2003 WEST DEPTFORD MARCHING BAND

Program Title: Scenes From The Russian Ice Palace

Drum Majors: Melissa Coats & Danielle Matson

Musicians:  44            Color Guard:  13

Repertoire: 

• Part I: Introduction / Tetris Theme

• Part II: Excerpt from Swan Lake Ballet

• Part III: Nutcracker Suite Highlights

• Part IV: Overture from the Russian Opera "Prince Igor"

• Part V: Troika / Finale

Show Description (8/03)

Our 2003 program entitled “Scenes from the Russian Ice Palace” features the music of Peter Ilyitch Tchaikovsky, Alexander Borodin, and Serge Prokofiev, three of the most famous Russian composers.

The program is given an exciting beginning with a burst of high-energy with Prokofiev’s Troika theme. This serves as the introduction to the program and sets the overall tone for the rest of the show to follow.

Following the introduction, a very recognizable theme is introduced. The theme is taken from the Classic Nintendo video game “Tetris.” This theme is a traditional Russian folk melody that captures the characteristics of Russian music through its aggressive rhythms and persistent harmonic longing. Tetris roars to its finish with a big, full sound.

The second segment is taken from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Ballet. This theme once again demonstrates the classic Russian sound. This dramatic segment will be used to feature the color guard and individual sections of the band.

After Swan Lake, we move right into Tchaikovsky’s most famous work, the Nutcracker Suite. Now don’t expect to hear this as true to the original. It quickly weaves in and out of the many movements from this famous ballet suite in about a minute and a half.

Contrasting the energetic Nutcracker, we move away from the Russian Ballet into the world of Russian Opera with the Overture from "Prince Igor" by Alexander Borodin.  This lush movement is sure to portray the beauty of Russia through its dense harmony and intriguing tone color.

Our last scene is taken from Serge Prokofiev’s Lieutenant Kijé Suite. This piece was originally written as a film score in 1933, but the music has since gained more recognition than the film.  We will be performing the fourth movement from this work which is the very well known “Troika.”  This makes a bold, aggressive statement to close our program and our audience will “feel” the end.

Press release (11/03):

2003 WD Eagle Marching Band – USSBA Group IIA Champions 

This year’s West Deptford High School Marching Band has represented our district phenomenally this year.  Twelve football games, eleven marching band competitions, and two parades totals twenty-five exciting performances for the 2003 West Deptford Marching Band.  They helped cheer on the championship winning football and field hockey teams and went on to win their own championship as well.  All and all this has been a very successful season for our marching eagles.     

The band had grown significantly from the previous year.  Forty-five percent of the marching band was new to the group.  The total size of the band had grown over twenty-five percent from the previous year.  This is remarkable. 

This year’s season began with rehearsals in late April as incoming freshmen entered the ranks.  Rehearsals ran through the summer months of June, July and August.  During this time the group had grown quickly while they put the pieces together for their fall marching band production.

The marching band’s fall production entitled “Scenes from the Russian Ice Palace” portrayed the cold, wintry themes of Russian classical music.  The show opened with the Russian music taken from the classic Nintendo video game, Tetris.  The show then moved through the music from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker and Swan Lake Ballets and ended strongly with Prokofiev’s “Troika.” 

This program was very challenging for the students.  The students worked through long hours to make this show come alive and excite their weekly audiences.  It was the students’ desire to achieve that allowed this group to excel.

This season also brought a new look to the WDHS Band.  On November 9^th, the band retired the twelve-year-old marching band uniforms and premiered their new uniforms at the Tournament of Bands, Atlantic Coast Championships in Scranton, PA.  The band now had the bold, polished look to go along with their bold, polished performances. 

Competitively, this group has moved forward by building on last year’s record setting season.  This year’s band has again broken all WDHS record scores that were recently set by last year’s band.  The previous WDHS record Tournament of Bands score of 86.75 was broken with a score of 90.15 by this year’s band.  Additionally, the previous WDHS record United States Scholastic Band Association score of 88.20 was also broken by this year’s band with a score of 92.40! 

To cap off an already great season, the band captured the USSBA Group IIA All-States Championship on November 15^th in Allentown, PA.  In addition to taking first place, the band won the awards for Best Music, Best Marching, Best Color Guard, and Best Overall Effect!