bobchilds

They should throw their drumsticks and guitar picks into the crowd.

I'd really like to hear details and examples of how those people reacted. Were the objections religious in nature? It must have been really bad for the Cadets to bend. I consider Cadets to be on a very short list of corps who call their own shots without letting outsiders tell them what they should or should not do.

But seriously... I think I missed something. I went to the Clovis show and don't remember seeing either angels or demons prevail. I watched a few clips on... (well, let's just say that I watched a few clips)... and didn't see any prevailing. What am I missing?

I say a little prayer for Devils.

Adorable.

Thanks for the correction; I fixed it. I believe I have seen Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment and Spirit participate in I&E in the last 20 years or so. I don't believe I've ever seen Cadets participate. Nothing wrong with it either way. I'm just wondering about the reasoning behind such policies, if in fact they come from the individual organizations. From what I see, participation doesn't seem to detract from the effort and commitment to the whole corps.

I was just looking at this year's I&E results (found here) and noticed that none of the world class corps listed below are mentioned. Do these corps forbid their members from participating? If so, why? I understand that participation is probably not mandatory for any corps, and I do remember seeing participants from some of these corps in years past. Cadets Carolina Crown Cavaliers Crossmen Glassmen Jersey Surf Phantom Regiment Spirit of Atlanta Troopers

Given your rationale, don't you think that other corps would follow suit? I mean, if "easier-than-pie" shows like this are so easy to perform and win with, I would think that other corps (that really want to win) would be doing similar shows. "Just stand there and park and blow" for "half (your) show." Why move? Just do the absolute minimum. Play and move as little as possible. Make it a real "snoozefest." Make it "########." Maybe feature the works of Ferrante & Teicher, Mantovani, the Carpenters, Percy Faith or Burt Kaempfert. Play lots of whole notes. Sit on chairs. Look at yourselves in mirrors. Play free jazz. In my opinion, this is a great year for modern drum corps. The current top three all have great shows, and I won't surprised if any of them take the title. The other corps I've seen are also great, and I can't think of any other year in the last decade or so that has so many great, entertaining shows from top to bottom.

How about cello?!?!? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57FUphSl2vA#t=1m16s [Don't worry, mods. There's no drum corps in the video. However, as DCI continues to devolve, this will eventually be considered drum corps.]

Before anyone gets in a twist, I love BD and I love this year's show. My favorite in years! Go BD!

PVC is not a house, and a house is not a show...

To the OP, I say GOOD FOR YOU for posting here! If a worker, volunteer or paid, doesn't know the answer to something or if they are challenged with something like this, then they should ask for a supervisor or someone with more clout. If they won't ask, then you should ask for their authority. IE, where does it say, in writing, that there is no re-entry. Make them show you the sign, on your ticket, or the written DCI policy (which they should have), or whatever policy they're supposedly upholding. They should either have it or be able to get it. I'm pretty sure you're not any breaking federal laws by going out to your car during INT. "Homeland Security?" Give me a break. If the host doesn't adequately train their workers and handle issues like this appropriately, then they don't deserve to have a show. I'm fairly confident that you were probably not the only person who had such a problem at the show; you're just one who posted something. We pay handsomely for our tickets and we deserve better treatment than this.

Maybe I'm not sure what type of repetition you're talking about. Plenty classical and jazz music is also highly repetitive. Drum corps just tends to take out the repeats. Could you please clarify?

I'm not voting because there's not an appropriate option for me. I don't think the judging is entirely fair because human beings assign scores subjectively. Also, the same performance might be perceived different to different judges based on their location on the field or even in the box. For example, if a 3rd baritone fracks or lays out, and the field brass judge isn't there to hear it, does the frack/layout exist? Of course it does. Same with the field percussion judge if he's following the tenor line around on side one, he might not hear some dirt in the bass line on side two or in the front ensemble.

Walter Cronkite passed away two years ago. I hope he didn't rise from his grave to slap you silly!

There are some great question and answer effects between the two halves of the pit too. Check out Star 1991. Can't remember the piece.

Call it whatever you want. "Elevator music" or whatever. I loved BD when I saw them at Clovis on 6/24. I have been a BD fan since the mid-80s and this is one of my favorite music books ever. I have to laugh at the notions that 3rd or 4th place is a failure, and that it's time for Downey and company to pack it in. I'm so glad Wayne didn't quit after Blue Devil failures such as 1988, 1993, 1995 and 1998. To each our own, but I'd much rather read gushings about shows and corps that you DO like.

I haven't seen all the shows, but I really like Blue Devils this year. Great hummable tunes. It seems that this season may finish similarly to 1988. Legendary, monstrous, hummable, accessible, 3rd place. I also really like Blue Knights this year. My favorite show from them, ever. It's hard to go wrong with great literature - in my book anyway.

I am selling some official DCI audio recordings, which are not currently available from DCI. They are in great condition. 1983 Crossmen (13th) 1983 Alliance (14th) (Spectra-Heightsmen Alliance) 1983 Les Eclipses (19th) 1983 Avant Garde (20th) 1984 Troopers (13th) 1984 Bridgemen (14th) 1984 Les Eclipses (15th) 1984 Avant Garde (16th) 1984 Sky Ryders (17th) 1984 Knights (18th) (Geneseo Knights) 1984 Boston (19th) (Boston Crusaders) 1984 Florida Wave (20th) Let me know asap if you are interested in buying them from me. If I don't hear from anyone, I intend to put them on eBay.

The Latter Day Saints?

Opinions and perceptions, plain and simple. I believe the quality of the top corps performers and designers is so high that it comes down to the opinions and perceptions of the judges. And I don't believe there is anything Crown can do about it, other than stay the course and deliver the best show they can every year.

Twelve.

Look, only INT and SCV have been in every finals since DCI's inception. And I bet INT has been at more shows year in and year out than any other corps. INT hasn't changed much over the years, yet they continue to be as relevant as ever. Bottom line: If you're not a fan of INT, just stay in your seat and try to show some respect. There are plenty other fans who will gladly take your place waiting in line for overpriced nachos and cold pizza.

Mine so far is BD's "A House Is Not A Home" opener, specifically the trumpet solo into the full brassline. I got a little verklempt.

I went to the Clovis show on Friday, and still have the AHINAH opener stuck in my head. Love it! They're doing a great job with ISALP as well, and I like the way they arranged the "forever" section. I wish the show was more tune-oriented, but I understand they need to be contemporary in their approach. Go BD!