GRADE LEVEL: 4
DURATION: 4:00
 
Julius Fučik has written over 400 compositions, and is rightly considered to be the “Czech March King.” His most well-known marches are probably, Entry of the Gladiators, and The Florentiner. However, Under the Admiral’s Flag is a true gem. This concert march was written for the official launching ceremony of the cruiser “Viribus Unitis” of the Austrian-Hungarian Navy. This march is believed to have been written around 1910. It begins with a vibrant brass fanfare and opening melody in compound meter, and Fucik introduces an antecedent-consequence sequence in simple meter between the treble and bass voices before bringing the original melody in compound meter back. Fucik’s melody in the trio is expertly crafted and allows the ensemble to perform this lush melody in a cantabile style before a vigorous break strain (reminiscent of Fucik’s circus marches) interrupts, and then finally an exciting concluding restatement of the original melody is presented in the final strain. Great care has been taken by the arranger to preserve the original nuances and stylistic writing of Fučik while presenting it in this contemporary band setting with a full complement of percussion.