Fučík, Julius
Composer Information
Julius Fučík (18 July 1872 – 25 September 1916) was a Czech composer and conductor of military bands. Fučík spent most of his life as the leader of military brass bands. He became a prolific composer, with over 400 marches, polkas, and waltzes to his name. As most of his work was for military bands, he is sometimes known as the "Bohemian Sousa". Today his marches are still played as patriotic music in the Czech Republic. However, his worldwide reputation rests on one work: his Opus 68 march, the "Entrance of the Gladiators" (Vjezd gladiátorů), which is universally recognized, often under the title "Thunder and Blazes", as one of the most popular theme tunes for circus clowns. Another composition, "The Florentiner March", is not as popular as "Entrance of the Gladiators", but it is regularly performed and recorded by wind ensembles. Fučík was the uncle of the famous journalist Julius Fučík, who was executed by the Nazi regime. [source from Wikipedia]
Work
