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I am posting this, admittedly, out of nothing but selfishness. It is to atone for something which I never before stated publicly, yet was so very wrong in expressing. This past summer, I was fortunate enough to attend the concert at Tanglewood which featured not only the Brass section of the Boston Pops Orchestra, but the separate and combined forces of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps and the Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. During this concert, I had the incredible fortune and honor to witness a most inspiring moment. As many of you may know, I attended this concert with a gentleman who many of you on here know as "Ghost." We had a great day....lunch in the afternoon at the Morgan House Restaurant in Lee, MA...early entrance upon the Tanglewood grounds (thank goodness I was driving behind a man who possessed the ability to get us on the grounds well before the stipulated time of opening)...a chance to meet many and sundry staff and members of the 2015 Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps...and the chance to sit side-by-side throughout an amazing concert. It is a moment during this concert which I will describe below. At the conclusion of the Boston Crusader's portion of the concert, they performed their "corps song"...a selection simply entitled "Giant." I had been somewhat familiar with this before this day, but Ghost was gracious enough to fill me in with many of the particulars of the selection which I had not been familiar...including, why it meant so much to BAC. It is with the very opening notes of the performance of that selection which struck me...and will stay with me forever. As those initial notes met the ears of those of us attending, I suddenly noticed, out of the corner of my eye, and incredible sight: Ghost, who was sitting beside me, immediately reached up, removed the baseball-type hat which he was wearing, and stood. Ramrod straight. At attention. The only person within the vast audience (or at least those within my rather sharp eyesight) to do so. In my years of marching, I have marched with many proud marchers. Marchers who, one would swear, wouldn't move even given the direst of circumstances. But looking back upon those marchers, I must honestly say that I never once witnessed a single person who stood with the bearing, the honor, and the meaning which I was fortunate enough to see in the man beside me that night. I know Ghost's story. I know his background. I know why the Boston Crusaders mean so much to him. But it was at that moment that I realized that, even given all the knowledge which one may possess on a matter, one cannot know everything. And it was at that moment that I, maybe more than at any other time in my life, realized what HONOR meant. What RESPECT meant. And what DEVOTION meant. And so, to you Ghost, I thank you for providing me a deeply enriching and humbling moment. Not as a mere drum and bugle corps fan. But as a human being. I shall forever be in your debt. Now....if anyone else wishes to provided experiences which were meaningful to you...this being the off-season is the perfect time to do it. And even if nobody else chooses to step up and speak...then if nothing else, I am happy to have extended most incredibly-deserved words of respect to one who taught me, on that night, what respect really means. Thank you, Sir. Edit: It is with the moments following what I wrote above that yet another, and maybe more important, realization came to my mind. I now know why DCP exists. It exists because there are hundreds...no...thousands...of people who have been touched by the activity. Have been influenced by the activity. And who, most importantly, have been molded by the activity. Some may ##### at times...some may write with any and every extreme of, what my dear old dad used to call it..."#### and vinegar"...and some may write out of what they may think is the extremest of unction. But in the end, we all post based on the same reason...we care. We care about that which meant something great to us at some time in our lives...and even more importantly, what means even more to us in these days long past the time which tired lips, sore hands, and bruised feet marked the proof of our participation. So go ahead...##### away. Express your ideas and contributions without fear...even if, in the backs of your rational minds, that little voice echoes "shut up, you ###### fool...you're full of #### on this one." It's ok...it happens with us all. And why? Simply this...because we care. Because most of us have "been there" in one form or another. And because, like "Ghost," we all still knowing and lovingly stand with prideful attention whenever, or IF ever, we should hear our song. It is not only our song...it is the song in which we believe.

TOTALLY have to second this. I'm a movie nerd and have hundreds of films on Blu-ray, but for a long time I didn't care that much about drum corps on Blu-ray. I figured the production values of DCI, while awesome for the activity, likely didn't warrant paying extra for the Blu-rays. Then I got the "Essentials" discs and it was a VERY simple A/B between Legacy DVDs and the Essentials Blu-ray. The difference was astounding, and obvious. If you're truly passionate about the activity, and/or about specific seasons, I can't recommend enough to invest the extra cash into the Blu-rays!

None that I know of. And I've worked with a bunch... in DCA and DCI. Did you get an A in the "Reading Into Things" class you took in high school?

I don't feel bad about linking these as they are put up by corps and companies to be watched on YouTube and aren't rips of the DCI broadcasts of semis and finals performances. Blue Devils Finals Encore Performance (multi-cam) The Cadets Finals Week Multi-cam Full Show - Percussion Focus: Part #1 (Vic Firth Percussion) Part #2 Part #3 Carolina Crown Finals Week Multi-cam Full Show - Percussion Focus: Part #1 (Vic Firth Percussion) Part #2 My apologies if these were already posted somewhere else on the forum or if these are old news. I'm sure someone will see this that hasn't yet watched them and would like to.

