Die lustigen Dorfschmiede

Reading the title of this piece, namely “The Happy Village Smiths” it rather suggests a character piece than a zestful march. However, the saying “Don’t let yourself be fooled” also applies in this instance, as “The Happy Village Smiths” belong to Fucík’s most popular marches. In an article that appeared in a Styrian local paper in the 1930s, Christine Fucík speaks about common vacations with her husband in Gleisdorf.

On the occasion of a walk in the vicinity of that city the couple came past a blacksmith’s shop. The rhythm of the two blacksmiths hammering away on the anvil allegedly inspired Fucík to compose this piece. Since the march goes back to the year 1908, and Christine and Fucík’s friendship started - not without frictions - only one year before that date, there are doubts concerning the validity of the story, although this report constitutes the only reference on the birth of this march.