THE BALLOON MAN

 

 

Larry the Answer Guy:

 A circus ringing in the ears
from:  reporternews.com
Posted October 4, 2012
With the circus coming to town Saturday, can you tell me the name of that music you always hear associated with a circus? — Abilene

The music, which I have been humming while writing this (apparently it doesn't make you write faster), originated as a military march by Czech composer Julius Fucik, according to allmusic.com. Fucik's "Entry of the Gladiators," written in the late 1890s, was later arranged by Canadian composer Louis-Phillipe Laurendeau into a piece for small bands titled as "Thunder and Blazes." The fast-paced arrangement became popular for calliopes and bands used in circuses, and has gained a reputation as "clown music."

Numerous versions of the march can be heard on youtube.com under both titles.

The Shrine Circus will have performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Taylor County Coliseum. I'm hoping "Entry of the Gladiators" will be out of my head by then.
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/oct/04/larry-the-answer-guy-a-circus-ringing-in-the/