Sheet Music: Entrance of the Gladiators

TitleEntrance of the Gladiators
Alternate titlesThunder and Blazes
Grande Marche Chromatique
Entry of the Gladiators
Einzug der Gladiatoren
Opus numberOp. 68
ComposerJulius Fučík (1872–1916)
InstrumentationFlute solo
KeyC major
RangeDb4–D6
Time signature2/2
Tempo112 BPM
Performance time0:50
Difficulty leveladvanced
Download printable scorePDF Sheet Music (59 kB) (preview)
Download audio tracksMIDI (change tempo/key) MP3 (389 kB)
Date added2009-05-21
Last updated2009-05-21
Download popularity index☆☆☆☆☆ 5.0 (popular)
Categories
Circus music, Marches, Show-off pieces

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Thursday 21 May 2009
Friday 20 September 2024

Tune of the Day: Entrance of the Gladiators

aka “Thunder and Blazes”

This is actually a military march composed in 1897 by the Czech composer Julius Fučík. He originally titled it “Grande Marche Chromatique”, reflecting the use of chromatic scales throughout the piece, but eventually changed the title based on his personal interest in the Roman Empire.

In 1910 Canadian composer Louis-Philippe Laurendeau arranged “Entrance of the Gladiators” for a small band under the title “Thunder and Blazes”, and sold this version throughout North America. It was during this period that the song gained lasting popularity as a screamer march for circuses, often used to introduce clowns.