A screamer is a circus 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. Ringmasters sought screamers because march music was a prominent part of American music at that time, and their quick tempo was what their inciting role 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, 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 is often required in order to play these rhythms. The trio in "The Melody Shop" 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 woodwinds 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 is rarely used.
Composers Composers of screamers included Karl L. King, whose work included "Barnum & Bailey's Favorite", Fred Jewell and Henry Fillmore. John Philip Sousa 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 Americans We by Henry Fillmore Barnum and Bailey's Favorite by Karl L. King Bennett's Triumphal by Melvin H. Ribble The Big Cage by Karl L. King The Billboard March by John N. Klohr Bombasto by Orion R. Farrar Bones Trombone by Henry Fillmore Bravura by Charles E. Duble Bugles and Drums by Edwin Franko Goldman The Circus Bee by Henry Fillmore Circus Days by Karl L. King Circus Echoes by Arthur W. Hughes Circus King by Charles E. Duble Coat of Arms by George Kenny Floto's Triumph by Fred Jewell His Honor by Henry Fillmore Invictus by Karl L. King In Storm and Sunshine by John Clifford Heed Klaxon by Henry Fillmore The Melody Shop by Karl L. King Onward and Upward by Edwin Franko Goldman Robinson's Grand Entree by Karl L. King Rolling Thunder by Henry Fillmore Sells-Floto Triumphal by Karl L. King The Squealer by Will Huff The Screamer by Frederick Jewell Smilin' Jack by Robert S. Keller Them Basses by Getty H. Huffine Whip and Spur by Thomas S. Allen
Standard tempo marches frequently performed as screamers Entrance of the Gladiators (also known as Thunder and Blazes when played as a screamer) by Julius Fučík
See also Circus music American march music
Notes
References Fennell, Dr. Frederick: Screamers (Circus Marches), Eastman Wind Ensemble. Whitmarsch, Richard: Sounds of the Circus (28 volumes of circus music)