Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit forcing ensembles across the nation to cancel rehearsals and performances for the foreseeable future, a virtual horn line was in the works for River City Rhythm.
According to executive director Bojan Hoover, the Open Class corps based out of Minneapolis had considered the project, that calls upon musicians to record themselves playing their part of a piece of music before the individual audio and video tracks are mixed together to create a full ensemble, as a way to keep corps members engaged through the long drum corps off-season.
But as the coronavirus spread around the world and students found themselves out of school and coming to grips with a summer drum corps season that could be in peril, River City Rhythm looked to band people together in what the organization has dubbed its “Distant Harmonies” series.
“When we realized that there was a real chance that the 2020 tour wasn’t going to happen, we pivoted and decided to make this opportunity more accessible for all musicians, regardless of age, instrumentation, and ability level,” Hoover said. “We also thought this could be a wonderful opportunity for students and musicians around the world to keep playing since so many scholastic and independent music programs have been interrupted due to COVID-19.”
A concept pioneered by American composer Eric Whitacre a decade ago when he assembled a choir made up of hundreds of singers performing from their bedrooms, home offices, or nearly anywhere they could setup a camera, virtual projects have recently been in the spotlight again as many musical activities including the 2020 Drum Corps International Tour have been cancelled due to coronavirus concerns. They’ve been a way to keep musicians who are looking for a creative performance outlet engaged.
While River City Rhythm’s won’t be the first virtual ensemble to make its debut in the marching music community, with similar videos in recent weeks published by the likes of the Blue Stars, Carolina Crown and Boston Crusaders, it very well may be the largest to date. Hoover says the initial response to the project has been incredible, with more than 830 registrations from 42 different states and six countries currently represented. That number is expected to grow with a submission deadline of Friday, April 17 approaching.
“We have several dozen River City Rhythm members and veterans participating in this project, and it’s been great to give them some sense of closure on the 2020 season,” Hoover said. “But it is also exciting to have received submissions from people all around the world.
“We have participants ranging in age from nine to 83. We have participants from the United Kingdom to Bangladesh and beyond. Once this project is completed, it will be incredible to see so many different people, from all walks of life, performing on screen together.”
New to River City Rhythm’s team of designers in 2020 is Drew Shanefield, an accomplished composer who over the years has worked with the Cadets, Cavaliers and other corps. Shanefield lent his talents to the Distant Harmonies project with his piece “Hymn for a New Day” which he has scored for brass, woodwinds and percussion in an effort to be as inclusive as possible.
“Drew’s piece was written for the moment we now find ourselves in; a time of uncertainty, but also a time for reflection and hope for the future,” Hoover says. “Every submitted video and audio recording will be included in the performance video. If someone plays an instrument that we currently don’t have a part for, Drew has taken time to write a specific part just for that person. He’s been very accommodating in that way, even going as far as recording himself conducting the piece so musicians can also watch him while recording their part.”
With no fees to get involved, musicians simply need to register themselves via online form on River City Rhythm’s website. After selecting the part they’d like to perform, participants will be emailed the music with instructions on how to record and submit their videos.
Once all submissions have been received, Hoover will work on mixing the audio while relying on the editing talents of corps videographer Nick Campbell. Their goal is to have the finished piece ready to debut toward the end of the month.
Based on the success of this initial offering, Hoover is counting on “Hymn for a New Day” being the first in a series of virtual performances, commissioning other composers to get involved in the future. The organization’s aim with this project in the meantime is simple, to “bridge the musical divide” in what has become an unprecedented time in world history.
“River City Rhythm has always been committed to forming a strong community through the art of performance,” Hoover said. “In light of the world’s current situation and the way COVID-19 has upended so many musical experiences forming unprecedented distancing between us, we wish to turn to what we know — the transformative power of music — to build connections with others.
“Playing your instrument in solitude can be isolating, but in harmony with distant musicians from around the world, we hope to create an exciting opportunity for musicians and concert-goers alike.”
