Warsaw Marching Band Gears Up For Season Of Shows, Competition
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Mickey Ratliff, band director, said the show this year is "Icarus." It's based on the Greek myth of the same name.
The first movement of the musical performance is "Daedalus," Icarus's father. Daedalus created the labyrinth that held the minotaur. While Daedalus was working for King Minos, Daedalus angered the king, who then imprisoned Daedalus and Icarus. The two escaped the prison with wings of wax and feathers Daedalus created. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high to the sun because the sun would melt the wax and Icarus would fall.[[In-content Ad]]The second movement of the show is "Wax with Feathers/Departure from Crete." Ratliff said the movement depicts the building of the wings and escape.
The third movement of the performance is "Too Close to the Sun." It depicts Icarus flying too high to the sun and his death.
Music for the show is by Key Poulan. Poulan, Ratliff said, is the same composer the marching band used for the 2007 show "Medusa." Poulan has written a lot of shows, Ratliff said, and not all of them are based on myths. It is just a coincidence that the band is using Poulan's music of Greek myths for two years in a row. Ratliff said they just liked the music.
"Last year," Ratliff said, "the show was pretty difficult, especially for us."
This year, it's another step up in difficulty, he said. "Icarus" showcases the woodwind instruments and has several really big movements for the woodwinds, he said.
"That's the way it starts, in fact," he said.
"It's challenging and it's difficult, each movement is difficult," said senior Elizabeth Tinkey, 17, a trumpet player, of the music.
"It's kind of a nice change," said saxophonist Eli Sweeney, 17, also a senior.
The marching band will give their first public performance of "Icarus" Friday at the home football game against Homestead. Ratliff said they will play only part of the show.
Contest dates this year include Goshen High School, Sept. 13; Concord High School, Sept. 20; Penn High School, Sept. 27; and Plymouth High School, Oct. 11.
As for goals this year, Ratliff said they always want to perform better each time over their last performance.
"Last year's band was just leaps and bounds over the past couple of years," Ratliff said. He said they've been on a growth trend for the past several years and just want to see that continue.
"I see this year and last year as transformative years for the band program," he said. "I hope the students see it the same way."
Besides constantly improving, the band also has set another goal for the 2008 season.
The Indiana State School Music Association has altered their contest schedule. Instead of going from regionals to state competition, the ISSMA has added a semi-state contest.
Ratliff said the WCHS marching band's goal this year is to make the semi-state contest. He said they feel they can make it. To make the semi-state contest, Warsaw will need to place in the top 10 bands at regionals. In 2007, Warsaw did not place high enough in regionals to move on, but was close as far as points.
"I think that would be really cool if we got to semi-state," said Tinkey.
Of course, the next step after semi-state, Ratliff said, is to make state finals.
ISSMA District competition is Oct. 4. Regionals are Oct. 18, with semi-state competition Oct. 25 and state finals Nov. 1.
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Mickey Ratliff, band director, said the show this year is "Icarus." It's based on the Greek myth of the same name.
The first movement of the musical performance is "Daedalus," Icarus's father. Daedalus created the labyrinth that held the minotaur. While Daedalus was working for King Minos, Daedalus angered the king, who then imprisoned Daedalus and Icarus. The two escaped the prison with wings of wax and feathers Daedalus created. Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too high to the sun because the sun would melt the wax and Icarus would fall.[[In-content Ad]]The second movement of the show is "Wax with Feathers/Departure from Crete." Ratliff said the movement depicts the building of the wings and escape.
The third movement of the performance is "Too Close to the Sun." It depicts Icarus flying too high to the sun and his death.
Music for the show is by Key Poulan. Poulan, Ratliff said, is the same composer the marching band used for the 2007 show "Medusa." Poulan has written a lot of shows, Ratliff said, and not all of them are based on myths. It is just a coincidence that the band is using Poulan's music of Greek myths for two years in a row. Ratliff said they just liked the music.
"Last year," Ratliff said, "the show was pretty difficult, especially for us."
This year, it's another step up in difficulty, he said. "Icarus" showcases the woodwind instruments and has several really big movements for the woodwinds, he said.
"That's the way it starts, in fact," he said.
"It's challenging and it's difficult, each movement is difficult," said senior Elizabeth Tinkey, 17, a trumpet player, of the music.
"It's kind of a nice change," said saxophonist Eli Sweeney, 17, also a senior.
The marching band will give their first public performance of "Icarus" Friday at the home football game against Homestead. Ratliff said they will play only part of the show.
Contest dates this year include Goshen High School, Sept. 13; Concord High School, Sept. 20; Penn High School, Sept. 27; and Plymouth High School, Oct. 11.
As for goals this year, Ratliff said they always want to perform better each time over their last performance.
"Last year's band was just leaps and bounds over the past couple of years," Ratliff said. He said they've been on a growth trend for the past several years and just want to see that continue.
"I see this year and last year as transformative years for the band program," he said. "I hope the students see it the same way."
Besides constantly improving, the band also has set another goal for the 2008 season.
The Indiana State School Music Association has altered their contest schedule. Instead of going from regionals to state competition, the ISSMA has added a semi-state contest.
Ratliff said the WCHS marching band's goal this year is to make the semi-state contest. He said they feel they can make it. To make the semi-state contest, Warsaw will need to place in the top 10 bands at regionals. In 2007, Warsaw did not place high enough in regionals to move on, but was close as far as points.
"I think that would be really cool if we got to semi-state," said Tinkey.
Of course, the next step after semi-state, Ratliff said, is to make state finals.
ISSMA District competition is Oct. 4. Regionals are Oct. 18, with semi-state competition Oct. 25 and state finals Nov. 1.
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