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A screamer is a
circus A circus is a company of performers who put on diverse entertainment shows that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, dancers, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, and uni ...
march March is the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is the second of seven months to have a length of 31 days. In the Northern Hemisphere, the meteorological beginning of spring occurs on the first day of March ...
intended to stir up the audience during the show.


History

Screamers were mostly composed in a 60-year period (1895–1955). Circuses were in need of music that would stir the audience into a frenzy, as four-footed animals galloped across the ring. Because march music was a prominent part of American music at that time, and because it carried such a quick tempo, it was this that ringmasters demanded.


Musicality

Circus marches are faster than a normal military march, often 130 to 150 beats/minute. Although screamers tend to follow the march form, they are often abbreviated, and additions, such as a quick cornet call introduction to a new
melody A melody (from Greek μελῳδία, ''melōidía'', "singing, chanting"), also tune, voice or line, is a linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. In its most literal sense, a melody is a combina ...
, are included. A typical screamer lasts a minute to three and a half minutes. Screamers are a very demanding type of music, due to their extremely fast and advanced rhythms, especially the low-brass parts. Double and even triple
tonguing Tonguing is a technique used with wind instruments to enunciate notes using the tongue on the palate or the reed or mouthpiece. A silent "tee" is made when the tongue strikes the reed or roof of the mouth causing a slight breach in the air f ...
is often required in order to play these rhythms. The trio in "
The Melody Shop "The Melody Shop" is one of Karl King's most popular marches. The march is written in E♭, with its trio section changing keys to the subdominant A♭ as is typical for marches and polkas. Excerpts of the march are commonly used in auditions for ...
" is a good example of this. Many screamers have two prominent melodies playing at once. Although this is not unusual in a march, screamers tend to go further with this. The low-brass section can be playing a long, stately melody, while the
woodwind Woodwind instruments are a family of musical instruments within the greater category of wind instruments. Common examples include flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. There are two main types of woodwind instruments: flutes and ...
s can be moving along with a phrase of 16th notes, or vice versa. Due to the circumstances in which screamers are played, dynamics tend to stay at a level forte. Unlike some military marches, ''
piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a musica ...
'' is rarely used.


Composers

Composers of screamers included
Karl L. King Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – February 19, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite". The most expensive painting in Iowa, the "Karl L. King Portrait ...
, whose work included "Barnum & Bailey's Favorite",
Fred Jewell Frederick Alton Jewell (Worthington, Indiana May 28, 1875 - Worthington, Indiana, February 11, 1936), was a prolific musical composer who wrote over 100 marches and screamers, including: Fred Jewell * "Battle Royal" (1909) * "Floto's Triumph" ( ...
and
Henry Fillmore Henry Fillmore (December 3, 1881 – December 7, 1956) was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best known for his many marches and screamers, a few of which he wrote for the Band of the Hour at the University of Miami in ...
.
John Philip Sousa John Philip Sousa ( ; November 6, 1854 – March 6, 1932) was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era known primarily for American military marches. He is known as "The March King" or the "American March King", to di ...
wrote "On Parade" and a few others, but his writing in the circus march style is not highly regarded.


