Carnival/circus music?

[aaronishappy]

Hello everyone. So I've been asked to help perform at a music festival in 2 weeks time. The theme of the festival will be "cirque du freak" so I am looking for a couple of tunes that would fit this style! I'd be particularly interested in tunes that are not too hard/complex, as I don't have much time and have other commitments in the meantime too. But, all suggestions welcome! At the moment I'm going through some tunes I found on Youtube by typing "circus accordion" and trying to pick them out by ear.

Cheers

 

[TomBR]

Entry of the Gladiators is surely the classic for that purpose.

For the cirque du freak element Ron Graingers theme for Tales of the Unexpected comes to mind.

....though Im wondering whether a playable accordion version would only work for audience that recognise it....

 

[aaronishappy]

Ah yes, Entry of the Gladiators! All the versions I see seem like a bit of a handful - anyone got a simplified version, either audio or dots? I would normally learn the original one but as I say I need to learn as many as possible in a short amount of time!

 

[Corsaire]

I would also have suggested Entry of the Gladiators !
There's another one that's sometimes associated with circuses : Over the Waves by J Rosas. It's very easy and rather a gentle waltz and I've heard it accompanying trapeze artists !

 

[aaronishappy]

That is perfect Corsaire! Just what I'm looking for. Now I have two, and should have them learned in a day or two. I really would like Entry of the Gladiators, might try to simplify it myself.

 

[Corsaire]

I have the music of Over the Waves if you need it .... just let me know.
The Entry of the Gladiators is much faster but the bass chords are very straightforward.

 

[TomBR]

I will admit that, humming "Gladiators" to myself I was thinking about arpeggiating some of the runs to make life easier!

"Over the Waves"- Of course!

Both tunes taking me back to sixties/seventies as a nipper.

 

[aaronishappy]

https://www.8notes.com/scores/16380.asp

A shorter, simpler version of Gladiators - perfect! I will potentially add some extra bits from the original version but for now this is perfect. So far I have on my list

Gladiators
Over the Waves
Carnival of Souls (https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMtM41M5uNs&list=PLDCWawytZttIkxxzq_nxyTzLUXcOR5Otx)

A few more would be nice! Tales of the Unexpected is nice but not 100% what Im looking for... the darker sounding the better! Though creepy/dark is not essential. I know quite a few klezmer and Russian tunes, I think I can pass a few of them off as circus... sure arent the Russians renowned for their circus!?

 

[Waldo]

Quick and easy;
Daring young man on the flying trapeze
Take me out to the ball game? Maybe?

 

[Nuuksu]

1) O Mein Papa
2) Carneval of Venice
3) Circus Renz - quite fast but otherwise not very complex.

One circus medley from De Kermisklanten <YOUTUBE id=_rwtd_sKTyU url=></YOUTUBE>