BOA Grand Nationals Finals Review

[airons0678]

NOTE: Daniel Sanchez, it was great to see you again! Missed you, and I miss all the txbands.com gang--Danpod, Mike, Eric, etc.! Hope you had a nice trip back.

 

Bands of America 2012 Grand National Championships

presented by Yamaha

November 7-10, 2012

Indianapolis, IN

 

LED lights on the uniform: cheesy gimick, or "the future of high school marching band" (with quotation marks added for added pompousness)? The Texas bands got the memo. (Conversely, I guess the Indiana bands did not!) In the end I think it is a solid effect, but one that will not be long lasting. (Who remembers the year Union had the remote-controlled lightning bolt designed plate atop their shako with LED lights? That was a long time ago!) My friend Bryan Sanders and I were joking about how funny it would be if the Blue Devils were to come out with a show that had LED lights, ladders, doors, mirrors, chairs, and an actual gigantic kitchen sink prop (Bryan's genius thought, ha ha!) to boot. How far is too far when we go prop crazy? Hey, if it's effective, use it. Blinking lights? Eh. You grab my attention more when you play well and move well and generate effect inventively, tying the elements up in one neat bow.

 

Now to the finalist selection: Most of my band-savvy friends from Texas and Indiana were dismayed that Union did not make finals. After all, in semis I had them in 6th, which probably is too generous. I did like what I saw after semis awards, when drum majors from Union shook hands and hugged the drum majors from Broken Arrow. (That's what it's about, right? Union--classy as can be, after being in finals last year but falling out due to the sheer competitiveness this year; Broken Arrow--classy as can be, potential Bands of America Grand National Champions.)

 

I knew that tonight would be a vicious fight for 1st, or any place for that matter. There was Avon, coming off a sobering reality that wireless mics aren't always your best friend. There was Carmel, just as squeaky clean as can be. There was Broken Arrow, pushing the envelope. There was Marian Catholic, who didn't timidly negotiate creativity. And there was Tarpon Springs, and...well, they're Tarpon Springs. Everyone else, they're all good! They're the best of the best, and I could not wait to see performance excellence, where so much as a flinch could bite you. Let's see what happens, shall we?

 

FINALS

 

Western High School (Class A Champions Exhibition)

Russiaville, IN

Repertoire: "At the Water's Edge," featuring the music of Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Ralph Vaughan Williams

Comments: It's great to see this band back in the spotlight after a well-deserved win in Class A today. I admire their courage for starting their show in the top left corner of the field, gradually inheriting the rest of the field with a warm, sonorous sound. The cool colors of the flags contrast nicely with the hot colors of the musicians' uniforms. Music wins it for these guys, each wind player more than holding their own. Great exaggerated marching from the low brass soloists after their time to represent. Mmm, that one-legged stance was tough to pull off in the ballad, and the band did that pretty well. The end of their show was smooth--the winds creating a funnel form, directing their sound to the exit tunnel, seemingly directing the way for the auxilary in their free flowing garb and silks. Exactly.

My Score: N/A

Actual Score: N/A

My Placement: N/A

Actual Placement: N/A

 

Kennesaw Mountain High School

Kennesaw, GA

Repertoire: "Deliver Me"

Comments: A female vocalist sings to some new age music that pulls at the heart strings--all pre-recorded for the pre-show, but enhanced by the wind players warming up. The pit, drums, and a quick mellophone/baritone duet kicks things off. Certainly, the uniforms lighting up got people talking, especially in that the colors fit the forms at times, remote-controlled. It turns out that the out-of-place saxophone notes were intended, giving this segment of the show an "off" feel. The insane, demonic "join us" narrative, followed by "be free" soon dissipates, and we are left with heavenly sounds. A girl cries, "Deliver me," and on and on and on we go with joyful music. Hustle, hustle, man; these kids hustled, even if there were missteps here and there. It all comes down to this: the musicians gathered within the carousel set-up, and the creepy carnival character with his top hat that steals the girl away. A pre-recorded, yet live-played Irish sort of tune with the lyric "caaarniiiivaaaal" is played via the synth, and it's great. Imaginative show!

My Score: 89.30

Actual Score: 89.15

My Placement: 8th

Actual Placement: 7th

 

William Mason High School

Mason, OH

Repertoire: "This Land:

Comments: Mutant tiger, zebra, giraffe, and goat creatures--the "guard," of course--prance about the field, the winds doing the same. All right, cymbal section: way to be! Snare drummer who missed the direction change: no so much. It's in the details, so I love the fact the wind players smile when they slow-gallop to the double-tonguing trumpets. This group is easy on the eyes, as each form locked IN. An unwanted clarinet sound popped out of the soft, delicate ballad, but for the most part all was well in the land of Mason. Great squadron-at-a-time flag work, guard, prepped well in advance. The ankh-like form that morphs into a thick, inverted triangle is beautious, but perhaps more beautious is when this last form opens to reveal a smaller guard performer, as if born--fragile, scared, and then...a pose! Marvelous!

