Screamer (march)
Encyclopedia
A screamer is a descriptive name for a circus
march
, in particular, an upbeat march intended to stir up the audience during the show.
Although screamers tend to follow the march form, many times they are abbreviated, and additions, such as a quick cornet call introduction to a new melody
, are included. The average screamer can last 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.
, most notably with his march Barnum & Bailey's Favorite. Other screamer composers include 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 renowned.
Circus
A circus is commonly a travelling company of performers that may include clowns, acrobats, trained animals, trapeze acts, musicians, hoopers, tightrope walkers, jugglers, unicyclists and other stunt-oriented artists...
march
March (music)
A march, as a musical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by a military band. In mood, marches range from the moving death march in Wagner's Götterdämmerung to the brisk military marches of John...
, in particular, an upbeat 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 ringleaders 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, many times they are abbreviated, and additions, such as a quick cornet call introduction to a new melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
, are included. The average screamer can last 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
Tonguing is a technique used with wind instruments to enunciate different notes using the tongue on the reed or woodwind mouthpiece or brass mouthpiece. A silent "tee" is made when the tongue strikes the reed or roof of the mouth causing a slight breach in the air flow through the instrument. If a...
is often required in order to play these rhythms. The trio in The Melody Shop
The Melody Shop
"The Melody Shop" is one of Karl King's most popular marches and one of the most popular marches of all time. The March is Written in Eb and then Switches to Ab at the Trio. Excerpts of the March are commonly used in auditions for Euphoniums and Baritone Horns auditioning for a spot in a Military...
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
Dynamics (music)
In music, dynamics normally refers to the volume of a sound or note, but can also refer to every aspect of the execution of a given piece, either stylistic or functional . The term is also applied to the written or printed musical notation used to indicate dynamics...
is rarely used.
Composers
The most prominent composer of circus marches is Karl L. KingKarl King
Karl L. King was a United States march music bandmaster and composer. He is best known as the composer of Barnum and Bailey's Favorite.-Biography:...
, most notably with his march Barnum & Bailey's Favorite. Other screamer composers include Fred Jewell
Fred Jewell
Frederick Alton Jewell, born 1875 in Worthington, Indiana, was a prolific musical composer who wrote over 100 marches and screamers, including:*Battle Royal *Floto's Triumph *Quality Plus *E Pluribus Unum *Supreme Triumph...
, and Henry Fillmore
Henry Fillmore
Henry Fillmore was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best-known for his many marches and screamers.-Biography:James Henry Fillmore Jr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio as the eldest of five children...
. John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
wrote On Parade and a few others, but his writing in the circus march style is not renowned.
Popular screamers
- The ABA March by Edwin Franko GoldmanEdwin Franko GoldmanEdwin Franko Goldman is one of America's prominent band composers of the early 20th century. He composed over 150 works, more notably his marches. He is known for founding the renowned Goldman Band of New York City and the American Bandmasters Association...
- Americans We by Henry FillmoreHenry FillmoreHenry Fillmore was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best-known for his many marches and screamers.-Biography:James Henry Fillmore Jr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio as the eldest of five children...
- Barnum & Bailey's FavoriteBarnum and Bailey's FavoriteBarnum 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 King in 1913 and was published through C. L. Barnhouse...
by Karl L. King - Bennett's Triumphal by Melvin H. RibbleMelvin H. RibbleMelvin H Ribble was born on January 11, 1870; he died on May 3, 1964. In 1889 he was a cornetist with the Ashman Band of Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1898 he moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he obtained work as a staff arranger with Harry L. Alford's music publishing company. He worked writing custom...
- The Big Cage by Karl L. King
- The Billboard MarchThe 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 is little known....
by John N. KlohrJohn N. KlohrJohn Nicholas Klohr 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 trombonist by trade, but also performed as a member of Cincinnati's musical life... - Bombasto by Orion R. FarrarOrion R. FarrarOrion 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 enrolled in the famous Dana Musical Institute in Warren,...
- Bones Trombone by Henry FillmoreHenry FillmoreHenry Fillmore was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best-known for his many marches and screamers.-Biography:James Henry Fillmore Jr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio as the eldest of five children...
