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Post by Whup Em All on Dec 9, 2022 14:50:20 GMT -6
It's almost that time of year when we all look ahead to next fall and speculate on the Southerners' repertoire.
Will this finally be the year we do our tribute to Beyonce? Or will we appeal to the intelligentsia with an exploration of the works of John Cage? (A 4'33" opener would be FIRE.)
In all seriousness, Southerners will probably lean toward a more patriotic/Americana show this year, since the band will be featured the following June at the 80th anniversary of the Normandy invasion in France.
Last time they had a trip like this (the Pearl Harbor 75th anniversary in 2016) Dr. Bodiford and company programmed probably their most emotionally searing show ever. I still can't watch that a certain moment of that show without getting dust in my eyes. The repertoire this year included Independence Day, Swing Swing Swing (from 1941), Honor (from The Pacific), and a finale featuring Battle Hymn of the Republic and other Americana songs.
I don't know if they'd go with another wartime show or something more along the lines of an American-themed show like 2010's "From Sea to Shining Sea". That one opened with Rocky Point Holiday, then Ol Man River/Sweet Georgia Brown, then Shenandoah and Appalachian Spring. Very American, but not a typical "patriotic" show with Sousa tunes and stuff.
I could very easily see them pulling some themes from Saving Private Ryan, The Longest Day, and some other Normandy-invasion movies. (If it doesn't include at least a hint of John Williams' "Hymn to the Fallen" something is very very wrong...) Really, anything from the European theater would work in this kind of show. Greyhound... Schindler's List... Dunkirk... maybe even some Vera Lynn...
There's also the "French composers" angle. Saint-Saëns, Ravel, Berlioz, Bizet, Fauré... there's some fertile ground here, some of which Southerners has hit on before. These guys weren't around for WWII, of course, so I dunno. It doesn't exactly lend itself to a "music of the Résistance" kind of show. I wouldn't be too surprised to see one of these composers *somewhere* in the show... I just don't think the full show would be devoted to them.
What do you think? What do you hope to see on the repertoire when the band makes its show announcement this February?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2022 15:27:15 GMT -6
Loud. In tune. All different music. I'm a simple man.
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Post by steelman on Dec 9, 2022 15:46:31 GMT -6
You're assumption is probably correct regarding a Patriotic theme ahead of the trip to Normandy, that just makes sense. However I was hoping this would be the year the Southerners would finally turn to something a bit more dark or jazzy rather than the recent string of "uplifting" show themes. The arrangements have recently sounded too much like soundtracks from Disney movies, and frankly very similar year to year. Give me some dark low brass books similar to the shows they played in the early 2000's. Or some sultry jazz with screaming trumpets would be nice change (i.e. Bluecoats). If they're doing a tribute to Normandy/WWII I like your suggestions from Private Ryan and Schindler's List. Some great dark emotional music from both of those movies.
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Post by Whup Em All on Dec 9, 2022 18:25:03 GMT -6
You're assumption is probably correct regarding a Patriotic theme ahead of the trip to Normandy, that just makes sense. However I was hoping this would be the year the Southerners would finally turn to something a bit more dark or jazzy rather than the recent string of "uplifting" show themes. The arrangements have recently sounded too much like soundtracks from Disney movies, and frankly very similar year to year. Give me some dark low brass books similar to the shows they played in the early 2000's. Or some sultry jazz with screaming trumpets would be nice change (i.e. Bluecoats). If they're doing a tribute to Normandy/WWII I like your suggestions from Private Ryan and Schindler's List. Some great dark emotional music from both of those movies. I'd love for them to move in a darker direction as well. (Plenty loud and in tune, of course, cockygeek.) The timing's not right for a Latin show, but my ultimate show is dark, loud, screaming Latin jazz. Second on my list is dark, loud symphonic music (Mahler, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky). Visually, the band can do a lot to make ANY type of music work in a "D-Day" show. But they won't really be marching their full field show in Normandy, so the music is going to have to carry the theme by itself. Assuming the band doesn't just go with a "patriotic" show but actually does do a more WWII-themed show (a la 2016), the big question would be, how far do they want to go with that idea? I mean, you could have a dark, loud, percussive, symphonic chart representing the invasion itself. I've seen a few amazing on-field representations of battle by drum corps and some marching bands. Not sure that's in Southerners' wheelhouse, but it's an idea. Follow that up with a slow ballad for the aftermath/memorial. Of course, now the order's messed up, since you need to fit a Ballerina tune in there somewhere. Maybe the show wouldn't start with the invasion... Have some other opener, then the Rinas, then the invasion. I dunno. The closer could be more of a hopeful, upbeat Americana chart or something patriotic. Or, ya know... Beyonce.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2022 11:26:57 GMT -6
What's the big January 1st announcement? Some new lavish trip? The only place we ever went was a day trip to Oxford, MS.
