2001 Field Show - "Fantasia 2000"
East's 2001 competition show includes works featured in Disney's film, Fantasia 2000. With the same concept as the original animated feature Fantasia (c. 1937), Fantasia 2000 included new animated sequences to accompany a new selection of classical compositions, as well as some familiar animations and pieces updated from the original. Optimized for I-Max technology, Fantasia 2000 was certainly a pleasure, visually and aurally.
East's 2001 program features three arrangements of works featured in the film, all arranged by Richard Saucedo, and set to a physically demanding drill by our very own Bill Burroway. The arrangements include passages and themes from Ludwig Van Beethoven's 5th Symphony, Paul Dukas' "The Sorcerer's Apprentice", and Igor Stravinsky's "Firebird Suite".
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Arguably
Ludwig Van Beethoven's most recognizable piece (although his Piano
Concerto No. 14 or Symphony No. 9 are almost as well known), his
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Opus 67 makes a powerful musical statement
to open East's 2001 competition show. Featuring themes from the
most famous 1st movement (Allegro con brio), the 5th is accompanied
by some of the most visually pleasing drill that East has performed
to date (thanks to Bill Burroway). |
Although lesser
known than most composers, Paul Dukas' tone poem, "The Sorcerer's
Apprentice" has become part of the modern day aural lexicon,
thanks to its being featured with one of pop culture's most recognizable
icons in Fantasia and Fantasia 2000: Mickey Mouse.
Thanks to this, the piece's main theme undoubtedly evokes images
of angry brooms attacking with buckets of water. All imagery aside,
"The Sorcerer's Apprentice" makes a fantastic contrast
to the bombast of Beethoven's 5th and the driving pulse of Stravinsky's
"Firebird" as East's second selection for 2001. |
 Paul Dukas |
 Igor Stravinsky |
Perhaps the most
important orchestral composer of the 20th Century, Igor Stravinsky's
first masterpiece (though certainly not his first composition)
was "The Firebird Suite". Commissioned by the Ballets
Russes in Paris, "The Firebird" was completed and performed
to much acclaim in 1910, making Stravinsky famous. East's closing
number features two movements from this landmark work. Beginning
with the frantic intensity of "The Infernal Dance of King
Kashchei", and ultimately ending with the climactic "Finale",
"Firebird" is the perfect close to a very powerful show. |
2001-2002 also marks East High School's first school year of independence from Portsmouth City Schools, which makes Fantasia 2000 officially the inaugural show for the East Marching Band. Although the band certainly doesn't forsake their tradition of excellence begun as the Portsmouth East Marching Band, the members can't help but feel that the 2001 competition season is the beginning of something new and exciting. With the power represented in the repertoire, 2001 will certainly be a worthy genesis for the band.