George Washington Bicentennial (1932/1966)
- George Washington Bicentennial March (ed. Fennell) (1932/2006)
- Gladiator March, The (1886/1914)
- The Gladiator March (1886)
- The Gladiator (arr. Byrne and Boyd) (1886/1994)
- Gladiator March, The (arr. Brion) (1886/2015)
- Gliding Girl, The (arr. Schissel) (1912/2008
- Globe and Eagle (1879)
- Globe and Eagle (arr. Gore) (1879)
- The Glory of the Yankee Navy (1909)
- Glory of the Yankee Navy, The (arr. Schissel) (1909/2004)
- Glory of the Yankee Navy, The (arr Fennell) (arr. Frederick Fennell) (1909/1984)
- Glory of the Yankee Navy, The (arr Gore) (arr. Gore) (1909)
- Golden Jubilee March (1928)
- Golden Jubilee March (arr. Fennell)(1928/1971/2005)
- Golden Star, The (1919)
- Good-Bye
- The Gridiron Club (1926)
- Gridiron Club, The (arr. Gore) (1926/2004)
- Guide Right (1881)
- Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (Sousa) (1900)
- Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (arr. Schissel) (1900/2010)
- Hail to the Spirit of Liberty (ed. Hunsberger) (1900/1983)
- Hands Across the Sea (1899) (1899/1927)
- Hands Across the Sea (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1899/1997)
- Hands Across the Sea (arr. Balent) (1899/2012)
- Hands Across the Sea (arr. Fennell) (1899/1982)
- Harmonica Wizard (1930)
- Her Ladyship, the Countess
- High School Cadets, The (1890)
- High School Cadets, The (arr. Foster) (1890/2005)
- High School Cadets, The (ed. Byrne) (1890/1998)
- Hip Hip Hooray. See: March of the States
- Homeward Bound (1891-1892)
- Homeward Bound (arr. Schissel) (1891?/1992/2014)
- The Honored Dead (1876)
- Humoresque on Swanee by George Gershwin (arr. Brion) (1920/1928/2003)
- Humoresque on the Theme "Look for the Silver Lining" (arr. Dvorak) (1922/1979)
- Imperial Edward March (1902)
- In Flanders Fields the Poppies Grow (1918)
- In Memoriam (Garfield's Funeral March) (1881)
- In Parlor and Street (1880)
- The International Congress (1876)
- The Invincible Eagle (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1901/1995)
- Invincible Eagle March, The (arr. Helmecke) (1901/1951)
- The Invincible Eagle (1901)
- I've Made My Plans for the Summer (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1907/1997)
- Jack Tar (arr. Hunsberger) (1903/1973)
- Jack Tar March (arr. Schissel) (1903/2016)
- Kansas Wildcats March (arr. Gore) (1931/2005)
- Keeping Step with the Union (1921)
- King Cotton (1895)
- King Cotton (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1895/2000)
- King Cotton (ed. Fennell) (1895/1983)
- La Flor de Sevilla (1929)
- La Flor de Sevilla (arr. Schissel) (1929/1951)
- La Reine de la Mer Valses (1886)
- The Lambs' March (1914)
- Last Days of Pompeii, The (arr. Rogers) (1893/1912/2010)
- Legionaires, The (1930)
- Liberty Bell, The (1893) (1893/1921)
- The Liberty Bell (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1893/2001)
- Liberty Bell, The (ed Revelli) (ed. Revelli) (1893/1982)
- Liberty Bell, The (arr. Helmecke) (1893/1951)
- Liberty Bell, The (arr. Tamura) (1893)
- Liberty Loan (1917)
- Liberty Loan (arr. Brion) (1917/2015)
- Library of Congress March, The (arr. Bulla) (1932/2003)
- The Lion Tamer. See: On Parade
- Look for the Silver Lining (1922)
- Looking Upward Suite (ed. Bourgeois) (1902/1904/1999)
- Loyal Legion March, The (1890)
- Man Behind the Gun, The (1899)
- Manhattan Beach March (adapt. Brion and Schissel) (1893/1996)
