Bossop

The Crusaders Sr. Corps of Boston will be there.

Here is some updated information about the Pittsfield MA drum corps show, from their flier. The Pittsfield, MA Boy's and Girl's Club will be hosting the SHRINERS "Autumn Fanfare" Drum and Bugle Show as a fundraiser for the Shriner's Hospital and the Pittsfield 4th of July Committee Date: Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014 Where: The Boy's and Girl's Club Gymnasium, 16 Melville St. Pittsfield, MA Time: 1:00 PM Doors open at 10:00 AM It is produced by the SDCA...Small Drum Corps Association....Hebron, IL Tentatively scheduled to perform: (so far) Misslemen- Winthrop, MA Standish Guard- Plymouth, MA Melha Shriners- Springfield, MA Capitol Brass- Albany, NY Marksmen- Chicopee, MA (Western Mass region) Selden Cadets- Long Island, NY Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights- Newark, NJ Crusaders Sr. Corps- Boston, MA Tickets: $20 Advanced Make out checks to "Autumn Fanfare" mail to: Paul Christopher P.O. Box 84 Pittsfield, MA 01202 Day of Show tickets- $22. Contact: Paul Christopher paulchris0214@verizon.net

I know I'm a dinosaur, but I miss the Massachusetts drum corps scene of the first half of the 1960's, when you could go to two local shows each week, and not really know who the winner was until the scores were announced. The corps having the best day could win. Local corps I miss are the Cambridge Caballeros, St. Kevin's Emerald Knights, St. Mary's Cardinals, I.C. Reveries, Majestic Knights, I.C. Queensmen, St. Rose Scarlet Lancers, Norwood Debonnaires, Holy Family Defenders, Braintree Warriors, Holy Trinity Cadets, I.C. Rockettes, Peabody Musketeers, Our Lady of Lourdes, Sir Thomas Moore, St. Joseph's Townsmen, Pittsfield Cavaliers, and a few others. There were also excellent bands in competition such as St. Williams, St. Agnes, St. Peter's, St. Anne's, and others that momentarily escape me. Only the Boston Crusaders are left and appear locally just a few times as the realities of competition today necessitate a nation wide tour.

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Wish I had a photo, but back in the early sixties, my corps competed against St. Rocco's Cadets from Brooklyn, and they wore these beautiful turquoise cadet uniforms that had everyone agog. Rumor then was that the Mafia paid for them, but today members tell me that the community businesses donated money to the uniform fund.

Hi Ray, You made some great points and I can't argue with the logic of any of them, really. One of the difficulties of a written forum is that sometimes the words don't express what the writer really has on their mind, or if they do, the reader may interpret them in a different way than they are intended. In my mind, I hear many drum corps veterans complain about modern drum corps in that units play unrecognizable music, lack military bearing, have electronics, vocals, dance routines, etc., but when "classic" drum corps is available, attendance is lacking. But the lack of attendance is complex and the price is one of many factors. I was wrong to criticize Mike for not supporting old time drum corps. People attend when their interest level agrees with the price, not to cast a ballot about the style of drum corps they like. I pay a high price to see Broadway musicals because I like them enough to meet the price, not just to show support. Drum corps shows charge what they need in order to not lose money, and it would be nice to go back to the prices of an earlier era, but expenses have to be met. I thought the free Friday night show in Plymouth was excellent, but even that was not close to being a full house. Today, there are more entertainment options for the public than when we were growing up. Also, when drum corps was a grassroots neighborhood activity, with almost every city and town having a corps, band or drill team, and family units being more closely knit, most kids would have parents, siblings, and an aunt or uncle attending the shows which were all within a 20 mile radius of home. A large crowd was assured. We recall fondly the days of our youth, but we can't go back. Alumni corps participation is as close as we can get. By the way, I enjoyed having you as my instructor in the Crusaders. You are very talented and I respect your ability to teach and also to tell a joke. I still tell the one about the penguin who wanted to drive a car, and the mishap with the ice cream.

