Julius Fučík was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, on July 18, 1872. He
was a pupil of Antonin Dvořák in composition. After playing the bassoon
in the German Opera in Prague in 1893, he became bandmaster of the 86th
and 92nd Austrian Regiments in which he won renown throughout Europe. He
died in Leitmeritz, Czechoslovakia, on September 25, 1916. Fučík wrote
numerous dance pieces and marches for band. The most popular of these is
the stirring march, _Entrance of the Gladiators_, which became popular
throughout the world and is still frequently played by salon orchestras
as well as bands.