Circus Maximus was composed at the behest of the conductor Jerry Junkin, Director of Bands at the University of Texas at Austin. Junkin had originally approached Corigliano about composing a wind ensemble piece years before, but the composer turned the offer down, later remarking, "the thought of that enormous ensemble, composed of so many instruments I had never written for, overwhelmed me." Junkin persisted, however, and Corigliano eventually agreed to compose the work. Corigliano wrote in the score program notes, "Jerry wanted a large and theatrical piece: a third symphony. And, when I thought about that, it made a certain sense. My first symphony was for large symphony orchestra, my second for string orchestra alone, and this piece is for winds, brass and percussion alone." The title of the work came early in the composition process and is derived from the eponymous Romanchariot racingstadium Circus Maximus. Corigliano intended the title and music to reflect the decadence of the ancient Roman Empire with modern entertainment culture. In a 2010 interview with Lawrence A. Johnson of the Chicago Classical Review, the composer remarked:
Structure
The symphony has a duration of roughly 35 minutes and is composed in eight continuous movements:
Instrumentation
The symphony is scored for a large wind ensemble divided into three separate groups of players: the stage band, an antiphonal "surround band," and a marching band located at the back of the concert hall:
Stage band
;Woodwinds ;Brass ;Percussion ;Other
Surround band
Marching band
The stage band requires the use of a 12-gauge shotgun to be fired at the end of the piece.
Reception
Circus Maximus has received praise from music critics and audiences alike. Reviewing the world premiere, Robert Faires of The Austin Chronicle noted a five-minute standing ovation and four curtain calls after the works completion. He described the scene at the premiere, remarking, " was more than a concert; it was an event, and the autograph seekers, the exceptionally loud buzz in the hall, the longest line at the Bass box office that I've seen in 20 years all testified that Austin had caught the sense of moment in the air." In regards to the work itself, Faires wrote: Jeffrey Williams of the New York Concert Review observed a similar 10-minute standing ovation after a performance at Carnegie Hall, opining, "Circus Maximus is a musical depiction of this decadence, and a shockingly effective one at that. It is at turns brash, monstrous and grotesque, ear-splittingly loud, but also filled with humor and moments of poignancy. It grabs the listener by the throat and holds him there for the entirety of the work." The symphony has also been praised by Steve Smith of The New York Times, who wrote, "The piece is a major statement: the product of an enfant terrible grown into an elder statesman, his prodigious, provocative faculties razor sharp."
Recording
A recording of Circus Maximus, performed by the University of Texas Wind Ensemble under Jerry Junkin, was released in January 2009 through Naxos Records. The album also features Corigliano's four-movement Gazebo Dances arranged for concert band.
