hmm no wikipedia i didn’t know that. i mean that’s pretty high praise tho how impressive could it beOH GODDAMNIT IT’S THE COOLEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE
[ID: screenshot of a Wikipedia factoid that reads, “Did you know that Script Ohio has been called one of the most impressive examples of American folk art in existence?”
The video shows the Ohio State University Marching Band performing its traditional Script Ohio routine, in which the drum major leads the band single-file to form an enormous cursive Ohio on the field. The crossovers require absolute precision timing. It is a FEAT. At the end, the drum major leads out a sousaphone player, who kind of high-kicks his way to dot the I. (Wikipedia calls it a “bounding goose-step.”) He gives a sweeping bow to each side of the stadium. The band then sings “Buckeye Battle Cry” while accompanied only by the sousaphone. Here’s the Wikipedia article, which has a much better description than mine. ]
Did you know that Script Ohio gets me teary-eyed? Just something about the decades of work that sousaphone player has put in with a difficult and (forgive me for saying it) somewhat unpopular instrument, all leading up to this moment, and the double high-five with the drum major, to say nothing of the song, the precision when the marchers cross through the lines of the O and the h, everything.
I’m sure part of it is nostalgia–I grew up in Ohio, most of my friends were in marching band in high school–but I think there is also something actually special about Script Ohio.
Tags:
#art #home of the brave #the more you know #this post was queued because my to-reblog list is too long and I didn’t want to dump it on you all at once
Brinens and Things 