leif

I live in Luxembourg. I would LOVE to see BD come here! It would be a good place to visit. Music is a big part of the culture here. All the little towns (and I do mean *little*) have brass bands. Luxembourg is also less than 2 hours away by bus from the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, in the Netherlands. Also, the drinking age is 16.

I went to the DCE finals last week and no woodwind corps made the final 10. Now, thanks to DCE, I know what a drum corps with woodwinds sounds like. It sounds like a drum corps. The Italian corps, Besana, that I saw in pre-lims marched about 50/50 brass and woodwinds. For the most part, the brass simply drowned out the woodwinds. This was with about 15 brass. Imagine 50 or 60 BD or Crown brass players against a woodwind section. The only way that woodwinds would ever make sense in a drum corps is to put them in the pit and mic them. Otherwise, they're just there for the drill. And yes, you are right about the fan appeal of the shows at DCE. It was a lot of fun!

Oh yeah. Pure low brass joy. They sure don't play like that any more!

I don't remember breaking down the score to that extent in either 86 or 87. Probably because the only thing I remember from being taught by Frank was how much pain I was in, trying to hold up my DEG euphonium during our daily 45 minutes of long tone exercises. Also, I just watched our 86 show. We were basically strolling on the field in formation. We didn't have to spend all our time learning 200 sets so we could spend a lot more time working on music. This is probably why we beat Garfield in Brass and Percussion, but lost big to them in GE. Suncoast was 3rd in field brass at semi's in 89. We were 1st in field brass in 86. (I think that was the only sub caption that the corps ever won.) Colorguard was 2nd in 88. I miss 'em too. But you know what? Between 83 and 89, we were in finals 7 times. Two of those shows, 84 and 88, pushed the boundaries of what drum corps could do. We had amazing hornlines that played shows that hold up against the best of any era, that people still listen to and go "####!" (You will not find a more insane opener than 83 Suncoast) We re-wrote the book on bass drumming. We did the first all original show. We beat BD in brass at their home show! And to top it off, we looked good. So yeah, I miss Suncoast, but I'm grateful I got to be a part of it because that was some high quality drum corps.

Probably because it had that "Wait, what?!" factor going for it and who's to say that there isn't a bass drum cadenza in the middle of Midnight in Miami? On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Johnny Richards didn't write any for Adventures in Time. Some trivia: The top bass (both years) won snare I&E in 89. Three of the basses were from one high school (Largo, FL). I marched in 86, and the basses were so tight, they pretty much stopped cleaning their show about halfway through tour.

Just checking the results for the decade past. Cavies have a 7 year streak, from 2000-2006, where they finish 1st 5 times and 2nd twice. This is just a hair better than BDs run from 1976-1982, where they also had 5 1sts, but 1 2nd, and a 3rd. (How about that for totally ignoring the title of the thread?)

I seem to recall reading, in that big drum corps history book that came out a few years ago, that modern drum corps in America was started by veterans returning from WWI. Now, I'm not a veteran, and it's possible that these guys spent their time together, when not practicing, discussing poetry and drinking tea, but my guess is that modern drum corps has its roots planted firmly in soil watered with copious amounts of alcohol, cigar smoke, and licentious behavior. Based on my own experience in the 1980's, when stories of the drugs and violence of 70's drum corps circulated among the members, and seeing the incredible level of fitness among members these days (when was the last time you saw one of those "big-guy" sop, er, trumpet players wailing on the sideline?), I would have to say that drum corps is evolving to a point of wholesomeness where it will simply be considered a branch of the Mormon church.

85 Suncoast: A Very Loud Day in Florida 2001 Crossmen: Best Crossmen Ever, We Love You Melissa! 82 SCV: Don't Leave During the Credits 93 Star: Well F%@* You, Too 97 Cadets: Note-a-rhea 94 BD: The Loud Loudness w/ special guest Victoria's Secret

Hey, send me an e-mail! I've got all the finals for the 90's and I'm willing to part with them!

Is this not the best description of drum corps ever written? (although I'd change the 20 to 70)

Stan Kenton, were he alive, might disagree with you! He had a mellophonium section in his big band for many years. (Maybe that's why Kenton charts work so well on the field. You don't have to arrange them, just transpose them.)

Amen! I would say, of the horns listed, euph is the easiest to play, but the hardest to march.

How about this? Star for best G bugle line (2 valve no less!) 2002 Cavies for best Bb line

Yeah, she did. I only talked to her briefly at the Lynn, MA show. She was pretty cool. My name? I'm not hiding anything. My name is Leif. I marched Suncoast in 86 and 87 on euphonium. My shoulders are still sore.

OK, this has nothing to do with the topic at hand, but where were you hot young baritone players when I marched? I met an incredibly lovely young bari soloist in Glassmen, too. Back in my day, we were a bunch of galoots with bad haircuts, now you're...you're ... PRETTY! :o