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 three works: 'The Florentiner March popular throughout much of Europe, the march Einzug der Gladiatoren (Entrance of the Gladiators) and Der alte Brummbär (The grouchy old Bear). Der alte Brummbär is a comic polka for bassoon and orchestra composed in 1910 and is one of his few compositions for a solo instrument.