My Score: 88.00

Actual Score: 87.65

My Placement: 9th

Actual Placement: 8th

 

Carmel High School

Carmel, IN

Repertoire: "What a Tangled Web We Weave"

Comments: Serious athleticism marked this gang, staying close to the ground at times for some physicality, at one point leaping out of the way to create a defacto path for an backwards arched, crawling auxilary expert who is spider-like. Though they are generous with what they play, they kept tabs on just about everything; very nice. (They saved the "special stuff" for just the right times.) I appreciated the slinking downward dance of the woodwinds near the back with the white ribbons, or web strands. And as we are in the Year of the LED Lights we are also in the Year of the Skirt, as one of the flute players "wears" a large tarp designed like a spider web--the guard helping with the movement and the display. Unbelievable flute performance from the flute soloist! At the end of their show they party, pulling out the high strands of streamer "web" and attaching to the tops of the geodesic dome towers they have positioned--the geodesic domes looking like fabricated webs themselves, only "3-dimensional." They end this show as pretty as they started it, volume pumped up proper.

My Score: 95.70

Actual Score: 95.85

My Placement: 2nd

Actual Placement: 1st

 

Avon High School

Avon, IN

Repertoire: "Feast or Famine"

Comments: Their opening form looks like a cornucopia, and I would imagine this is supposed to resemble the "feast" aspect of their product. Ringing bells, then brassy brass project, and away we go to this festive atmosphere Avon considers. Rifles-a-flyin', swirling forms (including a "toilet flush" move "of death," and ace drums RULE. Masterful performance by the male vocalist, singing and describing how we can be "heroes...just for one day." (Nice David Bowie tribute!) The vocalist's theatrics are enormous, too, throwing his hands down and pumping his fists to the powerful music. In not time, celebration mode is here, and then the famine with the guard accents due to the rifle catches on the knees--so perfect! And this guard could do no wrong, executing fabulously well. What a show! Avon clearly does not make the same mistake twice, opting to have the vocalist use a wireline microphone near the pit instead of a wireless mic which failed him during semi-finals. I would have preferred the wireless performance, simply because it heightened the theatrics and effect, but I do understand the decision to go "safe." Hearty show!

My Score: 94.00

Actual Score: 93.90

My Placement: 5th

Actual Placement: 3rd

 

Broken Arrow High School

Broken Arrow, OK

Repertoire: "Surrender to Hope," including Darkness on the Edge, The Empty World, Ashes of War and Surrender to Hope

Comments: Eerie, eerie music consumes Lucas Oil Stadium, with buzzing insect-like noises throughout the show and seemingly constant low humming distractor. And as I look towards the entrance where the winds and auxilary enter the field I see smoke and desolation, as if a war has been lost. Female "aliens" of sorts stand at least ten feet tall above the ground, their legs unseen because of massive black skirts that drape downwards and out. The brass of this group have some meat in their repertoire, and amazingly pull off some moves that even have them pulling away from their mouthpieces only to reposition their lips and come back stronger than ever. The skirted ones have these poles that press down on the front portion of their skirt suggests there is a platform and that something will happen soon. Transformation ensues, some of the "aliens" dropping beneath their skirts and uniformed members popping up cleary atop a platform. One of the skirts is now shaped like a dome, instensifying the band's aesthetic value, as they become owners of "shape." The end is filled with bizarre drama, as part of the winds go on top of and then below the extra massive skirt layed out for them in the upper right portion of the field, finally ending it all with gas mask icon greatness.

My Score: 96.20

My Placement: 1st

Actual Score: 95.70

Actual Placement: 2nd

 

James Bowie High School

Austin, TX

Repertoire: "Stellae Errantes"

Comments: Aaah, glorious sounds. Like many Texas bands, this band was talented, sculpting their music like Michelangelo sculpted David. Covered dome props have a life of their own as they move and rotate in certain parts of the field, looking like planets to no doubt reflect the "Holst" segments of their show. Concert horn soloist, can you play any more beautifully? (That was pure amazing!) This band sounds like a pipe organ--a single instrument so extravagant. The drumline knew their place, ha ha! (They stayed BACK.) However, the drumline knew how to tease us. Able to impress us any more, Bowie, besides making the "planets" line up and turning on the breast plate lights of purple? Ooh, I just get goosebumps THINKING about that deep low brass sound of Bowie's. (So rich!) This show was juicy, but tame in terms of creativity. (Footnote: SEE BROKEN ARROW!!!)

