"Veni Vidi Vici" Preview: History in Music

Karen Lin ('12, Percussion)


     "In 79 BC, Gaius Julius Caesar began his rise to power in the Roman Republic." Cue the mellophone solo. Thus begins "Veni, Vidi, Vici: The Life of Julius Caesar," an original marching band show by Rob Stein (percussion by Sean Combes and Kevin Thornburn). "I chose this show [for the Milpitas High School Marching Band] because it is entertaining." explained Mr. Kaldy. "It offers enough variety for both the audience and the performers." He added that the complex meters, fast tempos, and good percussion parts are challenging for the band, but not out of reach. "Every show should tell a story." said Chris Swan, MHS alumni and drumline bass tech. "This year's show has a story, one that can captivate the audience."  As a bonus, the Milpitas High School Marching Band will be the first band on the West Coast to perform this show. 

Mr. Kaldy models the new band shirt.

     "Caesar left Rome to wage war in Gaul in 58 BC, a war that would last for nine years." The front ensemble starts off the drum break with an assortment of aggressive sounds (marching machine, waterphone, garden weasel, etc.). Caesar's history is full of anger and bloodshed, which Mr. Kaldy opted to portray with red band T-shirts. 
    
     











     "Caesar has returned from Gaul victorious! Praise him!...Yes, Praise Me!" The show is full of narration, providing the audience with a story to follow. However, the general reaction from band members was "This is cheesy." So far, Mr. Kaldy is the narrator.
     "Ten years later, Caesar sailed to Alexandria in his quest to eliminate his enemy, Gnaeus Pompey. It was there that he met Cleopatra." The second movement, named "Cleopatra," adds more drama by highlighting Caesar's romance with Cleopatra. Caesar ended up in Alexandria, Egypt, after he drove Pompey out of Europe. A civil war had erupted between Caesar and his former ally, who eventually died at the hands of the Egyptian pharaoh, Ptolemy. Meanwhile, Cleopatra VII was fighting her brother (and husband) for the Egyptian throne. Caesar took her side in the war and carried on a love affair with her. The result? "Behold, my first son is born, Caesarian Caesar!" It was also here in northern Africa that Caesar triumphed over a local king and used the words "Veni, Vidi, Vici" to describe his victory.
  

Behold...Julius Caesar?

     "I, Caesar, declare myself dictator for life!" Allan Tang and Sydnie Turner, this year's drum majors, will be Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, respectively. Tang is excited to see how the show will turn out on the field. "The mixed meter changes are mostly just between 3/4 and 4/4," he said, commenting on the difficulty of the music. "[The band members] just need to get the feeling of it, and [the meter changes] won't be a surprise. That's how it is every year. Once we get out in the sun, it'll be fine." Tang is less enthusiastic about his costume, which Mr. Kaldy claims will be similar to the one from the movie "300."  -->
If Tang is to play Julius Caesar in the show, he will also have to "die" at the hands of the Roman Senate. The drill ends with the band in disarray, with instructions for everyone except the soloists to "fall to the ground." 

Caesar's death results in utter chaos and, apparently,
everyone's death.

"I came, I saw, I conquered" seems a fitting motto for the Class of 2012's last year in the MHS Marching Band. And so far, the season is off to a solid start. Band camp ended with Parent's Night on August 23, when family and friends enjoyed a potluck and watched the band march part of the first movement of "Veni, Vidi, Vici." The sun set in the band members' eyes, the drum majors lifted their arms, and the music began. As drumline instructor DJ Reyes often says, "Are you guys excited? I'm so excited!"
   
Watch the Veni, Vidi, Vici preview on Patch.com
Read more about Julius Caesar's history.    
Listen to the show music.