Entrance of the Gladiators

¶¶ Thank you.

The entry of the gladiators, and it was played for you there by the 97-key Voigt Oktoberfest organ from the Scarborough Fair collection.

I always think that piece of music is probably the tune that is most associated with fairground organs by the general public, because it's sort of always that tune that people hear when they go to the circus or whatever, played on a fairground-type organ or a street organ.

Yeah, but it suits them very well indeed, I have to say.

How they've gone from creating the joke to being the joke.

Now, Entry of the Gladiators is another example that shows how much time can change our perception of something.

Now, the piece was originally composed in 1897 by Julius Fuckick.

I just like saying Fuckick.

[instrumental music]

Very well-sounding orchestra in there playing the Regiment's Kinder March, which I know, and perhaps you know it as well, dear listener, as the Children of the Regiment March, composed by Julius Fucik, who also wrote the Florentina March that we hear on mechanical music often, and also, yes, the ubiquitous Entry of the Gladiators.

Time now for a track from our archives.

Here's Va Pensiero played on De Turk, a sixty-two key street organ.