"The Gladiator" is a march by
John Philip Sousa, written in 1886 while Sousa was leader of the US Marine Band.
The Gladiator was written as a tribute to Charles B. Towle, a journalist at the ''
Boston Traveler''. The journalist introduced him to the Knights Templar. Speculation has long surrounded the title for the piece, but one hypothesis is that the title referred to Towle himself, a gladiator of sorts who used a pen instead of a sword. Another plausible hypothesis is that the piece may have been written about an article Towle wrote for the Boston Traveler.
Sousa had not written many marches before that, and none of them received great popularity. The Gladiator, however, sold over a million copies - a record for the time and was soon performed frequently.
Museum of Learning, Discovery Media
/ref> It follows normal march style, IAABBCCDCDC, and is played at the normal pace of most marches: 120-128 beats per minute. Although marches such as ''Semper Fidelis
''Semper fidelis'' () is a Latin phrase that means "always faithful" or "always loyal" (Fidelis or Fidelity). It is the motto of the United States Marine Corps, usually shortened to Semper Fi. It is also in use as a motto for towns, families, ...
'', '' The Washington Post'', '' Stars and Stripes Forever'' and '' Hands Across the Sea'' have achieved greater popularity, the ''Gladiator'' is still regarded as John Philip Sousa's first success.
Recorded versions
* The Band of H.M. Coldstream Guards, cond. by Capt. J. Causley Windram. Recorded in London on January 11, 1942. It was released by EMI on the His Master's Voice label as catalog number B 9275.
See also
* List of marches by John Philip Sousa
References
External links
Sousa archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gladiator March, The
1886 compositions
Sousa marches
Songs written by John Philip Sousa