1492 - featuring the music of Sean O'Loughlin
It all started with an Impact... or, simply "Impact". A piece by Mr. Sean O'Loughlin, which Mr. Ahearn showed to Mr. G at the end of this past year's field band season. The rest of the staff began discussing this, and searched for other music that was complimentary to this piece. Three works by the same composer were selected: "Burst", "Visigoths", and "Spirals of Light", and the staff then set about trying to figure out how to form a show around the concept of "Impacts".
This was a struggle. EVERY marching band show is about Impacts, so how was this going to set us apart?
So Mr. G (Our Fearless Leader™), Mike Tiereny (our drill designer), Jess Czarchowski (our guard writer), and Tim Schutt (the guy with the least hair) sat down to bat around some more ideas. How about "Life"?... what about "Makin'.... something...."? ... what about a "Voyage"? Many ideas were thrown against the wall that day, and finally one seemed to stick: The Epic Voyage.
Now, what voyage? Space? Lewis and Clark? Maybe the voyage through life? We listened to the music again.... The second movement sounded lonely, and had an element of despair. The third movement sounded like a celebration. What about a sea voyage, because things can get awfully lonely at sea, and there's probably no greater sight than Land when you have been at sea for months. The beginning suddenly sounded as if you could be setting off on a grand trip, possibly never to return... it's exciting and frightening at the same time.
What is a great example of a sea voyage? Yeah - everyone knows.... 1492.... someone sailed the ocean blue.
By the way: do any of the boosters know how to build a boat?
P.S. "Mr. Jim Ahearn through Interpretive Dance and Poetry" was a solid contender for the concept, however we were having trouble getting the licensing rights for the choreography from "Saturday Night Fever"