- Manhattan Beach March (arr. Balent) (1893/2015)
- Manhattan Beach March (arr. Helmecke) (1893/1951)
- Manhattan Beach March (ed. Fennell) (1893/1980)
- March of the Mitten Men (Power and Glory) (1923)
- March of the Pan Americans (1916)
- March of the Royal Trumpets (1892)
- March of the States (1915)
- A March of the States (arr. Schissel) (1915/2018)
- Marching through Georgia
- Marquette University March (1924)
- Mikado March (1885)
- Mingling of the Wets and the Drys, A
- The Minnesota March (arr. Bencriscutto) (1927)
- Minnesota March, The (arr. Fennell) (1927/1990)
- Mother Goose (1883)
- Mother Hubbard March (1885)
- Mountain and City
- National Fencibles (1888)
- National Fencibles (arr. Schissel) (1888/2013)
- National Game, The (1925)
- National Game, The (arr Brion) (arr. Brion) (1925/2005)
- Naval Reserve, The (1917)
- New Mexico (arr. Fennell) (1928/1970)
- New York Hippodrome (1915) (1915)
- New York Hippodrome (ed. Bryne) (1915/2000)
- New York Hippodrome (arr. Knoener) (1915)
- New York Hippodrome (arr. Brion) (1915/2014)
- Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (1923)
- Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (arr. Fennell) (1923/1972)
- Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (arr. Bullock) (1923/2001)
- Northern Pines, The (1931/1998)
- The Occidental (1887/1891/2016)
- Old Ironsides (arr. Lovrien and Gann) (1926/1999/2007)
- On Parade (1892)
- On the Campus (ed. Schissel) (1920/2005)
- On the Tramp (1879)
- On the Wings of Lightning (arr. Sanford) (1876/1941)
- Our Flirtation (1880)
- Overture to "Vautour" (1886)
- The Pathfinder of Panama (1915)
- The Pathfinder of Panama (arr. Brion) (1915/2016)
- The Pathfinder of Panama (arr. Schissel) (1915/2018)
- Peaches and Cream (1924)
- People Who Live in Glass Houses (arr. Bourgeois) (1909/2004)
- Pet of the Petticoats (1883)
- Phoenix March, The (1875) [lost]
- Picador, The (1889)
- Power and Glory. See: March of the Mitten Men (Power and Glory)
- Powhattan's Daughter (ed. Schissel) (1907/2013)
- President Garfield's Inauguration March (ed. Carrie) (1881)
- President Garfield's Inauguration March (arr. Gore) (1881)
- Presidential Polonaise (1886)
- Presidential Polonaise (arr. Simpson) (1886)
- The Pride of Pittsburgh (arr. Brion) (1901/2014)
- Pride of the Wolverines, The (1926)
- The Pride of the Wolverines (ed. Fennell) (1926/2006)
- Prince Charming (1928)
- Processional (ed. Bourgeois) (1918/2006)
- Quilting Party March, The (1889)
- Recognition March (ca. 1880)
- Resumption (1879/2015)
- Review (arr. Corrie) (1873 / 2015)
- Revival March (tr. Oliver) (1876)
- Revival March (1876)
- Riders for the Flag (1927)
- Riders for the Flag (ed. Fennell) (1927/1968)
- Rifle Regiment, The (1886)
- Rifle Regiment, The (ed. Fennell) (1886/1985))
- Right Forward (1881)
- Right-Left (1883)
- The Rose, Thistle and Shamrock (arr. Brion) (1901/2004)
- The Royal Welch Fusiliers (No. 1) (1929)
- The Royal Welch Fusiliers (No. 2) (1930)
- Sabre and Spurs (Sousa) (1918)
- Sabre and Spurs (arr and adapt. Brion and Schissel) (1918/1999)
- Sabre and Spurs (ed. Fennell) (1918/1951)
- Salutation (1873) [lost - poss. revised as "Recognition March"]
- Salvation Army, The (1930)
- Semper Fidelis (1888)
- Semper Fidelis (arr. Balent) (1888/2009)
- Semper Fidelis (arr. Bourgeois) (1888/1996)
- Semper Fidelis (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1888/1995)
- Semper Fidelis (arr. Hindsley) (1888/1954/197-?)
