Entrance of the Gladiators
Entry of the Gladiators ( or Czech Vjezd gladiátorů ) is a triumphal march of the composer Julius Fučík (op. 68) from the year 1899. About the detour via the United States, where he is usually played fast, he is known primarily as a circus march.
Formation and development
Julius Fučík wrote the march on October 17, 1899 in Sarajevo, where he was stationed as a military bandmaster of the Austro-Hungarian army since 1897.
Originally he called the piece Grande Marche Chromatique. The march demonstrated the then state of the technique and construction of brass instruments, which allowed fast and smooth chromatic transitions in all instruments and documents. Fučík was but a description of a gladiator presence in a Roman amphitheater in Henryk Sienkiewicz's novel Quo Vadis (1895, dt: 1896) so impressed that he changed the title of his work soon. The phrase " Entry of the Gladiators " is known in 1877 in two descriptions of Pompeii and probably older.
On January 10, 1900 Conductor Anton Fridrich ( 1849-1924, Khevenhüller - march ) created in Graz for an arrangement for string orchestra. In July 1900, published in Hoffmann's widow in Prague " Concert March for Large Orchestra " under the title entry of the gladiators at Hofmeister is listed. More edits followed. 1903 in the United States by the HM Coldstream Guard band recorded slab roller on Columbia Records titled Entry of the Gladiators advertised. In the same year a piano score was published with the title Entry of the Gladiators / Thunder and Blazes (, thunder and fires '). In English, the existing since at least the 18th century formulation Entrance of the Gladiators is common.
1901 wrote the Canadian composer Louis -Philippe Laurendeau the piece around, used a faster tempo and a different key and published it as Thunder and Blazes. Laurendeau often worked for Carl Fischer Music in New York. Americans are accustomed to hearing the march at a much faster pace. The piece was published in the North American circus and imported back to Europe. Especially in a very fast version it is the most famous circus music for clowns. It is also often found in the repertoire of mechanical music machines.
No later than 1904 by Hermann Ludwig Blankenburg his farewell of the gladiators. In 1928 both pieces of the " Great Odeon Orchestra" recorded on a plate (No. 85204 ).
Description of the work
It is known especially the first part, after a short, pathetic introduction, in which the trumpets play the familiar motif. The second part is dominated by chromatic figures in the bass, representing the battle of the gladiators. The third part is a slow Trio, which describes the march of heroes and rider.
The piece is held in 2/2-Takt and has a very fast, almost rushed acting pace. Therefore, it is used mostly for parody - for example, as the theme song in the movie Roses for the Prosecutor - even though it was originally meant seriously.
Edits
The associated with circus music melody is taken up in countless adaptations, including:
- Cover version "The Show Must Go On" by Three Dog Night ( composer: Leo Sayer )
- " African Circus " theme in the animated film Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted
- "Dancing Circus" by Brisby & Jingles DJ duo