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Aaw

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Posts posted by Aaw

  1. I don't even know where to begin here, so this will be sporadic at best....

    GE Music is not just about audience appeal and pageantry...sorry, but that's the way it is...incidentally, Phantom topped the Cavies in GE Music on Finals night…

    Rich, flowing, beautiful melodies...I get so sick of this...so many people try to define melody based solely on how it sounded in the 19th century...if you want to think of that as melody, go right on ahead...but that's not the true and comprehensive definition of the term...

    I can remember all of the Cavies' show from start to finish musically…there are plenty of memorable moments in their show…some of you may think that the Cavies didn’t allow their melodic lines lead to fruition…I, and many others posting to this thread, vehemently disagree

    If you prefer the overall music book for Phantom over the Cavies, great…this does not mean that the Cavies’ book is light years below Phantom OR vice versa…

    So indulge me while I address Phantom for a moment...for the record, I think Phantom’s show was FAR better than just “Eh”...I especially love when the tubas get to take one of the tunes from Rhapsody in Blue and runs with it for a little while...then, the euphs pick up where the tubas left off with the demonic runs in the upper voices...this is a quintessential GE Music moment...everything is clear and effectively communicated...the forward motion of the music here is inexorable, not to mention infectiously toe-tappin! At this point, the corps sounds like it is a professional ensemble...these are kids..21 years old at the most..and they sound like professionals. This is because they know their roles within the entire musical fabric...they understand their roles so well that the music at this moment seems, and probably is, effortless. Note that they didn't sound complacent..they didn't think "yeah, yeah, yeah, we've played this before"...they SHOWED us how well they knew their musical roles without hesitation or timidity..they were so in tune with one another that they sounded like one single musical entity, not approximately 100 musicians pushing down valves or hitting something with an implement...they sounded like they were making this up right there on the spot..simultaneously, instantaneously..

    Though I was defending the Cavies at first, I chose a moment from Phantom's show to assert that I didn't think their show was a bunch of bunk...it wasn't...

    I chose this particular passage because I've thought about it all summer long, and I just described what a GE Music judge is looking at...I didn't listen to the GE Music judge tracks on the DVDs just to have their commentary go in one ear and out the other

    The Cavies demonstrated these criteria many times as well

    I love Phantom’s show…I love the Cavies’ show…they’re both great…the judges called it just fine…I won’t get into the magnitude of scoring or the margin b/w the top 3 corps, but they got the placements right…with very few (and I emphasize VERY few) exceptions, I think the judges get it right every year (individual captions and overall placement)

    The Cavies did not tie the Cadets in the Brass caption at finals…they did, however, tie with Phantom

    As for the poster who talked about the booing of the Cadets as they were announced in 1st…now, there may have been some jokers booing the corps (classless, yes), but, when listening to the crowd, I think it’s safe to say that the booing was about their score…

    I saw a post questioning how the Cadets won instead of the Cavies…I will not agree with this any more than I agree about the Cavies not playing any music compared to Phantom…

    I did not care for the Cadets show this year, but they showed up on Finals night in a major way…just because I didn’t care for the show all that much doesn’t mean they weren’t the champions…I give credit where credit is due…they flat out blew everyone else out of the water

    That’s all I can think of for now

    My intent wasn't the use of the most comprehensive use of the word melody, rather the melody used specifically by Gershwin, which happens to be the essence of Americana. The last time I checked, Gershwin wasn't 19th century. Thanks for the attempted music lesson.

  2. This thread was in no way meant to bash any group in particular. I respect every corps because I have been there, putting in the hours. I was simply stating that the material given to a few corps this year was at best, subpar. My complaint was mainly directed towards the judging community who rewarded a very lacking show in terms of music and GE over a total package that was performed much better.

    Check out the DVDs with an open mind. I think that you'll find that the difference between Cavies and PR from a design and performance aspect is pretty undeniable.

  3. I'll agree with the statement that the Cavaliers' drill is cleaner. But isnt it always? How about the music? Only once or twice did they let a musical idea come to full fruition. All of their musical arrangements were much to choppy and therefore, the entire show made no musical sense. Not only was Phantom given a better show to perform, they performed what they had better.

  4. In watching the 2005 Finals DVD it is quite apparent that the judging community dropped the ball during the entirety of finals week. Specifically, I'm talking about the placement of Phantom Regiment. The only other corps that put an equally impressive show on the field, (in terms of demand only), was The Cadets.

