A Circus Built with Sound: A Look at Turina’s El Circo

Abstract

Circus culture, whose foundations were laid centuries ago, consists of performances carried out jointly by humans and animals. Originally conceived for entertainment, this form of spectacle gradually evolved into an art form and, through its fusion with music, came to occupy a position distinct from its earliest examples. This theme, which has inspired many composers, also found a place in the works of the Spanish composer Joaquín Turina. Born in Spain, the composer was trained in Madrid and Paris, studying with figures such as Moszkowski and d'Indy, and shaped his musical style by combining what he learned in these studies with the Andalusian music of his roots. Turina achieved great renown through the compositions he produced under the guidance of his teachers and, later, of Albéniz. The composer's work El Circo is constructed from a variety of motivic patterns symbolizing the circus's different acts and characters.

Keywords: Joaquín Turina, El Circo, piano

DOI: 10.7176/ADS/116-07

Publication date: October 30th 2026