SETTING INDUSTRY STANDARDS
These are the unfathomable ... until we see them; they are the unreachable ... until a Quixotic thought becomes real. Today, here are the first five shows of this first decade of the 21st century that for me set industry standards.
Fathom these five.
10. Northeast Independent, “The Rain Before Dawn,” 2009
I have long proclaimed appreciation for the guard's economy: economy of design, of activity and of effort towards effect. What Academy Award-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler did for "dust," in the 1976 "Bound for Glory," Northeast Independent did for rain in this year's "The Rain before Dawn."
As a way to offer sufficient parallel, hear the words of New Yorker movie critic Pauline Kael about the film’s look, and then apply them to Northeast Independent: There is "startling graphic vitality in his images, yet they are toned and sensitive. From shot to shot he achieves a consistency of light and texture -- a documentary lyricism. It's so beautiful; you can get a high from the (dust)" … or in this case, from the effects of a dawn shower, in the year's most evocative flag sequence. In a year of visual “atmospherics,” Northeast Independent reigned.
9. Miamisburg High School, “Watch What Unfolds,” 2003
There’s staying true to yourself, and to your brand, and then there’s this most delicious bon mot in the history of color guard: “Watch What Unfolds.” From none other than the venerable and multi-championed Miamisburg, what one expects from this unit --an all-you-can-eat buffet -- and what the Ohio high school offered this year -- cleverly prepared appetizers -- was scrumptious.
The literal unfolding of the performance stage tarpaulin was mischievous Piped Piper to the light, jazzy feel of the show. The refolding of the tarp was the obvious, but satisfying dessert punctuation. Napkin, please?
8. Blessed Sacrament, “Reflections,” 2007
How could a program titled “Reflections” be considered a crystal ball for the future of … anything? Because it came from the Cambridge, Massachusetts’ color guard laboratory inhabited by The Blessed Sacrament. With its view as clear-eyed as it has ever tendered in the arena, Sac pondered but didn’t pander to the past, its own or that of the activity. This was as deliberate a program as the guard has ever staged.
Each second, every movement, was calibrated to adhere to, and to maximize its effect. The use of terse Johnny Cash, in both words and music, was the ideal foil for the guard’s look to and fro. And in its revisionary plotting of its own “If You Could Read My Mind,” Blessed Sacrament reminded everyone -- performers past and present, designers of all time, judges through the years, and fans; yes, us deserving and adoring fans -- that it remains, and will continue to be, color guard’s living history.
7. Northern Lights, “The Road to Perdition,” 2004
“The Road to Perdition” -- to eternal damnation -- is paved, they say, with good intentions. If that is the case, then let me plead the case for granting amnesty to Northern Lights. The all male unit transfixed with a spare, haunting narrative, and professional -- as close to a stage performance as you’ll ever see in color guard – unhurried, unrushed, dramatic performance.
6. Aimachi, “Beloved,” 2009
The first coffee table book image of Aimachi told the tale; the first note of music confirmed it: “Beloved” would be color guard’s first Caldecot Medalist. The Rudolph Caldecot Medal recognizes illustrators for distinguished children’s picture books.
Aimachi’s expansive, yet intricately visioned and detailed production immediately redefined dramaturgy in color guard, much like a memorable illustrated children’s book. The fantasy tale of brothers, their jealousies, and their ultimate love of each other, played out on a densely rich canvas that was at once both opulent and human.
That the legend’s narrative was realized as competitive proficiency in twirling -- one a rifle, the other a baton -- was storytelling and performance genius. In the end, “Beloved” was as much a color guard saga of East-meets-West, as it was an illustrated parable for the ages.
Here's the schedule for the week:
-- Monday: The decade's 15 SIGNATURE PERFORMANCES, numbers 50-36;
-- Tuesday: The decade's 15 SIGNATURE SHOWS, numbers 35-21;
-- Wednesday: The decade's 10 LEADING EDGE units, numbers 20-11;
-- TODAY: Numbers 10-6, SETTING INDUSTRY STANDARDS;
-- TOMORROW: Field&Floor's Top 5 color guards from 2000-2009; and then
-- Saturday, May 23: a first here -- and a once-in-a-decade ranking -- Field&Floor's Top 5 color guards of 2000-2009, BY CLASS! Yes, I will acquiesce to time and give every class its individual due.
