November 02, 2006
Think of the phrase "circus music". What's the first tune that comes to mind? Undoubtedly, you thought of this piece: "Entrance of the Gladiators".
Entrance of the gladiators? You don't believe me? Listen to a MIDI of the tune first. That's the one you were thinking of, right? It is the "circus music" or the "clown music" (much like Jean Reno is the "French guy").
Written by the Czech composer Julius Fučík, "Entrance of the Gladiators" was originally written as a military march. Its original title and composer has faded into obscurity as people all over the world have become accustomed to associating the tune (particularly the first third of the song) with circuses and clowns. Nobody knows what could have led to this tragedy. Rather ironic considering that Fučík (left) looks like he could have made an awesome ringmaster with that mustache of his.
The next time you hear the tune, remember the title. Entrance of the Gladiators.
Entrance of the gladiators? You don't believe me? Listen to a MIDI of the tune first. That's the one you were thinking of, right? It is the "circus music" or the "clown music" (much like Jean Reno is the "French guy").
Written by the Czech composer Julius Fučík, "Entrance of the Gladiators" was originally written as a military march. Its original title and composer has faded into obscurity as people all over the world have become accustomed to associating the tune (particularly the first third of the song) with circuses and clowns. Nobody knows what could have led to this tragedy. Rather ironic considering that Fučík (left) looks like he could have made an awesome ringmaster with that mustache of his.The next time you hear the tune, remember the title. Entrance of the Gladiators.
Labels: circus, classical music, music
I've know this piece by it's correct title for some time, but, yes, this IS Circus Music. Given a lot of people where I work now refer to the place as "A freaking circus", I thought it would be appropriate to point them in this direction.
Niemand said;
Fucik may have written this as a military march, but it is CIRCUS.
Done with the heavy brass it starts
the circus like no other tune can.
And the name harkens back to Roman
circuses. It sort of dwindles to
mediocrity in the trio --- but circus tunes are almost never played in their entirety.
By the way, Fucik wrote "Abschied der Gladiatoren" which means the
"Departure of the Gladiators." It
is not remarkable.
I know this piece all too well. I went to Gladstone High School where our sports teams were "The Gladiators" and played trumpet in the pep band.
So, I've played the middle section some 50 billion times.