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Post by Whup Em All on Dec 28, 2022 15:08:52 GMT -6
What's the big January 1st announcement? Some new lavish trip? The only place we ever went was a day trip to Oxford, MS. I have no idea. Last time someone jokingly suggested a new trip, Bodiford said the Southerners would have to complete their Normandy trip first. (That's still a year and a half away.) I can't think of any other destinations worthy of a special announcement, unless they've been invited to the Rose Bowl Parade. (Which could explain the New Year's timing.) But that's ENTIRELY a guess on my part.
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Post by gemofthehills on Dec 29, 2022 6:56:22 GMT -6
Rock Run Christmas parade would be a great trip (joking)
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Powdered Soap
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Post by Powdered Soap on Dec 29, 2022 12:26:33 GMT -6
What's the big January 1st announcement? Some new lavish trip? The only place we ever went was a day trip to Oxford, MS. Heh, I'm gonna be disappointed if the "Big Announcement" turns out to just be Marching Southerners NFT trading cards.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 1, 2023 18:12:12 GMT -6
Voting on what previous tunes to play next year. Creativelly bankrupt. Just replay the 2005 show.
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Post by Whup Em All on Jan 2, 2023 10:35:42 GMT -6
I don't think it's creative bankruptcy. It's just a way to get fans involved. Thirty years as band director is a big deal. It matches Dr. Walters' tenure as director.
The biggest issue with a fan poll like this is that the arrangements will almost certainly be totally different than the first go round. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes not. Fans who hear that their favorite chart made the cut should steel themselves for that first listening. It really sucks when you're enjoying hearing the band playing their butts off and all of a sudden you're disappointed because the arrangement took a different direction.
(This isn't a Southerners problem. It's been a fact of life with marching band and drum corps since the very first time a familiar tune was rearranged for the field. It's just magnified a bit with "greatest hits" shows.)
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Post by jsu02 on Jan 4, 2023 17:50:50 GMT -6
I don't think it's creative bankruptcy. It's just a way to get fans involved. Thirty years as band director is a big deal. It matches Dr. Walters' tenure as director. The biggest issue with a fan poll like this is that the arrangements will almost certainly be totally different than the first go round. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes not. Fans who hear that their favorite chart made the cut should steel themselves for that first listening. It really sucks when you're enjoying hearing the band playing their butts off and all of a sudden you're disappointed because the arrangement took a different direction. (This isn't a Southerners problem. It's been a fact of life with marching band and drum corps since the very first time a familiar tune was rearranged for the field. It's just magnified a bit with "greatest hits" shows.) If I'm voting for a tune, I'm voting for that years arrangement. Can we have a Mark Fifer show?
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Post by Whup Em All on Jan 5, 2023 10:54:18 GMT -6
I don't think it's creative bankruptcy. It's just a way to get fans involved. Thirty years as band director is a big deal. It matches Dr. Walters' tenure as director. The biggest issue with a fan poll like this is that the arrangements will almost certainly be totally different than the first go round. Sometimes for the better. Sometimes not. Fans who hear that their favorite chart made the cut should steel themselves for that first listening. It really sucks when you're enjoying hearing the band playing their butts off and all of a sudden you're disappointed because the arrangement took a different direction. (This isn't a Southerners problem. It's been a fact of life with marching band and drum corps since the very first time a familiar tune was rearranged for the field. It's just magnified a bit with "greatest hits" shows.) If I'm voting for a tune, I'm voting for that years arrangement. Can we have a Mark Fifer show? I didn't want to say it out loud. But it's probably OK for me to say "great minds think alike." Fifer was freaking amazing.
