Skyliners Announces 2017 Show

| |

skyliners_100x100The Skyliners’ 2017 show is called XSCAPE! The design team includes Thomas Sparling, Program Coordinator and Visual Designer; John Meehan, Brass Arranger; Ted Mascari, Percussion Arranger; Ryan Reed, Front Ensemble Arranger; James Branche and Krysta Ganey, Color Guard Designers; and Matthew Stevens, Visual Show Consultant.

The XSCAPE show is contemporary, sophisticated, and cutting edge. It incorporates a variety of musical styles, and visual and color guard packages to engage and
entertain the audience and membership.

The Introduction of “All The Rowboats” is from Regina Spektor’s sixth album. The song finds her singing about someone who wants to liberate works of art from the museum where they are kept. For The Skyliners, this will start with pit, percussion, and soloists or small group(s) and then build to an impact with full corps.

The Opener is “Escape to Paradise” from the movie Chicken Run by John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams. Although written for an animated film, the score is “perfectly suited to the action on screen: classic instrumentation and serious themes, but with the occasional nod and wink.” Look for lots of sectional features, some percussion windows, moderate tempo, and lots of action!

The Skyliners’ Percussion Feature is “Xscape” by Michael Jackson. It was written and recorded in 1999 for Jackson’s tenth studio album, Invincible” album, but failed to make the album. The song was completed in 2001 and leaked on the internet the following year. It is also the name of the second posthumous album of previously unreleased tracks by Jackson that includes “Xscape”.

snare_bass_sky_dca_weekend_by_raymond_fudge

The Ballad is “Lost Boy”, the 2015 debut single by Canadian singer Ruth B. “Lost Boy” is a pop tune that has already hit Platinum status, and was part of Ruth B’s EP (Extended Play recording), “The Intro” released on November 27, 2015. A music video for the song was released in May 2016. Look for lush brass and solos, and front ensemble in this fresh single.

The Closer is “Kingfishers Catch Fire Movement 2” by John Mackey. This wind ensemble piece premiered on March 17, 2007 in Kurashiki, Japan. It was conducted by Ichir? Sait?, a Japanese film composer. A “kingfisher” is a bird with beautiful, brilliantly colored feathers that look in sunlight as if they are on fire. Kingfishers are rarely seen, but when they are seen, they are undeniably beautiful. The second movement, “Kingfishers Catch Fire,” imagines the bird flying out into the sunlight. Starting with the pit, the audience will appreciate the brass features on a 1/16th note ostinato, then a huge build to the ending.

The Skyliners are thrilled to be working with these exceptional Creative Designers to continue our growth to the next level in DCA for 2017.

Come to The Skyliners’ Open House to find out more:

Date: Saturday, December 3, 2016 ~ 10:00 – 7:00 P.M.
Check-In: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Wyoming Valley West High School
150 Wadham Street, Plymouth, PA 18651
Directions: Directions to Wyoming Valley West High School

Keep up-to-date with us via the Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps Website and join the Skyliners 2017 Interest Page at Skyliners 2017 Interest Facebook Page. For more information, please contact Larry Carbonell, Director (director [at] marchsky [dot] org) or go to Skyliners 2017 Join Page to follow the directions and create a CorpsData profile.

Posted by on Wednesday, November 16th, 2016. Filed under DCA News, FrontPage Feature.