All About Clowns

Time for Costumes?

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Circus Music

Originally, Circus Music consisted of marches and other music styles written by various composers. In the twentieth century, however, conductors and other circus musicians began writing thier own music for performances.

Theme Songs

The various acts and even individual performers would have their own specific 'theme song.' When that particular song began, it was a cue for the performer and sometimes avid audience members would even know what act to expect, simply by the music playing.

Typical Songs

The following list comes from the album Circus Music From The Big Top - The Greatest Show On Earth by the Merle Evans Circus Band. It includes songs typically used by clowns and other circus and carnival performers as their theme songs.

Triumphal March - Used for grand entry
International Vaudville - Used for acrobats on high
Dusty Trombone - Used for music at intermission
Embossing the Emblem - Used for the performers on the tram
The Walking Frog - Used for performing seals
Gallito - Used in three rings for horses
Thunder and Lightning - Used for acrobats with feats of strength
Siamese Parade - Used while the jugglers perform
Valse Bleue - Used during the flying trapeze acts

Circus Spectacular!

Standards on
the Calliope

Merle Evans directed the Circus Band for Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1919 to 1969.

There have been so many songs written over the years specifically written or arranged to accompany circus acts that it would be impossible to give you a good selection on one little page. Below you will find links to many of the most famous Circus Music.