In music, a “galop” is a lively, fast-paced dance or march, typically written in 2/4 time with a rapid tempo, meant to evoke the sound and rhythm of horses galloping.
It originated in early 19th-century ballrooms and became popular as a closing dance, full of energy and excitement. In band and circus music, a galop evolved into a short, brilliant showpiece, often the fastest number in the repertoire, used to grab attention or end a concert with flair.
Geoff McGregor opens this edition of Brass Encounters with “The Old Circus Band Galop”, by Fred Jewell, very much a piece in that tradition. It is a fast, spirited circus march filled with driving rhythms, bright brass, and quick snare drum patterns. It mimics the exhilarating rush of a circus finale, often played to signal the end of a performance or to accompany an exciting act like horse riding or acrobatics.
Spending much of his career playing and conducting in travelling circuses, Jewell was a virtuoso euphonium player, and also a prolific composer who wrote over 100 marches and screamers.
