splat-a-drag-a-phonium

In 1990 Crown rehearsed in the hole across the street from Memorial Stadium in Charlotte (if you been to the stadium you know the place). It was Crown’s 1st year and we only rehearsed from like 9am till 5pm daily. In the townhomes that faced the field were these yahoos that daily would yell, bang on pots & pans as a last ditch effort placed their stereo speakers on the balcony (they were obviously nocturnal animals). Over the course of the summer everyone wanted to get back at them but the staff always won taking the “higher” road. Then at NightBeat Madison was warming up in the area of this house when these guys started their expression of displeasure. After a while of this, they turned toward the house and “BLASTED” the guys with sound that they could not match.

not even the 1990 white waiters jacket, white pants and floppy cranberry sash?

before everyone continues to bash the "seaweed".....they are not finished and were put in place to get on the field which was a last minute event. The staff is still working the "final look" along with the shako. the guard uni's are all different. the pix is of only one type. base drum heads- the drum staff likes the high end remo heads which only come in white. the green heads were of a lower grade which sounded like "crap" to quote the drum staff. i took a video, and it's not the greatest video & audio quality but it's something to measure future performances. i will post over the weekend as i have to split it up into smaller clips.

from Crown's website................ CrownPREVIEW Set For June 14th Music and drum corps fans in the Carolinas have a unique opportunity this weekend, when the nationally-renowned Carolina Crown opens its dress rehearsal free to the public before the corps begins its 20th national tour next week. The corps’ rehearsal will take place at Ardrey Kell High School, 10220 Ardrey Kell Rd. in South Charlotte, Sunday, June 14, from approximately 7:00 to 9:00 pm, with the final dress rehearsal tentatively slated for about 8:00pm. This should be smoking as ensemble was better Saturday night than Friday night.

IBleedGreen03 Posted Today, 12:35 AM If you watch Crown's Remo sponsorship video on the Fan Network, it looks like their drums are green this year. However, that could very likely just be the video editing. Dunno. They are green. I forgot the "Exact Color Name" but think pea green is the best example.

Finally got to see a run-through. It's best captured by saying WOW and this will be a very impressive show in Indy as things are worked out over the summer. There will be no drop off this year. The drill is (as to be expected to be) is muddy but they are HAULING A#* and doing some very cool things. Music is cool. Plenty of impacts to open the hornline up and they maintain their trademark lush thick sound. But because of the very close proximity of the viewing area, a lot of clarity was lost. Will be very cool to see in a big stadium up high. I will be going to the practices this weekend as it will the last time I get to see them live before NightBeat. GO CROWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I went Saturday to watch ensemble block in which they were working on the 2nd piece (I think). As an alum all I can say (from the 2 hours I watched)...........................WOW. Just the one piece they were working was very very exciting. It's early, but the staff have done their homework and came with a show. I will see them several times next week when they move to Nation Ford HS in Fort Mill before hitting the road.

FQJP always was our favorite.

How about a show of Queen Tune? I have always thought their music would translate great into DC and would be a hit with the fans.

Why I like Crown: 1. I’m a Charter Member and marched 90 through age-out in 92. How many people get to say they marched the first 3 years of a brand new corps that’s in the top 12? 2. BRASS LINE. 3. Fan friendly and entertaining music. 4. 80 horns in 08! 5. “The Sweet 16” and lastly…… 6. the quality of the brass sound

Rumor has it that little Fort Mill SC “Billiard Parlor” got a new pool table and the ”Trouble” that is entering the little town. Word also is that a man by the name of Professor Harold Hill of Gary Conservatory of Gary Indiana is looking at starting a little “Band” with a bunch of “Trombones”. The “Librarian” is wise to Prof. Hill and the “Wells Fargo Wagon” is due to deliver a very special package any day now. Stay tuned as I’m sure more details will be forth coming…………….

shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh................Crown is going on

No matter what happens the remainder of the year, this corps are Champions in the eye's of every Crown supporter and alumni. NightBeat will be a GREAT Night and Crown will have the entire joint rockin!!!!

As an "Old" Crown guy back from "The Music Man" days......................it brought a tear to my eyes and is proud of the entire orginization. Remember it takes and entire staff to make these shows, and kids are just the ones who have the benifit of performing a great show concept nightly. Kids keep pushing the show to the limits.

