The Gum Suckers March: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts
By Percy Grainger / Arranged by R. Mark Rogers
Grade: 4
Item: 35-PK01466675
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Description
From Grainger: "Gum-suckers" is a nick-name for Australians hailing from the state of Victoria, the home state of the composer. The leaves of the 'gum' (Eucalyptus) trees are very refreshing to suck in the parching summer weather." The 4th movement of his "In a Nutshell" suite for orchestra, the composer himself arranged this piece for band, as he did for much of his orchestral music. However, due to some contemporary methods of transposing and the lack of a full score, that original version contains numerous errors. This edition was carefully crafted, pulling from all available resources and archives to determine the composer's original intent. In addition to corrections, this edition updates the instrumentation to reflect current bands and offers generous cross-cueing for those bands without the full instrumentation for which Grainger customarily wrote.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK01466675
More about this title
About the Composer: Percy Grainger
Percy Grainger (1882–1961) was an Australian pianist, conductor, and composer whose influence on band music extended far beyond his initial orchestral works. He understood the concert band idiom deeply and arranged much of his own orchestral output for band, recognizing that these ensembles deserved music of genuine sophistication and color. His willingness to rework his compositions for different forces set a standard for how serious composers engage with the band repertoire.
Grainger's musical language blended folk melody, bold orchestration, and rhythmic vitality in ways that challenged performers while remaining energetic and direct. His Australian heritage infused his work with distinctive character, and pieces like "The Gum Suckers March" carry both humor and craftsmanship that have kept them central to band programs for over a century.
Why we love this
Grainger's original band arrangement, long clouded by errors from outdated transposition practices and incomplete source materials, finally exists in reliable form. The Rogers edition restores the composer's actual intent while also solving a real conductorial headache: cross-cueing throughout makes this completely playable for bands of varying size and instrumentation. A Grade 4 march this polished, with genuine compositional substance, is a rarity.
What to expect
Buoyant and clever. The piece bounces with rhythmic snap and melodic wit, drawing its energy from Australian vernacular while maintaining the craft of a serious composer. There's brightness here, a sense of humor in the orchestration, and a march that moves forward with conviction rather than weight.
Who it's for
Intermediate to advancing concert bands working at Grade 4 level who want repertoire with real compositional texture and historical weight. Directors seeking a march with character, humor, and genuine substance beyond the typical parade-ground sound will find this a valuable addition.
How to get the most out of it
- Keep the rhythmic pulse clean and forward. Grainger's marches thrive on momentum, and any hesitation in the section attacks will flatten the piece's character.
- Balance the melodic voices carefully. The part writing often distributes the main tune across multiple sections, and clarity here separates a lively performance from a cluttered one.
- The cross-cues are not afterthoughts; use them strategically to ensure exposed passages never go uncovered, even if you're missing a typical instrumentation.
How to use it
Pair this with lighter pops or folk-influenced concert band work to create a thematic set, or place it on a program alongside other Grainger arrangements to showcase his compositional voice across different moods. It also works brilliantly as a closer for a concert that emphasizes American and Commonwealth band traditions.
Skills your students will build
- Precision in articulation across multiple simultaneous rhythmic figures
- Blending timbres when melodies span woodwind and brass sections
- Maintaining forward momentum in a march structure while sustaining musical interest
- Reading cross-cues and understanding optional instrumentation cues