- Sesqui-Centennial Exposition March (arr. Gore) (1926/2003)
- Sheep and Goat Walking to Pasture
- Sheridan's Ride (1908)
- Showing Off Before Company (1919)
- Sisterhood of the States. See: March of the States
- Smick, Smack, Smuck (1878)
- Solid Men to the Front! (1918)
- Solid Men to the Front! (arr. Byrne) (1918/1994)
- Songs of Grace and Songs of Glory (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1995)
- Sound Off (1885)
- Sound Off (arr. Balent) (1885/2018)
- Sound Off (arr. Brion) (1885/2014)
- Sousa! (arr. Barker) (1981)
- Sousa March Carnival (arr. Iwai) (2004)
- Sousa Portrait, A (arr. Foster) (2004)
- Sousa Scramble, The (arr. Murtha) (2000)
- Sousa's Cadets (arr. Loest) (2012)
- A Stag Party (c. 1885)
- Star-Spangled Banner, The (orch Sousa) (arr Murtha) (as orchestrator) (1814/1918)
- Stars and Stripes for Christmas (arr. Foster) (1896/2003)
- The Stars and Stripes Forever (1896)
- The Stars and Stripes Forever (ed. Bourgeois) (1896/2004)
- Stars and Stripes Forever, The (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1896/1996)
- The Stars and Stripes Forever (arr. Helmecke) (1896/1951)
- The Stars and Stripes Forever (ed. Revelli) (1896/1988)
- Tales of a Traveler (arr. Rogers) (1912/1999)
- Tally-Ho! (1886/1894)
- Three Quotations
- The Thunderer (1889)
- The Thunderer (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1889/1998)
- The Thunderer (ed. Fennell) (1889/1997)
- The Thunderer (ed. Jurrens) (1889/1984)
- Transit of Venus (1883)
- Transit of Venus (arr. Bourgeois) (1883/2013)
- The Triton (1879/1892)
- The Triton (arr. Foster) (1879/1892/2009)
- Triumph of Time (1885)
- Turkey in the Straw (as arranger; trans. Guion) (1919/1931)
- Universal Peace (probably 1925 or 1926)
- University of Illinois March (1929)
- University of Nebraska (1928)
- Untitled march (1930)
- USAAC March (1918)
- US Field Artillery March (1918)
- U.S. Field Artillery March (arr. Brion) (1917/2003)
- U.S. Field Artillery March (arr. Wagner) (1917/2016)
- Voice of a Departing Soul, The (as transcriber)
- The Volunteers (1918)
- The Volunteers (ed. Foster) (1918/2008)
- Washington Post March (1889/1917)
- The Washington Post (arr. Bocook) (1889/2010)
- Washington Post, The (arr. Fennell) (1889/1983)
- Washington Post, The (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1889/1997)
- Washington Post, The (arr. Carnahan) (1889/)
- The Washington Post (arr. Story) (1889/1998)
- We Are Coming March (ed. Schissel) (1918)
- Wedding March (Sousa) (1918)
- When the Boys Come Sailing Home! (1918)
- When the Boys Come Sailing Home! (arr. Brion) (1918/2014)
- White Plume, The (1884)
- The White Rose (arr. Brion) (1917/2003)
- The White Rose (arr. Holsinger) (1917/)
- Who's Who in Navy Blue (1920)
- Who's Who in Navy Blue (ed. Byrne) (1920/1995)
- The Wildcats (arr. Gore) (1930 or 1931)
- William Tell Overture (as transcriber)
- Willow Blossoms (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1916/1995)
- Wisconsin Forward Forever March (arr. Glover) (1917/1987)
- Wisconsin Forward Forever March (arr. Schissel) (1917/2017)
- With Pleasure (ed. Foster) (1912/2006)
- With Pleasure (arr. Schissel) (1912/2006)
- Wolverine March, The (ed. Foster) (1881/2012)
- Yorktown Centennial (1881)
Resources
- Bierley, P. (1973). John Philip Sousa: A Descriptive Catalog of His Works. University of Illinois Press; Urbana, pp. 46-47.
- Perusal score