Julius Fucik

From Wind Repertory Project

Biography

Julius Ernst Wilhelm Fucík (1872-1916) was a Bohemian (present-day Czech) bandmaster and composer. Fucík studied composition with Antonín Dvořák and was a bassoonist in a number of opera orchestras. Fucík was bandmaster of the 86th and 92nd Austrian Regiments.

Today his marches are still played as patriotic music in the Czech Republic. However his world wide reputation rests on one work, his opus 68 march the Entrance of the Gladiators (Vjezd gladiátorů), which is universally recognized as the theme tune of clowns in a circus. This march is also known by the title Thunder and Blazes. Despite being so widely known, the tune's original name and composer are relatively obscure.