Julius Fučík (composer)

Julius Ernst Wilhelm Fučík (, ; 18 July 1872 – 25 September 1916) was a Czech composer and conductor of military bands. He became a prolific composer, with over 400 marches, polkas and waltzes to his name. As most of his works were for military bands, Fučík is sometimes known as the “Bohemian Sousa”. Today, Fučík’s marches are still played as patriotic music in the Czech Republic. His worldwide reputation rests primarily on two works: “Florentiner Marsch”, popular throughout much of Europe and the United States, and the “Entrance of the Gladiators” (Vjezd gladiátorů), which is widely recognised, often under the title “Thunder and Blazes”, as popular entrance music for circus clowns. Early life and education Julius Ernst Wilhelm Fučík was born on 18 July 1872 in Prague, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary. As a student, he learned how to play the bassoon with Ludwig Milde, the violin with Antonín Bennewitz, and various percussion instruments, later studying composition under Antonín Dvořák. Career In 1891, Fučík joined the 49th Austro-Hungarian Regiment as a military musician. He initially played in Krems by the Danube under Josef Wagner. Three years later, Fučík left the army to take up a pos