davidp

A little late (for me, on my end), but thank you!! 🙂

Why not just make something like an alto flugelhorn (still in G, or I guess Bb now)? To me, that’s what the meehaphone looks like. 🙂🙂🙂

Yeah; you listen to the show, and up to the end, it stacks up pretty well with the original. You get to the ending, and it’s like, “huh?” It sounds like either Petrouchka “gets the girl,” and all is well, or else he wasn’t such a great guy after all, and him getting killed (I was mistaken in my last post; the Moor kills him with a sword, rather than beating him to death) was a good thing, and the Moor and the ballerina live happily ever after. It seems like at the very least, they could have done a reprise to the very beginning or something, but that’s just me; your mileage may vary. 🤣🤣

I put the 1988 show in my top 3 faves for Spirit. I didnt care too much for the ending, because it seemed out of character from the rest of the piece (it sort of sounded like Petrushka got the girl after all in the end, rather than being beaten to death by the Moor). I think being so out of the box was what made it for me, even though a lot of people weren't too crazy about it.

Electronics, mics (and as Leroy Jethro Gibbs says, "too much yabba-yabba 😄), weird shows, and costing more $$$ to participate in than travel soccer.

Nice!

Yeah, but at that time, wasn't 23rd place the best any "brand-spanking-new" corps had ever done (until Memphis Blues three years later (20th), and then, of course, freakin' Star of Indiana :-P )? That's the story I've heard since i was in high school.

I was going to say something silly, that WFL Bugles came out when Gary Davidson tried to get into drum corps after the World Football League collapsed. Oh, never mind.

And Vladimir now knows not to say anything about synthesizers and clarinets.

In Soviet Russia, flag spins you. And tosses you. In Soviet Russia, sabre dances you. In Soviet Russia, bottle dances you. In Soviet Russia, you know not to go into a restaurant, when the sign on the door reads, "Sorry, We're Open." (Yakov Smirnoff rocks!) Apologies if I missed these somewhere on here.

What was the name of that Billy Joel song, "We'll All Go Down Together," or something? The reason I picked "Band of Brothers" and "Hymn to the Fallen" was because of the recent (sort of) movie and miniseries. The "Battle March Medley," in my opinion, work work for any era (and it could showcase some really cool drill and guard work) Plus, I wasn't sure if the music of the Vietnam era was all that kind to the military (the fall of Saigon happened around my 11th birthday, so my memories of that time are vague, at best). I do see where you're coming from. I'm just not sure what music would be considered fitting for a modern military tribute. Of course, that's why I invited comments, substitutions, etc. (and it is very much appreciated ). This is fun; keep it going!

I'm adding "Victory at Sea" to the mix as well.

Hi, I had a thought the other day about a tribute to those who have bravely defended our country, and continue to do so. I thought I'd run this idea "up the flagpole, and see who salutes it." I have chosen four pieces, one of which might be a percussion feature. Feel free to comment, switch around what I have, and also make substitutions, if you think something else might fit better. Here goes: "For Those Who Serve, and Have Served..." "In the Spring, When Kings Go Off to War" - Holsinger "Battle March Medley" - Woods (the Pogues) - possible percussion feature (with "old skool" guard work, maybe?) "Band of Brothers" - Kamen "Hymn to the Fallen" - Williams (from "Saving Private Ryan") I think I had another one, but I forgot what it was (ADHD sucks, ya know?). At the end of the show, the color guard, as the corps leaves the field, would spread out two banners; one would read, "For Those who Serve and Have Served..." (left side) and the other would read, "Thank You!!!" Anyway, have at it. Thanks.

I don't know what pieces would be in it, but I'd like to see a corps use a theme like: "Theme? We Don't Need No Stinking Theme!" "Hey, That's A Nice Suit; Too Bad They Didn't Have Your Size." or... "Oh Yeah? Well, You're Ugly, But I'll Be Sober in the Morning!"

So then, would it be possible/practical/feasible to replace/supplement the mellophone with an F marching horn? What is the major difference between an F frenchie and a mellophone, besides the obvious? Not trying to stir the pot, just curious. I am discussing with my wife (i.e., trying to get permission, lol), to march in a corps either in the next year or two, or when I turn 50 (3 years from now), and if possible, I'd rather march F frenchie than mello (I have an old DEG F marching french horn (the Kanstuls do look nice, though), and also a King Bb, but they're both laquer rather than silver plate. I also, somehow, ended up with an old short-wrap, piston-rotor french horn bugle). I play horn in a community band, and would be afraid that switching mouthpieces back and forth at my age (oh yeah, I'm really a geezer, ) might screw up my horn chops. I've played a mellophone with a horn mouthpiece, and I agree with everybody else that it's not a good option. Again, I'm just curious. Thanks.

Yes I am; I'm learning a lot.

Wow! I just came back to this thread after a while. Very educational!! Now for another question. What would happen if you substituted F marching frenchies (the kind that Kanstul, DEG, Blessing, and others make) for mellophones? Although I have played horn off and on for a little over 30 years, I was never privy to the nuts and bolts of voicing. I know there is a difference between the two, besides the obvious, but I don't what it is. Sorry to keep pounding you guys with obscure questions, but you all know this stuff, and I don't, lol. Thanks for accommodating me; someday, if my mini-corps ever gets off the ground, we may have a very unique sound. It may not be great, but it would still be unique .

I just thought of something; what if Cadets2 does go DCA, and the kids say, "Hey, I like not having to tote speakers and synths around. Not having all that electronic crap is cool! And if I hear "This We Believe" one more time, I'm gonna hurt somebody. Screw DCI; DCA is where it's at!" Would that send a message? Also, what is there to keep a group from forming another junior corps circuit, leaving "Electro-Corps" in the dust (go back to 128 members, reasonable tours, no electronics/narration/sampling, etc. (I guess Bb/F is here to stay; not necessarily a bad thing))? Isn't that basically what happened when the Combine was formed (resulting in DCI), and the AL and VFW rules and regs sort of faded away? I would think that a number of current DCI corps would jump at the chance, seeing that it would decrease their expenses almost overnight, and the kids would like it as well, since they wouldn't have to be a 20-year music performance or dance major at Julliard (yeah, I'm being sarcastic) to even have a remote chance of getting in . It could be sort of an "everything old is new again" scenario. Thoughts?

I don't have a group yet, but I'm interested. I'll get in touch with you.

Gotcha; I thought sops were conical as well. I guess sopranos have always been more like trumpets then? Thanks.

I have wondered for a while what drum corps would sound like if either cornets were used instead of trumpets, or somebody came up with a Bb trumpet with the same characteristics as a soprano bugle (or, just a 3-valve, Bb sop). One reason I'm asking is some of the bugles I've seen over the years have looked sort of like cornets. Also, what would happen if you used flugelhorns instead of mellophones? That way, you'd have an all-Bb hornline. I seem to recall that the Blue Devils used flugels instead of french horns one year (at least), and in the clip I saw, they sounded the same. Thoughts, comments, or snide remarks (lol)?

Spirit of Atlanta, from 1980 to '81, and then from 87 to 88.

Better yet, put the corps in DCA; then, you don't have to worry about all the electronic crap, and you can actually hear the horns & drums. Just sayin'.

The fourth time, they get sent to bed with nothing but dessert.

I would say add the Chattahoochee Vanguard Mini-Corps, but I'm sure neither DCA, MCA, nor SDCA will let me count my 15 imaginary friends. Seriously, I only need a couple of trumpets, a baritone, tuba, and a drummer to get started (I play horn). If you're in North/West Georgia, or even East AL or South TN, and you too think that "less is more," give me a holler (PM, that is).