Thunder and Blazes (arr Foster)

Julius Fučik

This work is also known by its German title Einzug der Gladiatoren and by its alternate English title, Entry of the Gladiators.

General Info

Year: 1900 / 2011
Duration: c. 1:00
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Wingert-Jones
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $50.00; (digital) - $50.00 | Score Only (print) - $5.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet
Horn in F
Trombone /Euphonium/Bassoon
Tuba
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Snare Drum
Crash Cymbals

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Fučik composed his march Einzug der Gladiatoren, Opus 68, also known as Entry of the Gladiators and 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

Commercial Discography

Audio CD: Northshort Concert Band (Mallory Thompson, conductor) – 2011

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

The Northshore Concert Band (Evanston, Ill.) (Mallory Thompson, conductor) – 17 December 2011 (2011 Midwest Clinic)

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

Entrance of the Gladiators, Wikipedia Accessed 13 September 2016
Perusal score
Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 214.