Battle Royal

Most marches reserve the instrumental “fireworks” for the trio interlude – also known as the “break-up” or “dog-fight” strain.  In Battle Royal – composed in 1909 when Jewell’s euphonium playing skill was near its peak – the lower and upper brass begin their melody-countermelody “battle” at the introduction and never let up. Battle Royal is the obvious work of a circus musician who knew how to generate circus crowd excitement.