My Score: 92.50

Actual Score: 89.85

My Placement: 6th

Actual Placement: 6th

 

Marian Catholic High School

Chicago Heights, IL

Repertoire: "My Brother's Keeper," featuring "Saturn" and "Neptune" from the Planets by Gustav Holst, Apocalyptic Dreams by David Gillingham, Totus Tuus by Henryk Gorecki, and Music for Prague 1968 by Karel Husa

Comments: Did I just see a guard girl delivered to the field in a wheelchair...and she is performing?! (Wow, okay. Is this part of the show, or not? If it is, it's BRILLIANT. I wouldn't be surprised.) I love M.C. This band is bold in ALL they do, and they care not about who they offend or who they capture as long as they have freedom...and I wish more bands had the guts they had. Circle forms within an ameoba form rotate, supremely done. The toe crab-walk looks precise, and add this to the precise music and VOILA--magnifique! Breackneck woodwind pace, terrifying drums, and a missle sound that causes a death scene and preceeds a report that "a plane has struck the towers." This show had a strong message, bringing to light the desperation yet necessity of our lives. A passionate violinist plays in peace, and do I see tears in her eyes? And then the terrorist injection, and not long before peace with them...truly. I can't tell you how much I love this show. It is just so, so good.

My Score: 94.40

Actual Score: 92.90

My Placement: 4th

Actual Placement: 5th

 

Ronald Reagan High School

San Antonio, TX

Repertoire: "Let it Shine," featuring selections from This Little Light of Mine, Daphnis and Chloe, 1000 Airplanes on the Roof, House of Silence and Aegean Festival Overture

Comments: The stoic, contemplative gazes of the winds proceed positioning, some on one knee, and some with leg extending, and some standing. The brass boost things up, and then when they drop out we get this mysterious, almost horrific pit piece that leads to further treatments by onfield musicians. Small green lights on the uniform that activate with the push of a button are a nice touch to activate their "little light" concept. When they were on they were ON. Yikes! I think they missed the mark with the clarinet and "electro clarinet" showdown that was more a clarinet and "loss-of-mic clarinet" showdown during the ode to Reagan 2002 squared. Nevertheless, the plume trick and neon light plume trick worked out okay. The seemingly painted picture of sideways-laying musicians materialized GREAT. (Peaceful end.) All right, Ronald Reagan: consistent performance!

My Score: 87.50

Actual Score: 87.30

My Placement: 10th

Actual Placement: 11th

 

Plymouth-Canton Educational Park

Canton, MI

Repertoire: "The Last Dance"

Comments: A modern take of "It's the End of the World as We Know It" is played on the band's loudspeakers preceeding their strong show. The woodwinds make no effort to be noticed and this contrasts with the backfield drums and brassline. (Well played!) This ragtag team of folks slipped through a gang of scattered teammates like a snake, and after what is an uneven chord, everyone is blanketed out with a gigantic silk...of gray, of course. (I did spot spots of yellow on the coats, though-- a tribute to the PCEP yellow.) Sadly, the high toss rifle hand-off from one of the guard to her teammate did not work. My memory of this moment, however, is replaced with some nostalgia, as David Holsinger's music is cared for. What a wonderful world, indeed, and a show for the history books. Welcome back, PCEP!

My Score: 86.90

Actual Score: 84.95

My Placement: 12th

Actual Placement: 12th

 

Tarpon Springs High School

Tarpon Springs, FL

Repertoire: "Poisoned" - Movement 1: Evil Queen, Movement 2: Mirror, Mirror, Movement 3: Snow White, Movement 4: The Apple, Movement 5: Shattered

Comments: Tarpon does not hold back in decorating the field--their stage. As I look to the far left corner of the fiel I see a giant gate with smoke rising from behind it. When the gate opens, a black queen emerges, stepping over a line of wind players' backs who are on their hands and knees. The glowing red eyes of the black raven puppet props are super creepy. The musicianship is one thing, but the way this band does it on the move is unbelievable. (These kids must all be star athletes...or SOMETHING!) Woodwind licks that go on and on, as if trying to impress without a shadow of a doubt, ha ha, well...enough said. The mirroring "waves" of waving arms and twisting torsos on a vertical axis approaching and devouring the reflections made me do a double-take. Because we get nearly four minutes of "evil" I guess it's time for a "good" break, and Snow White as Tarpon sees her emerges from a mirror box prop, and then the fight for survival between her and the evil queen commences. THERE'S that Tarpon 'bone line! (I was wondering when they would make an appearance!) Co-co-com'onnn! What a show!!! They had me on a high the whole time.