From what I heard from the last camp the below is correct. Musical Selections & InspirationCandide (Bernstein) -Toccata & Fugue in D minor (Bach) Barber of Seville (Rossini) -Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven) -Mid Summer Night’s Dream #9 (Mendelssohn) Clair de Lune (Debussy) -One Hand, One Heart (Bernstein) -Somewhere (Bernstein) -Hungarian Rhapsody (Liszt) -Festive Overture (Shostakovich) 1812 Overture (Tchaikovsky) -Appalachian Spring (Copland) -Hallelujah Chorus (Handel) The tunes in bold were/are listed in their brass page under the "Show List." I don't think I have seen the other pieces listed in on the brass page. This leads me to believe that these works might just fit into the "Inspiration" category with no musical material actually derived from them, only small musical motives are used, or something of the sort. I think it could work- an entire show of closers! Now, the proof in the pudding is the "OVERALL" show design on the field.

I'm glad they have the 2- different groups now and not when I marched...........otherwise I never would have made to the first preseason standstill. With a screen name like spat-a-drag-a-phonium...................kind of says it all I guess!!!!!

again................crown is the New and Improved Crown.......................time to bring back "The Music Man"

As an alumni from the beginning day of Crown…………….the answer is NO. In the beginning the staff was comprised of old Suncoast Sound guys……never were we the NEW SUNCOAST. Of course they pulled from their experience like today’s staff. But the mantra has always been- do something a little different (example 92), be entertaining and pull the best teaching techniques out there today. In the early 90’s we utilized some Cadets brass techniques as they were the model back then. I whole heartily believe that Crown will surpass the Star legend with time and shortly they will begin pushing the envelope just like Star and the Cadets to become the next CAROLINA CROWN!

I can remember the early days at Carolina Crown, we marched a show in the northeast on a baseball field with pitcher mound. Those are where legends are made. Also in Crown’s 91 show coming out of pods, we had one euphonium that often came out in the wrong spot. The other two euphs had to learn all 3 final 15 pages of drill “Just in case”. Through meshing company fronts etc. I also remember our 92 show, we started in a scattered pattern and I was as close to the sideline as possible with a backward move into the first drill shape and many times waiting on the count off and realizing I DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO! Luckily instinct takes over and came off without a hitch.

Being a Crown Alumni from the very days, I’m very impartial and would LOVE to see it. But DCI being DCI the only way Crown is going to finish where Cadets finished was to switch names and uni’s. Bottom line. I honestly believe the staffs and kids are all from the same mold and are all very good and the only difference is the history behind each corp!

I always like VK’s ball caps!!!

I enjoy your enthusiasm, and I’m sure you have found out that there are many more there in your same shoes. I marched Crown and remember that same anxiety, buildup, being overwhelmed, hurting, excitement, tired and looking forward to the next camp. I went through the same things in January of 1990 for this brand new thing called Carolina Crown. Even though they we looking for people to fill spots, the ones with the desire and with very hard work kept coming back and finally fielded a “Little” Drum & Bugle Corps. As my screen name exhibits I was not a very good horn player, but I more than made up for it in working very hard. Now that I’m much older, those 3 years I marched Crown were ranked up there (next to the births of my children) as some of the greatest time in my life. I had experiences and friendships that will long outlast anything else. It’s one of those things that you will look back on favorably later in life. Good luck!

This is a funny story, and first learned about it from my dad who drove the equipment truck a lot of Carolina Crown’s first year in 1990 one of the following days. The story goes; Crown’s parent organization’s President drove the corps newly acquired 26 foot equipment truck to our first ever show in Cary North Carolina. Since we were rehearsing in Charlotte NC we left around noon to get to the show. As most days in North Carolina are during the summer, it was hot and the truck had no air conditioner. The truck was so newly acquired, the driver was handed the registration card as the corps is loading up. Since we were running late (what corps leaves on time?) the driver put the card in the sun visor. As most who have driven large trucks with other corps know you have to go through an open “Weigh Station” and must catch up with the busses down the road. Right outside of Charlotte was said station and, this person thought he was under the limit and kept on driving. With NC finest being alert, they set off in chase of the violating truck. Upon stopping and being asked for license and vehicle registration, the driver quickly realized that the card in the visor was no longer in place (blown out the window). Quickly thinking he was able to contact some people who were able to talk to the officer and politely inform him, the truck was new with all the correct paper work and was being expected in Cary by 61 eager youth. To make a long story longer, he finally made it late of course and was the butt of many good natured jokes over the years.