Inside the Arc – “Myron and Vincent”

Photo Credit: Sheri Van Wert Photography

Were it not for a controversial 1980 mid-season programming change, Myron might very well have gone on to become a noted horn soloist and possible brass guru.

Dave Barduhn, Ralph Hardimon and Fred Sanford had penned an extraordinary arrangement of “Caravan” for SCV, which featured a solo for French Horn. There was little debate as to who should play it. The Rosander kid had chops to burn and a dedicated work ethic that bordered on the fanatical. He embraced the role, and his feature was both musical and consistently flawless. In short, he owned it.

“State of the Art” liner notes, Shirley Stratton, Photographer

“State of the Art” liner notes, Shirley Stratton, Photographer

At some point during that star-crossed season it was decided to replace this avant-garde, multi-meter tour de force with a more “traditional” Broadway ballad. This move proved to be a significant course reversal for the Vanguard, even as it switched off the spotlight from the promising young soloist and, just perhaps, began to shift his creative urge more directly towards the visual side, for which (in fairness) he had already shown both interest and aptitude, traits that had not gone unnoticed by his mentors, Pete Emmons, Charlie Anderson and Dave Owens. Myron, it seems, would likely have excelled at almost anything he chose to do in drum corps. In that field, at least, he was a Renaissance man.

Actually, it’s probably more apropos to compare Myron Rosander to artists of a somewhat more recent period: the Impressionists, Seurat or Van Gogh, for instance. Like them, he saw his world, not so much in literal, linear line but in shades and layers of color and light not immediately evident to the rest of us.

From the author’s personal collection

His show design successes were numerous and well documented. Considering that Van Gogh sold only one painting in his lifetime, it could be argued that Myron enjoyed greater recognition in his chosen field while he was active.

Myron and Vincent did share other similarities however, not the least of which were intense passion for the work and an overwhelming creative obsession.

It should come as no surprise that Myron, after drum corps, turned to painting. I, for one, would very much like to se those canvasses. They too are his legacy, along with his superb show designs, and a brief and sparkling French Horn solo.

(Press the play button to listen)

“Caravan” (Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol, arr. by Dave Barduhn, Ralph Hardimon and Fred Sanford) from the album “State of the Art”, courtesy of Soaring Dove Productions