Examples

* ''The ABA March'' by
Edwin Franko Goldman Edwin Franko Goldman (January 1, 1878 – February 21, 1956) was an American composer and conductor. One of the most significant American band composers of the early 20th century, Goldman composed over 150 works, but is best known for his marches. ...
* ''Americans We'' by
Henry Fillmore Henry Fillmore (December 3, 1881 – December 7, 1956) was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best known for his many marches and screamers, a few of which he wrote for the Band of the Hour at the University of Miami in ...
* ''
Barnum and Bailey's Favorite "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite" is a circus march written by Karl King for the circus of the same name in 1913. Composition of the march "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite", often referred to as "The Granddaddy of Circus Marches", was composed by Karl K ...
'' by
Karl L. King Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – February 19, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite". The most expensive painting in Iowa, the "Karl L. King Portrait ...
* ''Bennett's Triumphal'' by
Melvin H. Ribble Melvin H. Ribble (January 11, 1870 – May 3, 1964) was an American cornetist, baritone hornist, and prolific composer and arranger of concert band music. Career In 1889 Ribble, moved from his hometown, Clarinda, Iowa, to Lincoln, Nebraska, to ...
* ''The Big Cage'' by
Karl L. King Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – February 19, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite". The most expensive painting in Iowa, the "Karl L. King Portrait ...
* ''
The Billboard March "The Billboard March" is a circus march written in 1901 by John N. Klohr, and dedicated to the ''Billboard'' music-industry magazine. Its tune is widely known among Americans, and it has been repeatedly used in mass media, even though its title i ...
'' by
John N. Klohr John Nicholas Klohr (July 27, 1869 – February 17, 1956) was a composer of band music. Klohr was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. A graduate of the Cincinnati public schools, Klohr set upon a career in music, especially vaudeville. He was a vaudeville ...
* ''Bombasto'' by
Orion R. Farrar Orion R Farrar was a marching band director and composer. Farrar was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1866, son of an English shoemaker and an Indiana woman. Soon after his birth, his family moved to Warren, Ohio. At the age of 19, Farrar enroll ...
* ''Bones Trombone'' by
Henry Fillmore Henry Fillmore (December 3, 1881 – December 7, 1956) was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best known for his many marches and screamers, a few of which he wrote for the Band of the Hour at the University of Miami in ...
* ''Bravura'' by
Charles E. Duble Charles Edward Duble (September 13, 1884 – August 1960) was an American band musician and composer. He played for 23 years in circus bands. Career Duble's career started as trombonist with Sun Bros. Circus in 1909, and he played in others su ...
* ''Bugles and Drums'' by
Edwin Franko Goldman Edwin Franko Goldman (January 1, 1878 – February 21, 1956) was an American composer and conductor. One of the most significant American band composers of the early 20th century, Goldman composed over 150 works, but is best known for his marches. ...
* ''
The Circus Bee "The Circus Bee" is a circus march, or screamer, composed by Henry Fillmore Henry Fillmore (December 3, 1881 – December 7, 1956) was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best known for his many marches and screamers, ...
'' by
Henry Fillmore Henry Fillmore (December 3, 1881 – December 7, 1956) was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best known for his many marches and screamers, a few of which he wrote for the Band of the Hour at the University of Miami in ...
* ''Circus Days'' by
Karl L. King Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – February 19, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite". The most expensive painting in Iowa, the "Karl L. King Portrait ...
* ''Circus Echoes'' by
Arthur W. Hughes Arthur Wellesley Hughes (1870–1950) was a Canadian musician and composer. Born in Kingston, Ontario, he separated from his family at a young age, spending many years in the United States as an itinerant circus musician. He was a perfor ...
* ''Circus King'' by
Charles E. Duble Charles Edward Duble (September 13, 1884 – August 1960) was an American band musician and composer. He played for 23 years in circus bands. Career Duble's career started as trombonist with Sun Bros. Circus in 1909, and he played in others su ...
* ''Coat of Arms'' by George Kenny * ''Floto's Triumph'' by
Fred Jewell Frederick Alton Jewell (Worthington, Indiana May 28, 1875 - Worthington, Indiana, February 11, 1936), was a prolific musical composer who wrote over 100 marches and screamers, including: Fred Jewell * "Battle Royal" (1909) * "Floto's Triumph" ( ...
* ''His Honor'' by
Henry Fillmore Henry Fillmore (December 3, 1881 – December 7, 1956) was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best known for his many marches and screamers, a few of which he wrote for the Band of the Hour at the University of Miami in ...
* ''Invictus'' by
Karl L. King Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – February 19, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite". The most expensive painting in Iowa, the "Karl L. King Portrait ...
* ''Klaxon'' by
Henry Fillmore Henry Fillmore (December 3, 1881 – December 7, 1956) was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best known for his many marches and screamers, a few of which he wrote for the Band of the Hour at the University of Miami in ...
* ''
The Melody Shop "The Melody Shop" is one of Karl King's most popular marches. The march is written in E♭, with its trio section changing keys to the subdominant A♭ as is typical for marches and polkas. Excerpts of the march are commonly used in auditions for ...
'' by
Karl L. King Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – February 19, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite". The most expensive painting in Iowa, the "Karl L. King Portrait ...
* ''Onward and Upward'' by
Edwin Franko Goldman Edwin Franko Goldman (January 1, 1878 – February 21, 1956) was an American composer and conductor. One of the most significant American band composers of the early 20th century, Goldman composed over 150 works, but is best known for his marches. ...
* ''Robinson's Grand Entree'' by
Karl L. King Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – February 19, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite". The most expensive painting in Iowa, the "Karl L. King Portrait ...
* '' Rolling Thunder'' by
Henry Fillmore Henry Fillmore (December 3, 1881 – December 7, 1956) was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best known for his many marches and screamers, a few of which he wrote for the Band of the Hour at the University of Miami in ...
* ''Sells-Floto Triumphal'' by
Karl L. King Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – February 19, 1971) was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of "Barnum and Bailey's Favorite". The most expensive painting in Iowa, the "Karl L. King Portrait ...
* ''The Squealer'' by
Will Huff William Lockwood Huff (January 16, 1875 – November 5, 1942) was a composer of band music best known for his military marches and the circus march ''The Squealer''. He was born in Massieville, Ohio and grew up in Coalton, Ohio. He took up his f ...
* ''The Screamer'' by Frederick Jewell * ''Smilin' Jack'' by
Robert S. Keller The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, ho ...
* ''Them Basses'' by
Getty H. Huffine Getty may refer to: The Getty family and its businesses * Getty family * George Getty (1855–1930), American lawyer and father of J. Paul Getty * J. Paul Getty (1892–1976), wealthy American industrialist and founder of Getty Oil * Talitha G ...


Marches composed for standard march tempo but frequently performed as screamers

* ''
Entrance of the Gladiators "Entrance of the Gladiators" op. 68 or "Entry of the Gladiators" ( cz, Vjezd gladiátorů) is a military march composed in 1897 by the Czech composer Julius Fučík. He originally titled it "Grande Marche Chromatique", reflecting the use of chr ...
'' (also known as ''Thunder and Blazes'' when played as a screamer) by Julius Fučík


See also

*
Circus music 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, fox ...
*
American march music American march music is march music written and/or performed in the United States. Its origins are those of European composers borrowing from the military music#March music, military music of the Ottoman Empire in place there from the 16th centu ...


Notes

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References

* Fennell, Dr. Frederick: Screamers (Circus Marches),
Eastman Wind Ensemble The Eastman Wind Ensemble was founded by conductor Frederick Fennell at the Eastman School of Music in 1952. The ensemble is often credited with helping redefine the performance of wind band music. At the time, concert bands used all of their playe ...
. *Whitmarsch, Richard: Sounds of the Circus (28 volumes of circus music) Circus music March music