“Author Archive”
Stories written by Frank DorritieFrank Dorritie is one of the legends of the activity .... a performer, instructor, arranger, adjudicator, and observer over the past 5 decades. Frank has been playing the bugle and trumpet since the 1960s, and has performed with artists like Billy Cobham and Maynard Ferguson. He has instructed and/or arranged for the Blue Devils, Cadets, Santa Clara Vanguard, Cavaliers, Chesterton and Tenri High Schools, the Bushwackers, Bridgemen and a host of others. His audio production honors include 9 Grammy Nominations, 2 Grammy Awards and membership in both the World Drum Corps and Buglers Halls of Fame. He is active internationally as a clinician and adjudicator, holds the DCA Soprano/Trumpet/Tenor Individual titles for 2003, 2005 and 2006. Frank also chairs the Department of Recording Arts at Los Medanos College. His popular brass method book, “Power and Endurance”, is available from
Xtremebrass.com. The opinions expressed in this column are strictly those of the author.
Napoleon is probably most responsible for the popularity of combining music and marching in modern times. While he was out conquering the world, he stumbled upon a Turkish “Janissary” band with cornettos, shawms, cymbals, and a thing called a “Jingling Johnny” that resembled a hi hat on a broom stick. He proceeded to buy one, […]
June 10th, 2012 | Filed under Inside the Arc | Read More »
A very wise friend of mine named Jim Elvord once stood up at a corps staff meeting of a top national contender and asked the following: Who are we? Where are we? Where do we want to go? How are we going to get there? Everybody wanted to skip right to number 4. That would […]
March 5th, 2012 | Filed under Inside the Arc | Read More »
This edition of Off the Record features Frank sitting down for a chat with old friend and drum corps legend Jack Meehan. What a great way to start off the New Year! Enjoy! Click on the player below to listen
December 30th, 2011 | Filed under Commentary,FrontPage Feature,Off the Record | Read More »
One popular scientific theory holds that the universe continues expanding, a result of the incredible force generated by the Big Bang. There seems to be a good deal of evidence for this view. Whether this will go on forever is debatable, and even Einstein struggled with this problem. After all, why wouldn’t the collective mass […]
August 30th, 2011 | Filed under Inside the Arc | Read More »
In this special edition of Off the Record, Frank Dorritie pays tribute to “the jewel in the crown of all national titles” – the CYO Championships – with recordings between 1964 and 1984. Enjoy! Includes selections from this Fleetwood album: Click on the player below to listen
June 27th, 2011 | Filed under FrontPage Feature,Off the Record | Read More »
Drum and bugle corps were born in the local community – which is exactly where Frank focuses this episode of Off The Record … on the small groups that were the foundation of the activity. Take a few minutes to enjoy this look back – which includes a contribution from the great storyteller, Wayne Harris. […]
January 22nd, 2011 | Filed under Off the Record | Read More »
A hush falls over the audience as the ensemble turns backfield and shapes the hauntingly melodious beginning strain of a deeply moving ballad. The pit percussionists layer tasteful textures onto the rich brass sound, the timpanist applying a perfectly balanced and feather-light touch to a roll even as a gentle wind chime floats above it […]
October 12th, 2010 | Filed under Inside the Arc | Read More »
With this episode of Off the Record, Frank explores the evolution of “standstill” recordings and attempts to answer the question of “why people like to stand in a parking lot – in front of a drum corps, and listen to them in that context”. The episode features some of the very finest recordings ever made […]
August 28th, 2010 | Filed under Off the Record | Read More »
A few days ago, I held in my hands a valveless trumpet upon which ringing fanfares were once sounded in the Royal Court of His Majesty, James II of England. This rarest of horns may also have served to enliven Shakespearian dramas and comedies of the period. Crafted of copper and brass in London by […]
August 11th, 2010 | Filed under Inside the Arc | Read More »
On a Sunday afternoon in mid summer 1968 it’s oppressively hot and humid in Jersey City. We wear uniforms made of wool blend, and don’t care. The “breeze” feels like one of those moments in mom’s kitchen when you open the oven to see if the roast is done. It matters not. We have to […]
June 14th, 2010 | Filed under Inside the Arc | Read More »