Comments on: Question re: ‘Snide Remarks’ circus column

By: pizzocalabro

pizzocalabro — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 22:01:53 +0000

Actually, none of the sources I consulted (Wikipedia, Grove Music Database) said anything about it being written FOR the circus or FOR the clowns. According to both sources, the march was composed by Czech composer Julius FuÃ„?ÃƒÂk, and was originally entitled “Grande Marche Chromatique” (from the extensive use of the chromatic scale in the work). Per Wikipedia, “FuÃ„?ÃƒÂk’s interest in Roman history” (and not his interest in the circus) was the reason he later renamed it “Einzug des Gladiatoren” (German for “Entrance of the Gladiators”). I imagine the work was first played for the entrance of the clowns as a kind of overinflated ironic statement, but now the irony is lost because no one has heard the original orchestral version.

It’s kind of sad that not only is he not remembered for anything else outside of his native Czech Republic, but the one piece of his that we do remember is inextricably linked to clowns and the circus, and is played calliope, no less.

By: Sharell

Sharell — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 17:48:14 +0000

Just in case anyone’s interested, “Entrance of the Gladiators” does not, in fact, refer to actual Roman gladiators. It was traditionally the music played in the circus when the elephants came in. Today’s piece of useless information brought to you by the Foundation for People with Too Much Time on Their Hands at Work.

By: Mist

Mist — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:00:42 +0000

I instantly thought of the Simpsons when Homer was going to be a clown. He had the doot-doot music going in his head.

By: Cat

Cat — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 19:40:26 +0000

When you said circus music, I heard it, the doot-doots confirmed it, but after you asked if what we heard was right, of course in Hermionesque-fashion, I had to check the source to make sure I was right. Yep, dead on… IS there any other “circus music?”

By: Audrey

Audrey — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 22:32:35 +0000

I was listening to music while I read the column, so I had to read the doot-doots in order for it to sink in. I did NOT click the link. Do you think I want to have clown nightmares?

Also, I recently went to a local fair and they had a bearded lady and a sword swallower and everything in the side show. I wanted desperately to go in, but my date refused. However, I did get to ride an elephant and eat alligator on a stick, so take that, PETA!

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 07:28:35 +0000

I got it immediately on doot doot doot

By: whome

whome — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 22:49:34 +0000

I have five young kids, and we have the DUMBO dvd which plays that song annoyingly during some of the extras which my younger kids like. So I got it immediately … but was annoyed to have pulsing in my head again.

By: Lane

Lane — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:37:55 +0000

I didn’t get it from “circus music” alone, because I was reading it in a general sense rather than as a single specific piece of music, but the doots did the trick. And then I listened to the the music because I saw there was a link that would repeat what I had just read and what I was already thinking and they say the best way to learn something is to read it, think it, and then click a link about it.

By: robcan2

robcan2 — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 16:11:03 +0000

You got it right wgh!

By: Fozzy Bear

Fozzy Bear — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 13:34:35 +0000

Yes Circus Music was enough…and then you terrified me with the doots!

Tonights nightmare brought to you by Eric D. Snider

so thanks