A Hero’s Journey

On November 2018, the Vista Ridge Ranger Band from Cedar Park TX. participated at the 6A Texas UIL Marching Band finals at the Alamodome in San Antonio. The VRHS Band won the Gold Medal with a show called “Lost and Found”

Since the beginning of the season, this show caught the imagination and emotions of the public watching it. I believe part of the magic is because the show follows what Joseph Campbell describes as the Hero’s Journey in his book “The Hero with a Thousand Faces. This is known as the Mono-myth in narratology.

Below is how I believe, the different parts of the show fits the mono-myth sections. Of course, this is just my personal interpretation.

In order to do the time stamps, I used the below video available in YouTube:

0:00 Life and Death, Lost Theme by Michael Giaccino

The Hero (the Vista Ridge Ranger Band) is in his current situation. Is not comfortable one as there is a sense of longing and despair. A sense of being lost. The trumpet and mellophonium solos coming from opposite sides of the field are cries for help and for being heard and seen. Is somebody listening?

1:03 Finding and Believing by Pat Metheny

Then, is it there. A call for adventure. A call to change the present’s status quo and to pursue something meaningful. The idea that change is possible and it is up to them to achieve it. They don’t know if it’s a call from the outside or a call from the inside. They just know they have to move.

1:58 The Cycle Song by Himogen Heap

Animated by this feeling they go out to the world to look for this call, for this challenge. Still they are not sure where this path is going to take them but they know there is not turning back to the old situation. They analyze and test their skills, their weapons, their courage, what do they have to face the unknown?

3:30 Loss Don Ellis

Then doubt appears (3:50 Flugelhorn first solo). Old feelings of despair reappear. Maybe their skills and weapons are not enough for the task in front of them. They are afraid to get into the cavern where the ultimate challenge lies. They need counsel, they need guidance. They start to put themselves together again. They listen to the advisors (4:30 Soprano Sax solo), the old wise counselors giving them encouragement and wisdom and they start to re-discover also the wisdom within themselves. Suddenly, the realization hits them (4:54). They are up to the task, they have everything they need for the challenge. They are ready and eager to get into the cavern to deal with whatever is waiting for them. But first, they listen to some final words of wisdom to help them in their task ahead (5:14 second Flugelhorn Solo). They are ready.

5:45 Preamble

Decided, they march towards the cavern and the final challenge. They still don’t know what exactly they’ll face but they have confidence that they have everything they’ll need. Tension and anticipation is building.

6:05 Digging in the Dirt by Peter Gabriel

They enter the cavern (6:05 Trombone solo). They start facing the challenges of being in the dark and being in the unknown. The more they move into the deep they more skillful and resourceful they have to be.

(6:28) They have reach the end of the cavern and the ultimate challenge. They are using all their resources, weapons and wisdom to battle. It is now or never. Finally (6:51) They succeed. They have conquered.

(7:08) Flute solo

Once they have passed the ultimate challenge, they are guided out of the cavern, towards light. They emerge victorious. (7:37) They have been Found.

 It is time to go back to home.

(7:41) Amazing Grace by John Newton

In their way back is time to celebrate and to be grateful for this amazing transformation journey. To thank the pain and to thank the growth. There is realization that it was worthy but above all, that it was meaningful.

(7:59) Life and Death, Lost Theme by Michael Giaccino

The band is where they started. But the situation couldn’t be more different. They play the starting theme in a triumphal way as a sign of what they have conquered. As a sign that they have Found themselves.

This is their starting place but after the journey, it won’t be never the same. Neither will they.