Entrance of the Gladiators
Encyclopedia
"Entrance of the Gladiators" or "Entry of the Gladiators" (Czech
: Vjezd gladiátorů, German
: Einzug der Gladiatoren) is a military
march
composed in 1897 by the Czech
composer Julius Fučík
. He originally titled it "Grande Marche Chromatique," reflecting the use of chromatic scale
s throughout the piece, but changed the title based on his personal interest in the Roman Empire
.
In 1910 Canadian composer Louis-Phillipe 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 circus
es, often used to introduce clown
s. Today it is known mainly by this association, even though the title and composer are relatively obscure. Laurendeau's version was also transcribed for fairground organ
s. The march receives the occasional concert hall performance, such as at the 2007 Last Night of The Proms
.
Generally, the march is divided into three parts. The first part contains the melody that the trumpet
keeps and the several supporting parts. The second third is the section where the low brass (mainly the tuba
s) take over with the chromatic scale like role. Finally there is a trio
, or a slow melodic section, where there is a strong balance between woodwinds and low brass. The trio has a part similar to the second third with a chromatic scale
like sound. The piece is written in 2-2 time
and is originally written to be played at standard march tempo
; however, when played as a screamer it is usually played much faster.
In 1974, writers Leo Sayer
and David Courtney
wove the introduction and melody into their composition, "The Show Must Go On
."
Parts of the theme were also incorporated into Boots Randolph
's "Yakety Sax
", which, following the circus theme, is often associated with comedy acts, notably on The Benny Hill Show
.
Czech language
Czech is a West Slavic language with about 12 million native speakers; it is the majority language in the Czech Republic and spoken by Czechs worldwide. The language was known as Bohemian in English until the late 19th century...
: Vjezd gladiátorů, German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
: Einzug der Gladiatoren) is a military
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
march
March (music)
A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John...
composed in 1897 by the Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
composer Julius Fučík
Julius Fucík (composer)
Julius Arnost Wilhelm Fučík was a Czech composer and conductor of military bands.Fučík spent most of his life as the leader of military brass bands. He became a prolific composer, with over 300 marches, polkas, and waltzes to his name...
. He originally titled it "Grande Marche Chromatique," reflecting the use of chromatic scale
Chromatic scale
The chromatic scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone apart. On a modern piano or other equal-tempered instrument, all the half steps are the same size...
s throughout the piece, but changed the title based on his personal interest in the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
.
In 1910 Canadian composer Louis-Phillipe Laurendeau
Louis-Phillipe Laurendeau
Louis-Philippe Laurendeau was a Canadian composer and bandmaster. He also held an editorial position with Carl Fischer, the New York music publishers....
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
Screamer (march)
A screamer is a descriptive name for a circus march, in particular, an upbeat march intended to stir up the audience during the show.- History :...
for circus
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
es, often used to introduce clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
s. Today it is known mainly by this association, even though the title and composer are relatively obscure. Laurendeau's version was also transcribed for fairground organ
Fairground organ
A fairground organ is a pipe organ designed for use in a commercial public fairground setting to provide loud music to accompany fairground rides and attractions...
s. The march receives the occasional concert hall performance, such as at the 2007 Last Night of The Proms
The Proms
The Proms, more formally known as The BBC Proms, or The Henry Wood Promenade Concerts presented by the BBC, is an eight-week summer season of daily orchestral classical music concerts and other events held annually, predominantly in the Royal Albert Hall in London...
.
Generally, the march is divided into three parts. The first part contains the melody that the trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
keeps and the several supporting parts. The second third is the section where the low brass (mainly the tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
s) take over with the chromatic scale like role. Finally there is a trio
Trio (music)
Trio is generally used in any of the following ways:* A group of three musicians playing the same or different musical instrument.* The performance of a piece of music by three people.* The contrasting section of a piece in ternary form...
, or a slow melodic section, where there is a strong balance between woodwinds and low brass. The trio has a part similar to the second third with a chromatic scale
Chromatic scale
The chromatic scale is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone apart. On a modern piano or other equal-tempered instrument, all the half steps are the same size...
like sound. The piece is written in 2-2 time
Time signature
The time signature is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats are in each measure and which note value constitutes one beat....
and is originally written to be played at standard march tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
; however, when played as a screamer it is usually played much faster.
In 1974, writers Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer
Leo Sayer is a British singer-songwriter, musician, and entertainer whose singing career has spanned four decades. Sayer became a naturalised Australian citizen in 2009. Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s...
and David Courtney
David Courtney
David Courtney is a British singer-songwriter and record producer. Courtney's first big break was as a songwriter with Adam Faith and Leo Sayer; Courtney co-wrote several hit songs with them and he co-produced Faith's 1974 album, I Survive...
wove the introduction and melody into their composition, "The Show Must Go On
The Show Must Go On (Three Dog Night song)
"The Show Must Go On" is a song co-written by Leo Sayer and David Courtney and first recorded by Sayer. It was released in the United Kingdom in 1973, becoming Sayer's first hit record , and was included on Sayer's debut album Silverbird...
."
Parts of the theme were also incorporated into Boots Randolph
Boots Randolph
Homer Louis "Boots" Randolph III was an American musician best known for his 1963 saxophone hit, "Yakety Sax"...
's "Yakety Sax
Yakety Sax
"Yakety Sax" is a piece of music written by James Q. "Spider" Rich and popularized by saxophonist Boots Randolph.The composition includes pieces of assorted fiddle tunes such as "Chicken Reel", and was written for a performance at a venue called The Armory in Hopkinsville, Kentucky...
", which, following the circus theme, is often associated with comedy acts, notably on The Benny Hill Show
The Benny Hill Show
The Benny Hill Show is a British comedy television show starring Benny Hill.There were various incarnations of the show between 1951 and 1991, and it aired in over 140 countries. The show is generally sketch-based with heavy use of slapstick, mime, parody and double-entendre...
.
External links
- WIMA Free piano score.