I honestly don't think you can compare the level of demand now with a show from the eighties. Sorry but not buying that.

Well I could honestly say the Cadets certainly do not get the benefit of the doubt from the DCI judges. They seem to hammer them at the end of the season and I was at INDY and their finals performance was magnificent. I also don't buy the "design" issue. It was a cohesive, well constructed show performed at a very very high level. I do hope Cadets start writing shows to the sheets because those kids deserve better than getting dumped the last week of the season especially when you have an OTT award winning brass line and arguably a SANFORD award winning percussion.All my opinion of course.

You need to get the Blu-ray (BD). There is NOTHING better than the BD audio, it's an order of magnitude better than the CD. It's phenomenal sound. Oh, and get yourself some big speakers and a subwoofer while you're at it. You can thank me later.

Thanks Jay. Joey and I even practiced it. See you on the 50!

1989.* But I voted "maybe". *Edited to add: I'm not sure another sixth-place corps will ever match Star of Indiana's 1989 score of 95.300, which has held up for 26 years (only one other placement's score has held up longer). Admittedly comparisons of raw scores from year to year have limited value, but consider also the spread: Star was just 3.5 points behind the score earned by SCV (itself a record score for the top position that stood for a number of years). By comparison, Blue Knights were 5.8 points behind BD's first-place score this year. Here are the other years in which sixth-place corps was fewer than 4 points behind first place: 3.85 Carolina Crown 2007 3.70 Santa Clara Vanguard 1990 3.60 Phantom Regiment 1988 3.55 Madison Scouts 1980 3.30 Cadets (of Bergen County) 1991 3.20 Bridgemen 1981 Still, this year's was a really good top six!

May I be allowed to play devil's advocate for a moment? I follow exactly what you're saying...however, are you also saying that while this may be a reality in terms of specific adjudicatory practice as it applies to the Blue Devils, such "lee-way" (MY term, for note) is not extended elsewhere? Or...that many other organizations are held to a higher adjudicatory standard that that applied to BD? Personally, I find it difficult to believe that one corps out of the entity of DCI World Class Drum Corps enjoys, on an almost weekly, not to mention yearly basis, a level of adjudicatory ignorance and malfeasance strictly on it's own, and by its' self. Then again, maybe I'm just naive....

... until the Kidsgrove Scouts land in the US. To say we're excited to be coming back over is something of an understatement! This year our baritone/euphonium line is bigger and badder than ever and very much looking forward to bringing you the bass. Here;s a short montage introducing this year's line. https://youtu.be/QzwVg_VdrIU

Not true. there's so much dadgummed orange down here you'd think they'd have run out of dye by now.

I guess you missed the videos. It's sung live.

A little surprised by a 'highest score of the season only' determining factor. I see no reason why a show during the last 2 weeks of the season couldn't be structured 'by selective invitation' to encourage an unusually high score for a particular group. Although, I seem to remember the DCA administrators having some authority to determine who is assigned to what show. Anyone know how show assignments work? Maybe, the 3 corps with the highest seasonal number drawn from a hat would be better. Aw, why should we care? It's all fixed anyway, right?

Perfect example that demonstrates that pure greatness is sometimes best when in marinades over time. As you look back at this 2013 piece from Bloo's show it's evident how awesome this piece really was. You've got 2 sides working independently musically from each other and yet somehow the whole thing just sounds so incredibly awesome together.

