Julius Fucik (Prague 1872 - Leitmeritz 1916) is rightly considered as the 'Czech March King'. This pupil of Antonin Dvorak was a military bandmaster in the Imperial and Royal Army of the Austrian-Hungarian Danube Monarchy.
His marches 'Florentiner Marsch' and 'Entry of the Gladiators' became world famous, but we should not forget neither his splendid overtures (such as 'Marinarella') nor his famous bassoon solo 'Der alte Brummbär' (The Old Grumbler).
The magnificent concert march 'Under the Admiral's Flag' Opus 82 was written for the official launching ceremony of the cruiser 'Viribus unitis' of the Austrian-Hungarian Navy. It was the second march by Fucik to be published, the first being 'Sarajevo'.
