Jump to content

are brass soloists allowed to improvise


Recommended Posts

9 minutes ago, JAZZER said:

I would not be surprised if there was a soloist in their ranks that could have performed a killer improvised solo during one of those arrangements.

 

 No doubt. But this is not what the OP is asking us here.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 minutes ago, BRASSO said:

 All of em. Every one of the dozens I've met over the years, anyway. Sometimes they'll allow a brass soloist to hit a triple C or some such if they feel comfortable at the moment in a show performance. They're can be some ever so slight variations sometimes heard in the solos from show to show in a Corps performance. But the OP's question is asking us here if there is " improvisational brass playing " in brass solos from show to show. The answer is " No". If we are looking for improvisational brass solo playing in DCI ( with the conventional definition of " improvisational brass playing " ( as uniquely differet from show to show ), we don't find it in DCI  Corps competition. The brass solos tend to be the same from show to show, unless changed at practice beforhand. There is very little individual " winging it " in brass solos that have ever occured in DCI, even with " the Kilties, Bridgemen  et al". Their brass solos were pretty much identical in arrangement playing from show to show, with very little " improvisation " in the playing. Where we DO see brass solo improvisation is in DCI I & E INDIVIDUAL competitions over the years.  But in DCI Corps competitions ? No. I don't detect it.'never have either. Even with BD. BD's brass solos this year from show to show were remarkably the same from show to show... not different thru " improvisational brass playing " in the least. Maybe you heard BD at different shows than I did though... who knows.

so every one YOu have met.......sampling of?

btw......do you consider hitting a "triple C" ...or LOL   "some such"......[what is some such?] to be improvising?????? Really, I would like to know. 

"if they feel comfortable"...........HEY!!! That's a decision.........NOT winging it!!!!

Why re-define the OP's question? It was a yes or no question. allowed.

It IS allowed.

period.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, JAZZER said:

so every one YOu have met.......sampling of?

btw......do you consider hitting a "triple C" ...or LOL   "some such"......[what is some such?] to be improvising?????? Really, I would like to know. 

"if they feel comfortable"...........HEY!!! That's a decision.........NOT winging it!!!!

Why re-define the OP's question? It was a yes or no question. allowed.

It IS allowed.

period.

 

 

 Perhaps we are using a different definition of what " improvisation " in brass solo playing is. This might explain things that you are witnessing in Drum Corps field competition, that I never have. Almost never anyway,.

 The Merriam- Webster definition ( that I'm utilizing ) for " improvisation " is.... " an unforseen happening, ie executing something without previous preparation ".

 The brass solos ... just about all of 'em... over the years from show performance to show performance were mostly known for their similarities in playing arrangements with the solo, than their dissimilarities in playing from performance to performance. They'd be ever so slight nuances noticed from show to show.. of course. But unless there was a pre arranged change beforehand in the arrangement, the brass solos were almost always identical from show to show with all the Corps ( unless the soloist botched how it was arranged to be played). That was true in 1972, and its true here in 2017. BD's brass solos this season from show to show were remarkably similar from show to show, ..., not dissimilar. I never heard  " unforseen happenings " in the brass solos from show to show at all this season in DCI amongst any of the Corps, without pre show preparation/ practice beforehand that this was how it was going to be played in the show performance competition..  By design. By choice. By the Corps.

Edited by BRASSO
Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, BRASSO said:

 Perhaps we are using a different definition of what " improvisation " in brass solo playing is. This might explain things that you are witnessing in Drum Corps field competition, that I never have. Almost never anyway,.

 The Merriam- Webster definition ( that I'm utilizing ) for " improvisation " is.... " an unforseen happening, ie executing something without previous preparation ".

 The brass solos ... just about all of 'em... over the years from show performance to show performance were mostly known for their similarities in playing arrangements with the solo, than their dissimilarities in playing from performance to performance. They'd be ever so slight nuances noticed from show to show.. of course. But unless there was a pre arranged change beforehand in the arrangement, the brass solos were almost always identical from show to show with all the Corps ( unless the soloist botched how it was arranged to be played). That was true in 1972, and its true here in 2017. BD's brass solos this season from show to show were remarkably similar from show to show, ..., not dissimilar. I never heard  " unforseen happenings " in the brass solos from show to show at all this season in DCI amongst any of the Corps, without pre show preparation/ practice beforehand that this was how it was going to be played in the show performance competition..  By design. By choice. By the Corps.

Musical improvisation involves previous preparation. Form, chord structures, rehearsal, etc. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, JAZZER said:

Musical improvisation involves previous preparation. Form, chord structures, rehearsal, etc. 

 

 Of course. I have never heard a brass soloist however play a brass solo that surprised others with " improvisation " in the arrangement, where the playing arrangement was more dissimilar than similar in the show performance from show to show. If you'd care to provide an example of any Corps soloist that engaged in winging it in a brass solo, I'm like to know of it, and when... and what was so unexpectedly dissimilar in the show performance playing of that brass solo ( in a pleasing way.. not a botched way ). DCI Corps do not have their brass soloists engaging in what is conventionally understood to be " improvisational brass playing solos " in the music delivery in show performance competition. I 've never heard of this before either. But like I said, perhaps you are utilizing an unconventional definition of what " improv. brass playing is " in the music realm, if not, I have no idea where you are hearing things in Drum Corps in brass solos that I've never, or rarely if ever,  have ever heard of before in Corps brass solos playing.

Edited by BRASSO
Link to comment
Share on other sites

 Funny true story on one of the very few instances that I ever recall of a " brass solo improvisation ".

 I know of an instance where an overeager young brass soloist in a World Class Division Corps, in a big competition, after he finished his terrific brass solo as designed to be played, opted to do a improv., spontaneous, rather lengthy, " moon walk " dance imitation ala Michael Jackson, ( the rage dance at the time ) before he got back into line ( in this case, the podium as he was the DM too ). He did it in hopes of generating some needed GE. Can't fault him for his spontaneous act of cleverness, if not practicality. But Man, did he hear an earful from others when he came off the field... marchers, staffers alike, with one scolding him.. " Theres no efffing dancing in Drum Corps !!!. ( lol) They all liked him, so they quickly forgot it... but to this day, he is often reminded of his dance " improvisation " that day... to mostly chuckles now though.... lol!

Edited by BRASSO
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...