10th Place Grand Nationals Finalist 87.45 The Music of: Nigel Clarke John Mackey Michael Giacchino Drum Majors: Maya Allen, Corran Hughes, Morgan Myers
Thanks for the post. I was a clarinet squad leader this year (my junior). We took a lot of time to convey the music this particular year. I hope that comes across to viewers now and in the future ❤✌🏽
This beautifully arranged and well executed show is begging for large-scale depictions of underwater creatures in battle. A show explanation video details a story about a diver in distress, hallucinations and return to safety, but the staging doesn't support it. The diver gets lost. (Also, is it a diver from 1950 science fiction movie? Why? If the entire show is in the vein of early sci-fi pictures, make it clear.) The drill beautifully illustrates the moods and landscape of the music, with appropriate stylistic changes and lots of field coverage, but what happens in this show? It's hard to tell. What is the dramatic action? A diver in distress? The audience simply can't decipher it. STAGE SET If the stage set is important enough to feature backfield, it's important enough to feature closer to the audience. That's the first clue that we're dealing with an inexperienced designer. The weaker the show concept, the more the stage set recedes into the background. The weaker the show concept, the less the stage set integrates into the high stakes action of the show. FOCUS The first five minutes of the show are completely without central focus. What do you want the audience to focus on? A diver? What's the visual point? The audience is quiet because they don't understand what the action is, or if there is any. In this case, I fear there isn't, really. The music is dramatic, but the focus on visual action is completely missing. 9:50 this is supposed to be the big emotional finish? We're desperate to believe in something, and the audience is begging for meaning. But a flag in the middle of a cluster of ensemble members ain't it. If it's a diver being rescued, let's see her. Also, the final movement is the diver retreating upstage, away from the audience? Why not closer to the audience? Closer is better than farther away. The staging in this is so odd.
@@donnix1192 Honestly, this production lacks logic and a relatable narrative. It begs the question, what does this have to do with the students? Isn't there some literary reference? Some historical reference? Or is he just riffing on the stories in his mind? If the diver is saved, we want to see that emotional moment, not from 100 yards away. That shows a basic lack of staging instinct.
@@donnix1192 I will never forget their 1985 program that included Pie Jesu as a ballad. That changed many lives, including my friend Cam Stasa of BOA. It's so long ago, but was one of those transformative moments in the activity. No joke.
@@jesuspectre9883 Marian Catholic is the greatest band program in American history, how many grand national championship caliber shows have you ever written and arranged?? John Mackey , the contemporary composer, doesn’t like how his music is used in marching band despite the ridiculous amount of programs that feature his work. Yet Mackey not only praised Bimm for his creativity in arranging his music- taking a string quartet and using winds-said he could never have imagined using his piece in that manner and was blown away. Once again, what have you ever wrote or created in the activity that warrants your critique of the greatest band director and music/visual creator in American history??
Thanks for the post. I was a clarinet squad leader this year (my junior). We took a lot of time to convey the music this particular year. I hope that comes across to viewers now and in the future ❤✌🏽
Was my first year at PNHS. Always loved your shows for the creative expression of emotions through the repertoire
"Rapture of the deep" is an expression for the medical term "Nitrogen Narcosis" which is the primary subject of this show. Fun!
This beautifully arranged and well executed show is begging for large-scale depictions of underwater creatures in battle. A show explanation video details a story about a diver in distress, hallucinations and return to safety, but the staging doesn't support it. The diver gets lost. (Also, is it a diver from 1950 science fiction movie? Why? If the entire show is in the vein of early sci-fi pictures, make it clear.)
The drill beautifully illustrates the moods and landscape of the music, with appropriate stylistic changes and lots of field coverage, but what happens in this show? It's hard to tell. What is the dramatic action? A diver in distress? The audience simply can't decipher it.
STAGE SET
If the stage set is important enough to feature backfield, it's important enough to feature closer to the audience. That's the first clue that we're dealing with an inexperienced designer. The weaker the show concept, the more the stage set recedes into the background. The weaker the show concept, the less the stage set integrates into the high stakes action of the show.
FOCUS
The first five minutes of the show are completely without central focus. What do you want the audience to focus on? A diver? What's the visual point? The audience is quiet because they don't understand what the action is, or if there is any. In this case, I fear there isn't, really. The music is dramatic, but the focus on visual action is completely missing.
9:50 this is supposed to be the big emotional finish? We're desperate to believe in something, and the audience is begging for meaning. But a flag in the middle of a cluster of ensemble members ain't it. If it's a diver being rescued, let's see her. Also, the final movement is the diver retreating upstage, away from the audience? Why not closer to the audience? Closer is better than farther away. The staging in this is so odd.
Greg Bimm is the greatest music arranger and drill writer ever, his musical and artistic vision at Marian Catholic changed the activity forever.
@@donnix1192 Honestly, this production lacks logic and a relatable narrative. It begs the question, what does this have to do with the students? Isn't there some literary reference? Some historical reference? Or is he just riffing on the stories in his mind? If the diver is saved, we want to see that emotional moment, not from 100 yards away. That shows a basic lack of staging instinct.
@@donnix1192 I will never forget their 1985 program that included Pie Jesu as a ballad. That changed many lives, including my friend Cam Stasa of BOA. It's so long ago, but was one of those transformative moments in the activity. No joke.
@@jesuspectre9883 Marian Catholic is the greatest band program in American history, how many grand national championship caliber shows have you ever written and arranged?? John Mackey , the contemporary composer, doesn’t like how his music is used in marching band despite the ridiculous amount of programs that feature his work. Yet Mackey not only praised Bimm for his creativity in arranging his music- taking a string quartet and using winds-said he could never have imagined using his piece in that manner and was blown away. Once again, what have you ever wrote or created in the activity that warrants your critique of the greatest band director and music/visual creator in American history??
@@JockDawson Pie Jesu was a seminal moment and it changed the activity forever, great insight.