Goldpin

I'm one of the really old school since our horns had one valve and a slide. If you REALLY hate someone calling a soprano, bari, bass bari, or contra called a trumpet, euphonium, tuba, etc. there's a really simple solution. BRAIN 'EM WITH IT! (Ya gotta get their attention). :)

It's probably been said a million times, however, as far as I'm concerned, woodwinds have no place in a drum & bugle corps. If you want to be in a musical organisation that uses them, then join a marching band or orchestra. As for amps, why do you need them? When I was on the field, the corps had about 30-35 in the horn line. We could put out enough sound to fill a stadium, and we weren't the largest horn line around either. Electronics? Same deal.

My corps didn't have any plaques etc. back in the '60s. As far as I'm concerned, If you're on the field with a corps one season, you're an alumnus/alumna.

Who could forget this corps from any year!!!!!

Some of the Spartans (Milford NH) horn line. Just finishing a parade in Milford - 1965.

Spartans' first appearance at the Miss America parade - 1964

The Spartans (Nashua, NH) colour guard did something called the "Teaberry Shuffle" in '68 during the concert number as far as I remember.

I think the colour guard always got a little stick from the horn and drum lines, but NOBODY else better try it! I do remember a contest in Renton WA in '63 a few days before the VFW nationals. They had a colour guard contest and some of us said to the corps director, "Hey Birdie, put OUR colour guard in there, they'll walk it!" Unfortunately, he didn't.

Sorry, but horses sweat, men perspire, and ladies glow!

Sorry, you have it wrong. Horses sweat, men perspire, and ladies glow!

Some of the Spartans (Milford, NH) Colour Guard during practice - '64 or '65

The Spartans did from at least '65 to '68 as you can see from my avatar. This is circa 1965.

Spartans 1965

Spartans - May 1963

Does anyone know if there is a recording of the 1963 VFW Nationals in existance? I seem to remember that there were microphones set up so I think somebody recorded it, but no one ever released a record. I know that Fleetwood didn't do one. If anybody knows if it was recorded, where can I get a copy?

Don't be too sure. A British rifle regiment's cadence used to be 240 bpm and during the Peninsula Campaign (1809-1813) they'd use bugles to pass orders. I would think it's within the realm of possibility for a corps to do it.

This is a real shock. I was fortunate enough to compete against the Troopers at a contest in Renton, WA and then a few days later at the VFW nationals in Seattle in 1963. Their M&M was the best I've ever seen! I sincerely hope that this is just a hicup and they'll be back in 2007.

Here's a few more. Golden Eagles, Portsmouth NH Graniteers, Rochester, NH Peabody Musketeers Auburn Noteables Norwood Debonnaires Spacetown Cadets Tilton 49ers :(

There's a VERY SIMPLE solution. If you want to play a woodwind, join a marching band, not a drum corps! They shoud remain entirely separate entities. :ramd:

H--L YES, but that was probably 40 years ago! IMO they're completely different and I'd like to see it stay that way.

How about old old school? 1 - Of course. 2 - ? 3 - Always. 4 - What horn chart? We memorized it all and played by ear. 5 - What timpani? The only corps I can remember that used drums other than Snares, Tenors and Bass Drums was Hawthorne. 6 - No, we used dummies. 7 - Not quite, they were just coming in. 8 - Battery? All the drummers marched on the field. 9 - We were rumoured to have the heaviest flags on the circuit. 10 - Yes. 11 - Yes. 12 - What contras? Some corps had had two (maybe) or at most four in the late '60s. 13 - Soprano, french horn, baritone, bass baritone 14 - Make sure they'll pass inspection. 15 - Show? We always called them contests. 16 - Yes. 17 - The ultimate disgrace was to pass out on the field. 18 - What camp? We practiced twice a week year 'round. 19 - All the time. 20 - Yes. I was on the field from '62-65 and again in '68. Like I said, old old school.

Yes, it was Peabody MA (Musketeers) and Portsmouth NH (Golden Eagles). As far as I know, both corps folded in the '70s. :(

There were three corps I can think of. The Gatesmen from South Boston, the Peabody Musketeers and the Portsmouth Golden Eagles. Looks like the Gatesmen folded in 1965, Peabody and Portsmouth in the early '70s. I wish they were still around though. :(