Last of the Band
The lights in the stadium shone at us from far above. Their radiance made the keys of the xylophones and the metal instruments shine with an eerie light. All was oddly silent, not as in other band competitions, where it was filled with the chatter of spectators.
Out on the field, witnessed by an audience of 2 million people across the globe, in the first ever live broadcast of a non-DCI band, two bands faced each other. They were the last two, each from different parts of the world, each with a different way of life, each with a different way of playing, but common in one thing.
The desire to win, to prove themselves better than the rest. They had already done so, across many regional and continental championships, but this was the final one. While spectators cheered from their houses or watched respectfully from the stadium itself, both of the bands stood there in silent thought. This would be the deciding factor, only one band could return home with the golden cup.
The bands were from high schools, very different in terms of nationality and size, but all at the same skill, which was definitely above average for them to be able to compete in the championship.
At last, the judges, who would determine who lost and who won, gave the go ahead. The larger band would be going first.
Drum Major Gene Aldridge nodded to his colleague, Drum Majorette Anna Leigh. Together, they shot a fist out and brought it to their left chests. Instantly, the stands, which were filled to bursting, erupted in cheers. The Drum Majors then raised their fist to the left corner of their tall hats and swept it down in an awe-inspiring move. While the spectators were cheering themselves hoarse, Gene and Anna ascended the podiums and took their places.
Setting aside her hat, Anna glanced at the drumline, giving them a hidden thumbs-up. The show would begin with a spectacular drum solo to catch the spectators' attention. Percussion Section Leader Jin Takemura nodded ever so slightly. His drumline clenched their sticks tightly, praying for the will to succeed. It was deadly silent.
Gene raised his right hand, and so did Anna, following his every move. The drumline tossed their sticks into the air, and caught them neatly. Using the inertia born from the movement, they slammed their sticks onto their drums in an all-out attack move.
The silence was shattered by the sound of seven High Tensions, five bass drums, four tenor drums, and five cymbals, which all struck with all their might. Instantly, the band slammed into action, as a stirring drum solo played. Jin and his people remained immovable, rocks in an angry sea, as colour guards swirled all around them. Temporarily hidden by the flags, they suddenly burst forth through the thinning ranks of colour guards, emerging like a tidal wave upon the shores. Splitting off into two lances, they formed the letter 'V' while colour guards threw their flags into the air and let them hit the ground, as the drumline concluded their solo with an incredible climax.
The band caught up where the drums had left off, playing music of James L. Hosay's Persis.
It had begun.
**********
A/N: Well, I don't own Persis, but it is one of the BEST songs I have ever heard! Okay, see you guys when I upload again! This first chapter is freakin short, I kow, but trust me, it should get better when I find out what to add to it. And I can only do that with your comments, no? Hehe, see ya!
The lights in the stadium shone at us from far above. Their radiance made the keys of the xylophones and the metal instruments shine with an eerie light. All was oddly silent, not as in other band competitions, where it was filled with the chatter of spectators.
Out on the field, witnessed by an audience of 2 million people across the globe, in the first ever live broadcast of a non-DCI band, two bands faced each other. They were the last two, each from different parts of the world, each with a different way of life, each with a different way of playing, but common in one thing.
The desire to win, to prove themselves better than the rest. They had already done so, across many regional and continental championships, but this was the final one. While spectators cheered from their houses or watched respectfully from the stadium itself, both of the bands stood there in silent thought. This would be the deciding factor, only one band could return home with the golden cup.
The bands were from high schools, very different in terms of nationality and size, but all at the same skill, which was definitely above average for them to be able to compete in the championship.
At last, the judges, who would determine who lost and who won, gave the go ahead. The larger band would be going first.
Drum Major Gene Aldridge nodded to his colleague, Drum Majorette Anna Leigh. Together, they shot a fist out and brought it to their left chests. Instantly, the stands, which were filled to bursting, erupted in cheers. The Drum Majors then raised their fist to the left corner of their tall hats and swept it down in an awe-inspiring move. While the spectators were cheering themselves hoarse, Gene and Anna ascended the podiums and took their places.
Setting aside her hat, Anna glanced at the drumline, giving them a hidden thumbs-up. The show would begin with a spectacular drum solo to catch the spectators' attention. Percussion Section Leader Jin Takemura nodded ever so slightly. His drumline clenched their sticks tightly, praying for the will to succeed. It was deadly silent.
Gene raised his right hand, and so did Anna, following his every move. The drumline tossed their sticks into the air, and caught them neatly. Using the inertia born from the movement, they slammed their sticks onto their drums in an all-out attack move.
The silence was shattered by the sound of seven High Tensions, five bass drums, four tenor drums, and five cymbals, which all struck with all their might. Instantly, the band slammed into action, as a stirring drum solo played. Jin and his people remained immovable, rocks in an angry sea, as colour guards swirled all around them. Temporarily hidden by the flags, they suddenly burst forth through the thinning ranks of colour guards, emerging like a tidal wave upon the shores. Splitting off into two lances, they formed the letter 'V' while colour guards threw their flags into the air and let them hit the ground, as the drumline concluded their solo with an incredible climax.
The band caught up where the drums had left off, playing music of James L. Hosay's Persis.
It had begun.
**********
A/N: Well, I don't own Persis, but it is one of the BEST songs I have ever heard! Okay, see you guys when I upload again! This first chapter is freakin short, I kow, but trust me, it should get better when I find out what to add to it. And I can only do that with your comments, no? Hehe, see ya!