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G-horns

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Posts posted by G-horns

    Two questions about G bugles.

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    You know? I haven't been on this site for quite a while and what pops up? Discussion on G vs. Bb. So for the benefit of those who haven't seen it before, here's my take...

    I started playing a single piston G-D bugle when I was 7 years old. It was a piece of crap but I didn't know any better. You either left the valve out or pushed it in. Easy. Then I picked up trumpet in school. All of a sudden I was faced with "What buttons do I press?" and the panic that ensued if you pushed the wrong valve or combination. Later, I played a piston/slide G-D, piston/rotor G-F, 2V and 3V. All had their good points and bad points. I still think the Olds Ultratone was the balls for sopranos, followed closely by the King 2V. All these are G bugles. FWIW, I also blew a King Super 20 medium bore trumpet at the same time, so I'm familiar with the whole "pitch matching" issue. For me, if you are a good musician, it doesn't matter what key the instrument is in. You will adjust for things like intonation, tone quality and the limitations of the beast. Just ask any mellophone player - regardless of the key.

    If the music doesn't sound bright, it isn't just because it's being played on Bb or F horns. More likely, the mouthpiece, bore of the horn (bigger bore usually means darker sound) and the key selected by the arranger have contributed to the lack of brightness. Listen to the top big bands and tell me trumpet 1 and 2 are not bright enough on the best charts. Good arranging has more to do with it than most imagine or admit.

    Alumni Spectacular Review

    in DCA All-Age Corps and Alumni Corps Show & Event Reviews

    Posted

    IMHO it's a sad state of affairs when an event is reviewed by a participant , and then the thread is hijacked by a bunch of folks who weren't there and the discussion shifts to alumni corps who could have been there but weren't.

    To the enthusiastic crowd that was there - THANK YOU!

    I was there. I'm appreciative that someone wrote a review of the show.

    There are numerous alumni corps that would jump at the chance to perform. So many, in fact, that I believe DCA has had to limit the number of corps to 10 for time and logistics reasons.

    Modern Players With Older Equipment

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    As a preliminary, I have been involved with drum corps since the days of 1 valve and NO slip-slide (1958).

    The change from G-D to G-F was welcome and no big deal. Changing to 2 valves (G-F's were actually 2 valve horns, just the mechanism for #2 was different) was no big deal. What happened with the change to 3 valves was that arrangers didn't need as much "missing note" experience in order to get the job done. The best arrangers of the single and two valve era knew that key selection was critical to success. They also knew what notes (A-flat above the staff!!) were intonation nightmares to be avoided unless your players were experienced.

    And, if your corps was taught by one of the more astute instructional staffs, you would dread the rehearsal where the Conn Strobotuner (aka "the strobe") came out of the closet. Tuning was as important then as it is now, perhaps even more important given that most corps didn't have the luxury of a full set of like model brass.

    To answer Jim's initial "I wonder what would happen".....some would love it, some would hate it, and most wouldn't care. Just like huge pits, electronics and saxophones.

    BTW, if you haven't read Frank's latest piece, do it now.

    • Like 1

    DCA 2012 Championships

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    If that's how you're reading it then we can assume he fell asleep after the Marine Corps D&BC at finals as well.

    This wasn't a review, simply a run down of the administrative success of the weekend. Great job to DCA for a successful weekend!

    My comment wasn't intended as a slam. Obviously, Glen had to sleep sometime.

    However, the Spectacular participants fill hotel rooms, restaurants and the stands for prelims and finals, with people who might otherwise not attend the festivities. Not to mention contribute to the I&E/Mini-corps event. It would have been nice if it was mentioned in a DCA Administration post. That's all.

    • Like 1

    DCA CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK SCHEDULE

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Hopefully, the alumni corps have designed and rehearsed to fit in that 18 minute window. If not, they deserve to get thrown off the field for lack of proper preparation.

    And let's be honest, it's a rule that needs enforcement. Many alumni corps would play forever if allowed to. It's a real downer for the later corps to be screwed by an earlier corps that doesn't know when it's time to stop.

    I wholeheartedly agree that some of our alumni brothers and sisters go a little long. That's why I said "reasonable" length of show.

    DCA CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK SCHEDULE

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by G-horns

    Okay. After reading the scheduled times for prelims and alumni, there's a difference of 1 minute in the time between corps. Seventeen minutes for the prelims, eighteen for the alumni. I know we alumni usually don't run 160bpm, but are we that slow that we need more time? (that's said in jest, folks! no need to get your panties in a bunch.)

    More seriously, I hope that all the alumni corps are aware of the 18 minute rule and the full interpretation. It's a real downer for a corps to perform for audience approval only and be told "time's up, you have to get off the field" before they are finished with a show of reasonable length.

    An afterthought: Who's gonna tell the USMC they are done? (Boy, I love stirring the pot!) :^)

    • Like 1

    DCA Aug.25: Reading and Bridgeport

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    The whole boundary thing has never changed. Even with the "traditional" front sideline, what do you do if the form is mispositioned? Take a visual hit and stay in bounds or take the penalty and correct the form? I was at the Hurc's show and watched KS go into the pit. I didn't see any pit boundary marking, though there might have been one. My first thought was "I hope they don't get hit with a Renegade." When I saw the penalty listed, I figured it had to be the boundary. Easily fixed. BTW, that KS show is solid.

    Cadets 2

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    YIKES......$175 just to Register and Audition....

    Audition??? Well maybe for C2. Not for most DCA corps though.

    As for the steep fee, all I could think of was that tune "Money, Money, Money, Monnn eeey!" Crap, if the current top 5 DCA corps tried this....

    DCA OPEN CLASS FINALS

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    whos says its not broke....so are you saying just because someone travels they should be a finalisits?..that seems a little crazy and what kind of a win is that?..then why not keep Bush in then everyones happy :rolleyes:

    I say it's not broke. No, someone travels to compete. They should be finalists if they do well enough. If there were only 6 finalist spots and my corps wasn't going to break 90, no how, no way, it would be very difficult to justify the cost involved to perform one time and then get back on a bus and go home. Drum corps is a business. If that 11th corps had been the Kilties (as has often been the case) would we even be having this discussion?

    • Like 1
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