    I found myself confused after watching Cavies. The difference in quality between PR's and Cavie's 05 productions is almost uncomparable. Where is the music in the Cavies show? The statement that "the hornline doesn't play while marching" holds true about 90 percent of the time. Now compare that with PR's line, playing rich melodies and tought technical passages while really on the go. If memory serves me correctly, Cavies and PR tied in horns that night. That is probably one of the most rediculous things I have ever seen out of the judging community. Where is the balance, blend, good intonation, rich sound in the Cavies hornline? Heck, where is the music?! I mean, this line doesn't play at all!

    The difference in GE is also uncomparable. A very poor show in terms of audience appeal and pagentry.

    The Cavies show did have a good deal of visual appeal. However this has always been their strong suit. Also, as mentioned before the brass don't do much playing while doing these drills. If "Stop, Play, then Go" is the future of drum corps, I don't think I will enjoy it nearly as much. I can only hope that Phantom is pioneering the musical future of DCI, with beatiful melodies, and memorable moments. Isn't that what music is all about? Now who can hum or even remember all of the selections from 05 Cavies?

  5. I never understood the hype about 2002 The Cavaliers. The music put me to sleep, the songs were mostly slow and seemed much more easier to play than the songs in 2005 The Cadets' show.

    What I think most people liked about Frameworks was the pretty drill; however I think a good show has to have good MUSIC AND DRILL, and the one that sold it to me was definitely "The Zone".

    What music?

  6. Without a doubt, the crowd favorite all season long. For the entire 2 1/2 months, all I read were great comments about this show

    l feel that this kind of show that should define DCI. It's attractive to new possible fans, yet is dictated by the most musical book on the field. No gimmicks or uneeded "effects" here, just great music put on the field.

    I would take the largest roar from the crowd over some of this "stuff" the judges put out, anyday.

  7. Without a doubt, the crowd favorite all season long. For the entire 2 1/2 months, all I read were great comments about this show

    l feel that this kind of show that should define DCI. It's attractive to new possible fans, yet is dictated by the most musical book on the field. No gimmicks or uneeded "effects" here, just great music put on the field.

    I would take the largest roar from the crowd over some of this "stuff" the judges put out, anyday.

  8. I think that the guys who think this will only be a two way race between Cadets and Cavies are going to be in for a surprise.

    Where in the world are you guys getting the impression that the gap between Regiment and Cavies is 3 points?

    The latest scores for each corps are: Cavies 95.35

    PR 93.65

    Keep in mind that the Cavaliers' score was from the day after Regiment recieved their latest score. So apparently you guys who think a 1.7 gap is impossible to close, don't know your drum corps. history.

  9. Just got back from Massillon tonight. Great show for all, especially Regiment, What a total package. I talked to my buddy in the hornline after their ensemble rehearsal. He said a few nights ago Dennis Delucia came up to PR's DM after the show and said this is the best Phantom Regiment he's EVER seen.

    Now that's a compliment if I ever heard one, and I'd agree with it. This show is one for the ages. Anyone who is counting this corps out of the title hunt is mistaken.

  10. Can anyone that was at Murfreesboro tonight tell me how PR's hornline was? The recaps show that PR was down by a 1/2 point to Cadets in brass. Thats a pretty big gap especially for this hornline.

    I talked to a member of Regiment's hornline tonight and apparently there were some blend issues....Anyone have any comments?

  11. Just a few weeks ago, Regiment's GE score was holding its own, if not its high mark at times. What's with the dip? It doesn't seem like they are getting consistent numbers in that area? If Phantom's GE score would have kept on track, they would be right on BD's heels, not being chased for the 4 spot. What do you guys think?

  12. Just to throw in my two cents:

    I agree mostly with the original poster. It seems that there are two schools in drum corps: The school that thinks the "story" or general show concept is most important. The second school thinks the music should dictate all other parts of the show.

    I happen to fall in the later of the two. Yes the Cadets and Cavies who obviously are from the first school are executing a little better right now.....But not buy a full 2-3 points that they have on BD and PR, groups that USUALLY put the music first.

    So why the gap? I think its kind of obvious that DCI prefers a show that tells a story reguardless of how good the music is. Just look at how the DCI has changed directions. In the early/mid 90's it was the music that prevailed....Star 91, PR 96 only to name a few.....Shows that have a story line and tons of props on the field? No just a great musical showcase

    Now....02 Cavies, 05 Cadets and Cavies.....These are shows with a story line that seem to be fairing better at the moment. Again its all a matter of opinion. Mine simply happens to not exactly jive with where DCI is going at the moment.

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