- Bravura by Charles E. DubleCharles E. DubleCharles Edward Duble was an American band musician and composer. He played for 23 years in circus bands. His career started as trombonist with Sun Bros. Circus in 1909, and he played in others such as Gentry Bros. Dog & Pony Show, H. W...
- Bugles and Drums by Edwin Franko GoldmanEdwin Franko GoldmanEdwin Franko Goldman is one of America's prominent band composers of the early 20th century. He composed over 150 works, more notably his marches. He is known for founding the renowned Goldman Band of New York City and the American Bandmasters Association...
- The Circus BeeThe Circus Bee"The Circus Bee" is a circus march composed by Henry Fillmore in February 1908. It is a technically advanced composition and is used as openers and encores in concerts....
by Henry FillmoreHenry FillmoreHenry Fillmore was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best-known for his many marches and screamers.-Biography:James Henry Fillmore Jr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio as the eldest of five children... - Circus Days by Karl L. King
- Circus Echoes by Arthur W. Hughes
- Circus King by Charles E. DubleCharles E. DubleCharles Edward Duble was an American band musician and composer. He played for 23 years in circus bands. His career started as trombonist with Sun Bros. Circus in 1909, and he played in others such as Gentry Bros. Dog & Pony Show, H. W...
- Coat of Arms by George Kenny
- Floto's Triumph by Fred JewellFred JewellFrederick Alton Jewell, born 1875 in Worthington, Indiana, was a prolific musical composer who wrote over 100 marches and screamers, including:*Battle Royal *Floto's Triumph *Quality Plus *E Pluribus Unum *Supreme Triumph...
- His Honor by Henry FillmoreHenry FillmoreHenry Fillmore was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best-known for his many marches and screamers.-Biography:James Henry Fillmore Jr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio as the eldest of five children...
- Invictus by Karl L. King
- Klaxon by Henry FillmoreHenry FillmoreHenry Fillmore was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best-known for his many marches and screamers.-Biography:James Henry Fillmore Jr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio as the eldest of five children...
- The Melody ShopThe Melody Shop"The Melody Shop" is one of Karl King's most popular marches and one of the most popular marches of all time. The March is Written in Eb and then Switches to Ab at the Trio. Excerpts of the March are commonly used in auditions for Euphoniums and Baritone Horns auditioning for a spot in a Military...
by Karl L. King - Onward and Upward by Edwin Franko GoldmanEdwin Franko GoldmanEdwin Franko Goldman is one of America's prominent band composers of the early 20th century. He composed over 150 works, more notably his marches. He is known for founding the renowned Goldman Band of New York City and the American Bandmasters Association...
- Robinson's Grand Entree by Karl L. King
- Rolling Thunder by Henry FillmoreHenry FillmoreHenry Fillmore was an American musician, composer, publisher, and bandleader, best-known for his many marches and screamers.-Biography:James Henry Fillmore Jr. was born in Cincinnati, Ohio as the eldest of five children...
- The Squealer by Will Huff
- The Screamer by Frederick JewellFred JewellFrederick Alton Jewell, born 1875 in Worthington, Indiana, was a prolific musical composer who wrote over 100 marches and screamers, including:*Battle Royal *Floto's Triumph *Quality Plus *E Pluribus Unum *Supreme Triumph...
- Smilin' Jack by Robert S. Keller
- Them Basses by Getty H. HuffineGetty H. HuffineGetty Herschel Huffine was an American music composer, trombonist and tuba player. He was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky on August 25, 1889 , the eldest of 4 children ....
- Thunder and BlazesEntrance of the Gladiators"Entrance of the Gladiators" or "Entry of the Gladiators" is a military march composed in 1897 by the Czech composer Julius Fučík...
(Originally Entry of the Gladiators) (1897) by Julius FučíkJulius Fucík (composer)Julius Arnost Wilhelm Fučík was a Czech composer and conductor of military bands.Fučík spent most of his life as the leader of military brass bands. He became a prolific composer, with over 300 marches, polkas, and waltzes to his name...