Thanks for starting this thread. Very nice original post. It brought back memories that I wanted to share. In 1999 I discovered drum corps, on TV. In November 2002 I auditioned (and did not make the cut) for the corps that ended up 4th place at 2003 Finals. It wasn't until 2010 where I joined a different Finalist corps for their season as a truck driver, when I saw what drum corps was REALLY all about. It didn't take me long to realize that of all the positions in a drum corps, the truck drivers have it the easiest. Along the course of the tour, these are some of the things that went through my head. I didn't have to sleep on a floor, or on a moving bus or RV, I didn't have to drag all my stuff out at 3am and drag it across the parking lot in order to go back to sleep again for a measly 4 hours. I got to park the truck, drop the equipment trailer as close to the field as I can, and go park in a nice quiet corner and go to sleep right in my truck (it was a sleeper cab). I got to see drum corps shows for free multiple times over the summer. I got free food all day every day. Since I found nice quiet shady corners to park in, the front ensemble would inevitably find the same quiet shady corner, and go rehearse somewhere near my truck. I got to wake up to the sound of marimbas. The best alarm clock on Earth, bar none. I remember when we got to some school in Texas at 5-6am and it was already 90F outside. I went to sleep and woke up probably around 2pm? I opened up my curtain only to see across the parking lot, the corps out on the field rehearsing as usual. I stepped out of my truck just long enough to taste the stifling heat and humidity. I immediately went right back into my comfy air conditioning. I checked my phone to see what the outside temperature was, and it was 105 degrees Fahrenheit. I felt like such a *, and it was in that moment I had the epiphany that I was literally looking at the most incredible thing on Earth. And I felt that if anyone had it inside them to do what they were doing, going through hell and suffering, and even paying a couple thousand $ to do it, they could do anything. I have never felt so humbled. I'm telling you that these kids who march/have marched corps are the most exceptional people on Earth, and I felt privileged just to even be able to call myself a small part of the corps family. And it wasn't just the kids, it was the cooks, the people sewing and hemming, the souvie booth people, the tour manager and interns, staff, etc. Everyone worked together as a unit to achieve a common goal. A drum and bugle corps is the most incredible thing on Earth. I wish I could take off another summer and go through it all again. I drove 2010 and 2011, and they call me every spring to ask me again, but I haven't been able to commit to a whole summer. I hope I do again at some point in life. If you've never been part of a corps, go volunteer. Take the time to do it. It was an experience of a lifetime. I should have paid to be a part of it. Sure, we (especially myself) get caught up here on DCP about scores, show designs, judges and politics, other related drama, but when one really thinks about it, none of that matters even one iota. What really matters is the journey, the life experience. And even though I did cry at the end of their Finals performance, the end of the journey matters, but the end is not the point. The end just crowns the work,

DCI please bring back corps playing their corps song while exiting on finals night.

I remember that too. Or rather maybe Jaws stole from NWS!

Common sense should dictate that the corps who wins on Saturday night at finals should ALWAYS be awarded the DCI Championship. If you can't win the big show, you don't deserve the big trophy.

JesusChrist Give it a rest. Blue devils won stop trying to take it away.

I can't even imagine the outrage if DCI adopted your system in 2008.

This has to be the precursor to 2014 and 2015...............I see so much musically and visually about what I love about the direction they have taken in recent years in this segment.

A lot of DCP posters may not admit it, but Cadets did get the shaft. In fact the top 4 even if the placements remained, should have all been within a point. That gap that opened in 2 nights was an glaring embarrassment for the DCI judging process.

Next on, the White Sabres. I really wanted to see them again. I love their show/book, they played the heck out of it at D-Town, The Bari solo in the beginning- FANTASTIC. The Low brass in the Chance piece, YES! In my notebook concerning WS' Brass section- "KILLER". The Front ensemble in the sacrifice section- YES! I even think the brass are playing some quarter-tones at one point, which gassed me. Some FINE musicianship. Problems- some visual issues, yeah. It shows on the visual numbers. They can get that stuff fixed. Nothing major- but noticed is all. Now, I feel the need to keep goin' to bat for this corps. Some DCP comments got my hackles up. If they get my hackles up, well others get honked too. Look. I don't give a flip where anyone in this corps came from- if they came from another corps to WS. They could be coming from the Stinky Wizzelteeth VFW Post Zouave corps for all I care. From my observation, the core of the White Sabres are mostly people who have been there for the last 2-3 seasons or longer, thank you very much. It's taking away from what the organization has genuinely achieved over the past 5-7 seasons to just say, "Oh, they just got a bunch of people from another corps and that's why they're better now." Very shallow thinking and denigrating to the folks who have been there busting their tuckuses, and improving the corps as a whole. No souvie stand at Scranton, and me with money burning a hole in my pocket to buy a WS T-Shirt... Personally, I'm stoked to see this corps come to Clifton and throw down. It's a great music book, it's a smart and exciting show, it's extremely well-played. Just... have a XXL Tee ready for me, please? I'll bring the cash.

In terms of depth, diversity, and quality of show design, I do think this is the best top 6 ever. As for execution, no.

ditto 1980, also 1988, but mostly 1992. 3 'all-timer' shows and that isn't even counting the group that won. also I'm a firm believer that you don't get to use the term 'ever' in relation to anything until AT LEAST 2 years have passed. a thing can be exciting and good and now without requiring the scaling against all of history.

1980.

Just got my Pass and stuff printed out for the trip. Promises to be a really tough show. Hoping every competitor brings their A-games, it's that important.

Not sure if people are confused or just looking for a way to vent that underlying anger people have for them. Success breeds contempt sometimes and that's what it may be. Jealousy could be another reason. Or "Homerizm" of the highest degree lol.

