THE TROMBONE KING

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'The Trombone King' was written by Karl King in 1945. As might be expected, the trombone part rarely calms down during this march, nor any King march, for that matter. Performed by the 1971 University of Illinois Concert Band.

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Symphonic Band Performances

Contemporary band compositions, classical music arrangements, marches, jazz, symphonies, overtures. A collection from bands that I have played in throughout hi

Hello and welcome! "Symphonic Band Performances" is a compilation of recordings from several high school and college bands that I played in including the TMEA (Texas) All State Band, the TMEA Region X All Region Band, the Interlochen Arts Academy National Music Camp, the Cal Poly Tech Band, San Luis Obispo, the USAF Golden West Band, and recordings from my h.s. band, Beaumont H.S. and a few band recordings that were passed down to me. Also included are various All State groups and college and university bands. I participated and played in the large majority of these recordings. There are no professional recordings here and every recording is Public Domain. Most are available for free download. Each song has been converted from the original analog or digital source and edited with Audacity or Dak software. In the majority of these recordings, I play the tenor sax or alto sax, b flat or e flat clarinet, or directing. I was drum major for 2 years in high school, I have a BA from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, where I studied music ed, composition and theory. I had about 500 more recordings I was planning to digitize and upload, but this past Nov. 20th, my home was completely destroyed by fire, and all the contents, including all my music and instruments. So, this is it. Please feel free to post a comment here or on my member page. If you like, please become a fan by clicking "I'm a fan" below.

Song Info

Genre

Classical • Ensembles

Rights

public domain

Uploaded

October 03, 2009

Track Files

MP3

MP3 2.9 MB • 192 kbps • 2:05

Story behind the song

Karl L. King's distinguished career as a bandmaster, prolific composer and musician made him a legend in his own lifetime. Everyone has heard his Barnum and Bailey's Favorite which, along with the other 200 marches he composed, assured him the world-wide status of March King along with John Philip Sousa and Henry Fillmore.
Karl Lawrence King was born in the Ohio village of Paintersville February 21, 1891, and grew up in Xenia, Cleveland, and Canton. The local town band in Canton stirred his love and talent for music, so at the age of eleven he bought a cornet with money earned by selling newspapers and began taking lessons. He soon exchanged that instrument for a euphonium which he played in the Canton Marine Band (made up of boys his own age). 
Karl's only formal music instruction consisted of four piano lessons and one harmony lesson from a musical show director, William Bradford. Since his formal education ended with completion of the eighth grade, he then set about learning the printing trade as an apprentice. Composing at night, Karl worked at the printer's shop during the day.
At age 19, Karl joined Robinson's Famous Circus (1910) as a baritone player. Over the next several years he played baritone with the Yankee-Robinson (1911), Sells-Floto (directed by W.P. English, 1912), and Barnum & Bailey Circuses (directed by Ned Brill, 1913). It was in that year that he wrote Barnum and Bailey's Favorite, which became one of the most popular marches in the world. It was soon adopted as the theme song of that circus.