Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite (1913)

Circus March

Karl King (1891 – 1971)

Saxophone Choir

Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite by Karl King, arranged for Saxophone Choir. Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite by Karl King is famous circus march or screamer. The march was written at the request of Ned Brill, bandmaster of Barnum and Bailey’s Circus. It became the theme of that circus. It’s a fast, fun exercise in dynamics and dexterity. This arrangement is for 15 part saxophone choir but is easily played by a smaller ensembles by omitting the optional parts. Parts included:

• Full Score Saxophone Choir
• Sopranino Sax, optional
• Soprano Sax 1-3 (3rd part optional)
• Alto Sax 1-4 (3rd & 4th parts optional)
• Tenor Sax 1-4 (3rd & 4th parts optional)
• Baritone Sax 1-2 (2nd parts optional)
• Bass Sax, optional

It may be played by as few as seven players by using soprano 1-2, alto 1-2, tenor 1-2, and baritone 1. Add the optional parts if players are available. This arrangement is based on the original 1913 Barnhouse edition. It is in the original keys of A flat modulating to D flat at the trio. Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite is played at a fast tempo, between 120 to 160 bpm. This saxophone choir arrangement is for moderately advanced to advanced players.

• The range for each saxophone part is shown below.
• Audio and score excerpts are available above

About the Composer

Karl L. King (February 21, 1891 – March 31, 1971) was a self-taught musician who wrote over 300 works, including “Barnum and Bailey’s Favorite”. He was the bandmaster of several circus bands and the Fort Dodge Municipal Band, and founded the K.L. King Music House.

King grew up as a self-taught musician with very little schooling of any kind (he left school after the eighth grade, age fourteen). His only music instruction included assistance from local musicians when he played brass instruments in the Canton Marine Band. He also had a few piano lessons and one harmony lesson from musical show director William Bradford. He learned to compose by studying scores. He quit school to learn the printing trade (while composing music at night), but soon switched to playing in and composing for bands.

From 1910 to 1918 King played with various circus bands including the Barnum and Bailey Circus where he wrote “Barnum and Bailey’s favorite”. Later he became director of the Fort Dodge Municipal Band. He remained in that post for fifty one years. Throughout his career he composed nearly 300 works.

Karl King was honored with many prestigious awards: elected in 1962 to the highest honor that can come to a band director, the Academy of Wind and Percussion Arts, elected in 1966 to the Society of European Stage Actors and Composers, given in 1967 the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity Distinguished Service Award, and in 1971, the Edwin Franco Goldman Award – the first non-school band director to receive this coveted award.