Welcome to the Ether Game weekly podcast! Our month-long tour of different Musical Metropolises continues this week along the Via Appia, as we head into Rome! You know what they say, "when in Rome, see if you can name this tune..." (The answer is below) Remember to keep your ears out for a portion of Tuesday night's Teaser selection. And don't forget to tune into the full show on Tuesday, May 22nd at 8:00pm for a chance to win a prize!

Julius Fučík (1872–1916), Entry Of The Gladiators March, Op. 68

Czech Philharmonic Orchestra; Václav Neumann, conductor. Old Czech Marches (Supraphon)

The world-famous "Entry of the Gladiators" is composer Julius Fučík's best-known work in the West. You likely know it as accompaniment to those wacky antics inside the circus ring, but Fučík originally intended it to be more of a military march. He was fascinated with anicent Roman culture, and renamed the work "Entry of the Gladiators" as a nod to those brave warriors about to fight inside the Roman colosseum. Fučík himself was not from Rome, rather he was born in Prague in 1872. He studied composition under none other than Antonín Dvořák before going on to develop his musical talents in various regimental bands of the Austro-Hungarian Army. Despite the success of "Entry of the Gladiators," very few of Fučík's more than 400 compositions are known outside of his native Czech Republic.