Entry of the Gladiators (tr Laurendeau)

Julius Fučik

Julius Fučík (trans. Louis-Philippe Laurendeau, arr. Seredy)

This work is also well known as Thunder and Blazes.

General Info

Year: 1901 / 1936
Duration: c. 2:50
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Carl Fischer
Cost: Score and Parts – Out of print.

For availability information, see Discussion tab, above.

Instrumentation

Condensed Score
D-flat Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet Solo-I-II
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Bass Saxophone
B-flat Cornet Solo-I-II
B-flat Trumpet
E-flat Horn or Alto I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Drums, including:

Bass Drum
Crash Cymbals
Orchestra Bells
Snare Drum

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Fučik composed his march, Opus 68, also known as Thunder and Blazes,between 1897 and 1900 while he was a military bandmaster in the Austro-Hungarian city of Sarajevo. The original title has been Grande Marche Chromatique, but Fučik was fascinated by the description of gladiators entering a Roman amphitheater in Henry Sienkiewicz's book Quo Vadis? - Whither Goest Thou? that he changed to the present title. The book concerns the gladiators during the rule of the infamous and depraved Nero (A.D. 54-68); however, the Emperor Titus, who ruled from A.D. 7-81, presented an even bloodier exhibition of gladiators, wild beasts, and sea fights which involved 10,000 men and lasted 100 days.

In this march the upper brasses announce the entry, followed in the second strain by the lower brasses who represent the combat. At the present time, Entry of the Gladiators usually refers to the heroes and heroines under the circus big top, the daring riders in the rodeo, or the muscular athletes on the playing fields. Although it is often played at break-neck speed, the proper original tempo is from 100 to 120 beats per minute, as most European marches are played.

- Program Note from Program Notes for Band

Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Iowa (Iowa City) Symphony Band (William LaRue Jones, conductor) – 4 April 2019
New Orleans (La.) Concert Band (Charles Taylor, conductor) – 11 March 2018
University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Maroon Campus Band (Cassandra A. Bechard, conductor) – 30 October 2017
Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Charles Buck III, conductor) – 10 July 2012

Works for Winds by This Composer

Children of the Regiment (tr. Bourgeois) (ca. 1915/1996)
Concertino for Bassoon (arr. Belohoubek) (2015)
Der alto Brummbar. See: The Old Grumbly Bear and The Old Sore-Head
Entry of the Gladiators (arr. Balent) (1900/2004)
Entry of the Gladiators (arr. Holcombe Jr.) (1900)
Entry of the Gladiators (tr. Laurendeau; arr. Seredy) (1900/1936)
Entry of the Gladiators (tr. Laurendeau; arr. Seredy; ed. Ragsdale) (1900/1997)
Fanfare Sounds (arr. Bourgeois) (2017)
Florentiner (arr. Lake, ed. Fennell) (1907/1980)
Florentiner March (ed. Bourgeois) (1907/1999)
Florentiner March (arr. Rossi) (1907/2007)
Gigantic (arr. Sip) (2002/2016)
Kinizsi (ed. Ohnmeiss)
Kinizsi (arr. Borodach)
Marinarella (arr. Beek) (1907/2005)
Mississippi River (arr. Studnitzky) (1902/1995)
The Old Grumbly Bear (arr. Glover) (1910/2004)
The Old Sore-Head (arr. Rogers) (1910/2000)
Thunder and Blazes (arr. Foster Jr.) (1900/2011)
Unter Der Admirals Flagge (Singerling) (1983)
Victory Trophies (arr. Sip) (1915/2002/2016)

Resources

Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Julius Fučík." Accessed 29 April 2015.
Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 214.