The Kallyope Yell

Vachel Lindsay uses the circus as an allegory for the modern world in all its raucous, democratic beauty. Significantly for him, though, the circus also has an orderly flow of events. Indeed, while the lion may roar, he is nonetheless tamed. In my setting, the percussion (two players) provides its characteristic clash and bang, but also a usually steady motoric pulse. The choral harmonies are advanced and often tonally ambiguous, yet they are “civilized” by their presentation in a theme and variations form known as a chaconne. For the most part, the chorus’ text is derived from the steam-powered sound world of the titular instrument: “Willy-willy-willy-wah-hoo, “sizz-fizz,” “ hoot-toot,” “whoop-whoop.”