Julius Fučík: "Florentiner Marsch," Op. 214 - E-flat Clarinet

Julius Fučík (composer) Julius Ernst Wilhelm Fučík (18 July 1872 – 15 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 was a prolific composer, with over 300 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 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. Also "The Florentiner March", which isn't as popular as "Entrance of the Gladiators", is still a great march choice for many Wind Ensembles. Fučík was the uncle of the journalist Julius Fučík, murdered by the Nazi regime.