Two New Releases For Drum Corps Fans

Drum Corps World and Sights & Sounds, Inc. recently made available two new products for drum corps fans around the world.

The first is the publications’ eighth historic DVD, this one featuring the 1973 Drum Corps International Championships held at Wisconsin State University (now the University of Wisconsin) in Whitewater, WI, on August 27. This is the first time performances from this event have been available.

The footage comes from two reel-to-reel video collections that were recorded in 1973 by the Troopers and the First Federal Blue Stars (their original sponsor was First Federal Savings and Loan in La Crosse, WI). The material was transferred to digital computer files by restoration specialist Scott Gordon who lives in Sacramento, CA, and has been responsible for most of the preservation efforts resulting in a number of previously-released DVDs available through Drum Corps World.

The set includes performances by the Santa Clara Vanguard, Troopers, First Federal Blue Stars, Madison Scouts, Kilties, Anaheim Kingsmen, 27th Lancers, Muchachos, St. Andrew’s Bridgemen and Stockton Commodores. Unfortunately, nearly all of the Argonne Rebels’ show was erased, but 1:04 remains and is included. The Belleville Black Knights’ entire production was also erased many years ago.

There is a 12:28 documentary from Scott Gordon telling a little about the restoration process and the history of the collections. In addition, the full retreat ceremony is included (23:12) showing all 12 corps coming back onto the field with the Pasco, WA, Columbians playing in the right side end zone.

This material is available with the permission of Drum Corps International and DCI Executive Director Dan Acheson. His stipulation for releasing the performance footage was that Sights & Sounds, Inc. obtain copyright clearance and video synchronization rights on the 80 songs used in the 10 full and one partial performance contained on the two-DVD set.

This has been accomplished with the help of CopyCat Music Licensing, LLC in La Crosse, WI, and the president, Jeni Paulson. Contracts and payments have been paid to each of the copyright owners and those companies or individuals are noted in the repertoire list for the insert included in the DVD case.

Part of the proceeds from sales of this DVD set go to the Troopers, Blue Stars and Drum Corps International.

To order a copy of the 1973 DCI Championships on-line, go here:
http://www.drumcorpsworld.com/?page_id=26
Scroll all the way to the last listing in the section titled “Historic DVDs’ in the DCW Web site “store.”

The second new product is an electronic book titled “2014: A Season in the Life of the World’s Greatest Youth Activity.” Nearly 1,000 images are included covering the worldwide movement in beautiful color photography from the Drum Corps World’s staff of photographers and individuals in foreign countries who have assisted by supplying images from literally around the world.

Each of the Drum Corps International corps have a two-page spread that contains 10 to 12 representative photographs. This includes the DCI Open Class corps that did not attend the championship in Indianapolis. Also showcased are two-page layouts of the Drum Corps Associates corps, one-page displays for the most active alumni groups and single-photo collections of additional alumni corps, DCI SoundSport participants and other alumni groups in the U.S. and Canada.

Foreign corps are also part of the presentation, with one-page offerings for each of the European units that took part in the Drum Corps Europe Championship in Kerkrade, The Netherlands, in late September, plus additional pictures with groups in Europe that competed at the Drum Corps United Kingdom, Drum Corps Nederland and British Youth Band Association events during the fall season.

The book also provides a collection of photographs from South Africa, The Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Far East, with single shots to show fans that the drum corps activity has spread literally around the world over the last 35 years since becoming established outside North America in the late 1970s.

To order a copy of “2014: A Season in the Life of the World’s Greatest Youth Activity” on-line, go here: http://www.drumcorpsworld.com/?page_id=367.
Scroll all the way to the last listing in the section titled “History Books” in the DCW Web site “store.”

If you have questions about these or any other historic product available on the DCW Web site, call Steve Vickers at 608-249-2490 (cell) any time.