As CrownBariDad says, that was a live chorus right at the front sideline. I don't know if there are any occasions where the sound from the corps is not at least keyed by a member (albeit remotely, as for the sound effects at the top of Bluecoats' 2011 show--before the music starts in "Creep"), although that sound itself has all too often been something prerecorded (to which I object) and not even by a member of he corps (to which I object even more), and certainly how the sound as heard by the audience has been subject to manipulation by a non-member (to which I also object). If brass and battery players are responsible for their own volume control and balancing with one another, why are pit percussionists (to a degree) and especially synthesizer players exempt from that responsibility?

Are you suggesting they are purposely not allowing girls in? Because that's ridiculous. What is more likely is that few girls auditioned and only the best candidates were chosen (those that could pay dues and had talent + experience) and they happened to be all boys.

They just need to keep doing more of the same. They have the skilled members to march a challenging show that the judges will like. They have a good enough percussion session to win perc and their brass always kills. I will not be surprised if they pull it off next year. I'm pulling for crown but will not be disappointed if Bloo takes it.

I have drum corps recordings in 24-bit (the Ray Kimber IsoMike SACDs), so I alone prove you wrong here, my friend. Not saying my opinion is in the majority ... certainly ears tuned to compression and low-res artifacts who aren't discerning listeners to the quality of the capture won't notice or care. Hey, if all you ever eat is Burger King, how would you know what a filet mignon tastes like?

Tasteebros?

Orioles fans don't even like people wearing Orioles caps ...

Totally agree. Tom is, hands down, on the short list of "best in the business." For all the years I've seen him work shows, he has never played favorites.

All the audio recordings are available as downloads on Fan Network again.

So what was the story? It ought to be possible to tell the entire story of an eleven-minute drum corps show in a short paragraph without missing any plot elements. I'd love to see that paragraph.

This Saturday in Clifton is the last time all the big eastern corps have to set there marks .I know there's still one more regular season show ,but deep in there minds they want that number this week.And add into the numbers from the southern tier and the Midwest ,plus the UK corps ,and you got a battle coming DCA week -end .So everyone give us your best and good luck to all. 3 very good corps will be looking from the stands rather then the field .

I'm really, really glad that the many 2015 Crown members and staff that I am friends with don't subscribe to this nonsense. Because that's all this is...nonsense.

At Big, Live, and Loud, the third volume of the Essentials DVD was highlighted, which to me was all but an advertisement which made me wonder if they would be available again in the near future. I guess they are. Word to the wise: buy now. They may not be available forever.

Yeah I'm gonna say no. BD's finals performance was a considerable improvement over their previous two performances. They fought to make it happen. Your system would make it very difficult for anyone to ever make a well deserved leap in finals. Crown was awesome, and I loved their show! However, they weren't the best corps on Saturday. That's what matters.

I bought a pair of incredible earbud style phones for $65 for work and walking around. I just recently got a set of over-the-ears that is studio reference quality for about $145. Both have incredible bass response down to 30 hz without losing the 28k to 30k. I still have the legacy cd set as well as the annual cd's from '88-'06 stored in my house in case my computer decides to die. I told my wife once that if our house catches on fire she's responsible for the kids, I'm going for the box of DCI media!

Hmmm... it doesn't bother you that downloads or streams are of less quality than cd's and blu-ray? I have yet to download an mp3 from anywhere that was sampled higher than 192 Kbps. I rip cd's at 320.

I've always though the SF Bay area was ripe for an all-male corps called the San Quintin Felon-airs. Or would it be Fellow-nairs?

They'd be called The Winchesters and yes, they'd be from Rifle, CO.

In fact, a specific charity for the homeless in Indianapolis set up bins this year to collect unwanted/unneeded items from departing DCI MMs and fans. Sleeping bags, air mattress pumps, and other items that would not pass the TSA inspectors seemed to be the most popular donations. Ghost, So you are the culprit who prevented the rest of us from being able to use the bathrooms. Indianapolis airport uses that 2 am time to simultaneously clean the rest rooms (both men and women, one team cleaning the floors in one place while the other team cleans the commodes in the others.) Thus for this old man [who was bumped from his flight when US Scare (often called Agony Airlines) sent a plane with 80 seats for 100 ticket holders] was advised to use the Family Room; security couldn't figure why it was locked, nor did they have the key!! True story. Just wait until you start experiencing BHP, you young guy!

Bring back America the Beautiful all corps finale!!! And don't tell me someone is going to be "offended."

Wow! Jim Donnelly! He was my first horn instructor, at Xavier High School in 1960. He showed me how to hold a Ludwig valve soprano and to play a C scale. I was so naive I just thought he was a nice old guy who taught our parade corps. When John Sasso took over from him the following year and recruited me to St. Catherine's, I recall making some comment about the "old guy". John gave me the death stare and said, "That old guy has won more Nationals than anybody. You don't know how lucky you were to be taught by him." Only then did I learn some of my history and how Jim had written for Sky, St. Vinnies and all the rest, and "'invented" the French Horn bugle with Caesar LaMonica.