DVD Spotlight of the Week: 2009 Colts, ‘Fathoms’

Prior to the start of the music, the members of the corps gently swayed side-to-side, like dune grass in a gentle breeze. Gull sounds were heard as a giant lighthouse silk introduced the short “Song of the High Seas” theme. Soon to follow was a work inspired by the “Storm” segment of “The Sea Treaders” by Francis W. McBeth. Commissioned by the U.S. Naval Academy Band and published in 1997, the two movements of the original portray a calm sea interrupted by a blistering storm; the ferocity of the storm delivered by the corps and visually represented by some wave-like forms in the drill, ending with a cresting wave about to fall over on itself. Even more prominently mixed into this segment was “The Voyage,” an original work by corps arrangers Chris Tomsa and Max Mullinix. “Ebb Tide” was originally written in 1953 by the professional harpist Robert Maxwell. The introduction of a single large sailboat silk drifted into the setting sun over the waves, with fish kites filling the front of the field under an undulating massive series of waves that plied the tranquil seas. The climax of the piece saw the corps form the simple wings of a gull, followed by one of the most beautiful highlights of the season—nine large sky blue silks passing through eight lines of corps members as ascending arpeggios of a synthesized harp patch paid homage to the origins of the work. “SOS” by corps staffer Max Mullinix started with storm sounds, a lone ship’s horn and the repetitive Morse Code of an “SOS” distress signal, with the entire horn line joining in on the Morse Code. Lifeboat paddles were introduced by the color guard, just in case the ship crashed upon the rocks or suddenly sank. Upon the horns and drums collapsing into themselves for security, a huge silk of the colors of the rising sun was run across the field, welcoming the survivors to another day. The brief “The Journey Home,” by Tomsa and Mullinix, led back into a restatement of the Rodgers theme and a triumphant arrival at the port of call, with the horns finishing in four ebbing and cresting wave forms that were reflected in the swirling blue curves of the flags embracing the sky in the large arc of the distant horizon.