My Score: 94.90

Actual Score: 93.80

My Placement: 3rd

Actual Placement: 4th

 

Lawrence Central High School

Indianapolis, IN

Repertoire: "Col Legno," featuring the Wooden Prince by Bela Bartok, Grohg Ballet by Aaron Copland, Pavane for a Dead Princess by Maurice Ravel and Proven Lands by Jonny Greenwood

Comments: Straight up and down and diagonal bamboo-type decorations contained the field. Ha! Great tuba-snare blind pass-through. The solo: muddled much? (Or not with the DM?) I'm not even going to mention what kind of solo it was. For what the winds lack the band makes up for in guard, who are elegant in their catches and a scene which has a row of planks lifted one after the other as they're crossed. I liked their sleepy music, and I don't mean that in a bad way. (It totally worked, and gave the guard something to chew on.) Things just get mad with playfulness as streaming flags go off and the winds condense visually. Some may not like the way this show ends, but...I love it! I do! The backfield DM operates a spear-like pole of orange with tribal-like agression, seemingly organizing the chaos before him, and then lifts a green one with triumph as the wind players fall in two diagonal directions (inverted "V") meeting at the center. What a great, unique way to end a show!

My Score: 87.20

Actual Score: 87.35

My Placement: 11th

Actual Placement: 10th

 

Center Grove High School

Greenwood, IN

Repertoire: "The Guardians: The Music of J.S. Bach," featuring Ave Maria, Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, Concerto for 2 Violins, Air on a G String and Fugue in G Minor

Comments: Breezy knees preceeding the ominous pipe organ, and then the fluttering birds effect. And this is Center Grove--a band that needs no introduction and is no stranger to BOA Grand National finals. Way to play the heck out of those Pearl bass drums, bass drummers. Just when you think you're about to witness a prim and proper Center Grove, they tear down what you expect, selling ladder art--both musicians and guard. Uh oh! A tuba player falls down quite hard and almost creates more catastrophe for teammates, but manages to get back in place safely. How the wind players get those ladders prepped, perfectly set, is beyond me. They take the term "simultaneous responsibility" to a high level with this show. Yeah! I like that the drums aren't afraid to play when they're needed. I liked this performance overall, but I think it was better in prelims and semis. They just seemed "cleaner," then. Nevertheless, this show was made for success, and you could totally, totally tell.

My Score: 90.00

Actual Score: 87.60

My Placement: 7th

Actual Placement: 9th

 

***END OF FINALS***

 

My Scores and Placements:

 

1. 96.20 - Broken Arrow H.S., OK

2. 96.70 - Carmel H.S., IN

3. 94.90 - Tarpon Springs H.S., FL

4. 94.40 - Marian Catholic H.S., IL

5. 94.00 - Avon H.S., IN

6. 92.50 - James Bowie H.S., TX

7. 90.00 - Center Grove H.S., IN

8. 89.30 - Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA

9. 88.00 - James Mason H.S., OH

10. 87.50 - Ronald Reagan H.S., TX

11. 87.20 - Lawrence Central H.S., IN

12. 86.20 - Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, MI

 

Actual Scores and Placements:

 

1. 95.85 - Carmel H.S., IN

2. 95.70 - Broken Arrow H.S., OK

3. 93.90 - Avon H.S., IN

4. 93.80 - Tarpon Springs H.S., FL

5. 92.90 - Marian Catholic H.S., IL

6. 89.85 - James Bowie H.S., TX

7. 89.15 - Kennesaw Mountain H.S., GA

8. 87.65 - William Mason H.S., OH

9. 87.60 - Center Grove H.S., IN

10. 87.35 - Lawrence Central H.S., IN

11. 87.30 - Ronald Reagan H.S., TX

12 84.95 - Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, MI

 

Outstanding Music Performance - Carmel H.S., IN

Outstanding Visual Performance - Broken Arrow H.S., OK

Outstanding General Effect - Broken Arrow H.S., OK

 

Screw that! I'm out. I'm never going to a BOA event again!!! Broken Arrow losing? Whatever...

 

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Eh? Ha ha! Were you fooled? I was just kidding, of course. I truly loved Carmel's show, and I thought their win was well, well deserved. You know, it's kind of funny. Every time I've been to a BOA Grand National Finals the band *I* want to win never wins, and you know...I'm REALLY fine with that. I'd even be fine if the judges took the names of the bands in finals and put them in a hat to shake up and draw the names out of the hat for bands 1 through 12. (BOA experimented with the "diluted scores and placements" thing years ago, and I can see why they did that.) Hey, as long as the approximate right bands get into semis, and the approximate right bands get into finals, or even if THAT doesn't happen and everyone is recognized as a winner in life, I'm happy. These kids work so hard. When you compete at this level, appreciation trumps differentiation, and that's why I came: for some good art and better esprit.

 

I'm out. Congratulations, all!

 

Alan Irons, PMP, PMI-ACP

Long Beach, CA

Edited November 12, 2012 by airons0678