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Post by Whup Em All on Feb 14, 2023 15:33:50 GMT -6
For anyone who hasn't heard, the 2023 show announcement was released at midnight last night. The repertoire was voted on by students, alumni, and fans, based on the favorite charts of the Ken Bodiford era, which enters its 30th year this fall. Here's the rundown, including the year(s) the song was previously performed: R3FLECTI0N
Intro: Reflection from Mulan (Wilder & Zippel) - 2023 Opener: Firebird (Stravinsky) - 1998/2011; Fly to Paradise (Whitacre) - 2017 Ballerina Tune: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (Raye & Prince) - 2009 Ballad: I’ll Fly Away (Brumley) / Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Harburg) - 2012 Closer: Malagueña (Lecuona) - 1977/1985/1989/1995/2002/2013/2018; Reflection reprise Here's the official announcement page: www.marchingsoutherners.org/2023-show-reveal/
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Post by steelman on Feb 15, 2023 17:29:39 GMT -6
For anyone who hasn't heard, the 2023 show announcement was released at midnight last night. The repertoire was voted on by students, alumni, and fans, based on the favorite charts of the Ken Bodiford era, which enters its 30th year this fall. Here's the rundown, including the year(s) the song was previously performed: R3FLECTI0N
Intro: Reflection from Mulan (Wilder & Zippel) - 2023 Opener: Firebird (Stravinsky) - 1998/2011; Fly to Paradise (Whitacre) - 2017 Ballerina Tune: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (Raye & Prince) - 2009 Ballad: I’ll Fly Away (Brumley) / Somewhere Over the Rainbow (Harburg) - 2012 Closer: Malagueña (Lecuona) - 1977/1985/1989/1995/2002/2013/2018; Reflection reprise Here's the official announcement page: www.marchingsoutherners.org/2023-show-reveal/I do love all of this music and think its going to make a great show. Malaguena was no surprise at all, I mean who doesn't love hearing Southerners play that? Has it been overdone? Perhaps, but it is pretty much a signature song for Southerners. Some of the other songs, while also great, are surprising to me to be the top picks of the alumni. Each has only been played once or twice in the 30 years and don't really have the same connection to the Southerners that Malaguena and other often played fan favorite songs on the selection list would have had (i.e. One More Time, Carmina Burana, Carmen, Spirit of the Bull, etc.). But then again they would have ended up with a mostly Spanish themed show which has been done way too often. Obviously I'll Fly Away has a very special connection and definitely should be on the list. No complaints from me though, I'm just more surprised these were the top picks. Can't wait to see this live and hopefully see the wedge crab again!
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Post by Whup Em All on Feb 16, 2023 11:33:11 GMT -6
It's a great show, but I was surprised by some of the choices as well.
Malagueña surprised absolutely no one. As soon as the vote was announced on Facebook, half the comments mentioned it.
The biggest surprises for me were the ballad and the Ballerina tune.
I'll Fly Away is certainly special and all, but as a ballad, it wasn't the greatest of the past 10 years, let alone the past 30. I mean, Nessun Dorma, Elsa's Procession, Fire of Eternal Glory... I could go on.
As for Boogie Woogie... it's not that it's bad. I just don't remember it being all that special. I was really hoping for something like "Don't Rain on My Parade" (Southerners played it in the Macy's parade in '96) or something more memorable like the Bottle Dance. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy wasn't even the high point of the 2009 show, let alone the entire Bodiford era.
But none of the choices (even those I targeted above) are *bad*. It's going to be a show with absolutely no low points, and I'm really, truly, deeply, sincerely hoping my family's schedule will finally allow us to get up there and see it in person. Should be flippin' awesome.
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