Julius Fučík (composer)

Julius Ernest Wilhelm Fučík (Czech: [ˈjulɪjus ˈfutʃiːk]; 18 July 1872 – 25 September 1916) was a Czech composer and conductor of military bands. He became a prolific composer, with over 400 marches, polkas and waltzes to his name. As most of his works were for military bands, Fučík is sometimes known as the "Bohemian Sousa".

Today, Fučík's marches are still played as patriotic music in the Czech Republic. His worldwide reputation rests primarily on two works: "Florentiner Marsch", popular throughout much of Europe and the United States, and the "Entrance of the Gladiators" (Vjezd gladiátorů), which is widely recognized, often under the title "Thunder and Blazes", as popular entrance music for circus clowns.