Julius Fucík was a Czech composer, with over 400 marches, polkas, and waltzes to his name. As most of his work was for military bands, he is sometimes known as the 'Bohemian Sousa'. Today his marches are still played as patriotic music in the Czech Republic but his worldwide reputation rests primarily on two works: ‘Einzug der Gladiatoren’ (Entrance of the Gladiators) and the ‘Florentiner March’.

The ‘Florentiner March’ became one of the most performed compositions all over the world both in ...