Circus music

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Entry of the Gladiators
Entry of the Gladiators" performed by the United States Marine Band
The Circus Bee
Fillmore's "The Circus Bee" performed by the United States Marine Band
Rolling Thunder
Fillmore's "Rolling Thunder" performed by the Ceremonial Brass of the United States Air Force
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Circus music (also known as carnival music) is any sort of music that is played to accompany a circus, and also music written that emulates its general style. Popular music would also often get arranged for the circus band, as well as waltzes, foxtrots and other dances.

History

Although circuses have been in existence since the time of the

horsemanship skills and the addition of jugglers, acrobats, and clowns, Astley opened Paris's first circus in 1782.[2] The first known composer of circus music was Charles Dibdin (1745–1814).[3] He was partners with Astley and was also the one who financed the theatre used for the royal circus.[4] Dibdin was a very well known composer in his time and had written hundreds of works before he decided to join Astley to work for the circus. He wrote all of the pieces used in the circus, which were mostly intermezzos or comedy pieces. An ensemble of approximately sixty children was used as singers and dancers to perform the many pieces that he wrote for the circus, such as "The Graces", "Clump and Cudden", and "Pandora", which was arguably the most famous piece that was used in the circus because it was originally used in a popular puppet show that mocked contemporary figures of the time.[5]

Composition and usage

The most common type of circus music is the circus march, or screamer. It is characterized by a rapid-fire tempo – usually around 200 beats per minute – and melodies that contain showy features such as leaps, runs, and fanfares. It is difficult for "windjammers" (circus musicians) to play because of its fast tempo.

Marches served many purposes throughout the course of a circus. They were often used for grand entrances and exits, overtures and finales, acts featuring wild animals, or other daredevil-type acts. Circus marches are divided into "strains":

  • Exposition – first section containing two strains, often with a preceding introduction
  • Trio – second section; it can be composed of two different melodies that repeat, or one long melody that repeats itself
  • Break strain, or "dogfight" – often follow the trio and bring back some of the exposition melody.[6]
Xylophone-Solo in Souvenir de Cirque Renz by Gustav Peter

The galop is another popular form of circus music. Like the march, it is played at a fast, lively tempo and is primarily used for daredevil acts, such as trick-riding or other wild animal performances. Any performance or act that consisted of fast-paced tricks or stunts would probably have performed to a galop. The galop is typically written in 2/4 time and has a short length, but would only end when the ringmaster signaled the end of an act. If the act went longer, the galop could be extended by playing da capo.[7] One of the best-known examples is Gustav Peter's widely popular Memory of Circus Renz, which was published in 1894 with the title Souvenir de Cirque Renz. The piece was originally written for the xylophone.

Circus music catered to the needs of the different acts. For example, a high-flying, nimble trapeze act could be characterized by a dizzying galop or a graceful waltz. An act containing ferocious wild animals, such as lions, would probably use a march.

Examples

One of the most recognized pieces of circus music is "

Stars and Stripes Forever". Instead, it was used in emergencies, such as animals getting loose, to help signify to workers that something was wrong.[12]

In 1971, Charles Bennett Jr. and Art Stensvad gathered fans of circus music and veteran circus bandleaders including Merle Evans into a circus music preservation society known as Windjammers Unlimited. The group meets twice annually to study and play the compositions of classic era circus music composers such as M. L. Lake and Karl L. King. They've also researched in the archives of the C.L. Barnhouse publishing company which was a major supplier of sheet music for circus bands.[13]

Music that imitates or evokes the sound of the circus has also been written, often showing up in film scores, some dedicated to the subject and some not. Nino Rota is known for his circus-inspired music that was written for many of Federico Fellini’s films, including I Clowns and 8 1/2.[14] Jerry Goldsmith famously wrote a theme for the 1984 film Gremlins in such a style, which influenced the film makers to an extent.[15]

Other bands and musicians that have employed or often employ circus music in their work include

Crown The Empire
add circus music in some of their songs.

Instrumentation

As the styles of circus music have changed, so has the instrumentation. With the nineteenth century came the introduction of brass bands. String instruments were no longer used in these "traditional" circus bands to make "traditional" circus music, which is defined by Merle Evans as music that is brighter in tone than other music.[16]

Sounds of cornets, trumpets, trombones, French horns, baritones, and tubas were able to reach far and wide, signaling to entire towns that the circus was around. Drums were also added to the circus bands and although saxophones have been arguable, they were frequently used as well.[1] The calliope, built by Joshua C. Stoddard in 1856, was also used by the circus. Not a part of the circus band, it is a sometimes called a "circus piano" and is played like a piano, but powered by a steam boiler. Its sound can carry as far as nine miles.[17]

Present-day circus music varies widely in instrumentation, style and form. It often incorporates the use of electric instruments and synthesizers alongside the more traditional instruments.[1]

See also

  • "
    Beatles
    song

References

  1. ^ a b c "What Defines Circus Music?". Center Ring Circus Band News. Archived from the original on 2016-08-01. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  2. ^ "History of the Circus | In The Ring | Circus". PBS. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  3. ^ "Charles Dibdin | biography – British composer, author, actor and manager". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  4. ^ "Short History of the Circus". Circopedia. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  5. ^ "Charles Dibdin". The Contemplator's Biography. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  6. ^ "The Circus March | Center Ring Circus Band News". circusmusic.us. Archived from the original on 2015-10-02. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  7. ^ "The musical "Galop" used in Circus Performances | Center Ring Circus Band News". circusmusic.us. Archived from the original on 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  8. ^ "Julius Fucik | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  9. ^ "Classical Circus!". CRB. 2022-07-13. Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  10. ^ "Karl L. King – Our Composers – C. L. Barnhouse Company". www.barnhouse.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  11. ^ "Karl King Biography". www.karlking.us. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  12. ^ Under the Big Top
  13. ^ Bebco, Joe. "Circus Music Lives!". Syncopatedtimes.com. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  14. ^ "Nino Rota - the composer and his music for film". www.mfiles.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  15. ^ DVD commentary; Steven Spielberg presents Gremlins. Special edition. Warner Home Video, 2002.
  16. ^ "The Circus in America". Retrieved 2015-10-13.
  17. ^ "Calliope". Mechanical Music Digest. Retrieved 2015-10-13.
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