You have a right to your opinion, but you are saying that if you are not in the show, it's not worth the price of admission. I beg to differ. There were no weak links in the show. I thought all the units performed at a high level and were worth watching. My corps did not participate in the last 2 Mission Drums, after performing exhibitions the previous 2 years, but I and many of my fellow corps mates bought tickets to enjoy the show and to support drum corps. If drum corps dies, the non-supporters will be its pall bearers.

I performed with the Crusaders Sr. Corps, but bought a ticket and saw everyone but the Conn. Alumni and the Defenders, but heard the Defenders while waiting to go on. I could give a decent report, even though I didn't take notes, but the whole show is on Youtube and you can judge for yourself. Everyone there did a good job, and I was impressed by the Saints, a corps I was not familiar with until seeing the lineup. My only disappointment was that the show was not sold out, especially since the seating capacity is not huge. I keep reading about how drum corps back in the old days, with recognizable music was so great, but alumni shows do not seem to draw the crowds to back this up. The weather for the parade was mild for this time of year, and I got to see most of it since my recent back surgery allowed me to hop into line at the last third of the distance, and my corps was positioned near the end. I was impressed at how well these alumni units performed in the parade, since I realize that it becomes more difficult as one gets older. The weekend is a fun time with great food at the local restaurants and parties after the show. All we need is more "Classic" drum corps fans.

I had written a completely tongue in cheek article for Drum Corps World on this topic several years ago. When I wrote the article, a group of Christians had just visited the Holy Land to apologize for what their ancestors, the medieval crusaders, did in the 11th-13th centuries; annihilate Jews and Muslims in the name of religion. I questioned whether I, as a Jewish Crusader, was a traitor to my creed. As I found some politically incorrect problem with each corps' name I suggested an alternative. Since the Glassmen and Crossmen were sexist names, I even suggested my name would be changed from Kellerman to Kellerperson.

Years ago, I did a tongue in cheek column for Drum Corps World on the very topic, and was able to find some politically incorrect problem with just about every corps name. The Glassmen are sexist; the Cadets, too militaristic; the Blue Devils, Satanistic, Crown, Imperialistic, etc.

When you think about it logically, the whole thing is an exercise in masochism. It's hard to explain the feelings generated when you hear the roar of a crowd, or the ecstasy of contributing to group success; to someone who has never experienced it themselves.

My Crusaders Sr. Corps, an alumni non-competitive corps, traveled to White Water twice in the earlier years of our existence. Most of our members are older now and long trips aren't preferable to long naps.

Beautifully said!

Beautifully said!

Thanks for the mention and I'm glad you had some warm fuzzy moments. Also, thanks for your contributions to our corps as well. You produced a clean horn line by alumni standards. By the way, the seconds and third sops also play those tonguing parts in Mondo.

a friend of mine swears by the use of a P.E.T.E. device to improve endurance and range on his trumpet. Has anyone used this device? Is it worth it? Are there any dangers?

Due to a scheduling conflict, our Open House,originally scheduled for the Prince Post in Melrose, will now be held at the Malden VFW Post 639 on 36 Crystal St. Malden, next to Malden Catholic High School. All interested parties are invited to attend from 1-4 pm. There are openings in all sections, but contra bass and bass drums are areas of greatest need. The repertoire for 2013 is : The 6 3 3 Squadron, Black Orpheus, Yankee Doodle, Birdland, When a Man Loves a Woman, and Unchained Melody/Conquest.

Crusaders Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps Welcomes New Members The Crusaders Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps of Boston, an alumni parade and exhibition unit that is affiliated with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, is welcoming new members to join their ranks. Positions are available in the brass, percussion, and color guard sections, but contra bass (tuba) players and bass drummers are especially sought. Practices are held on Sundays, from 1-4 at the Lt. Norman Prince VFW Post, 428 Main St. in Melrose, MA, and the corps usually performs in 10 parades and 4 exhibitions/concerts each year. Prospective members are welcome to attend any rehearsal, but Open Houses are scheduled for Jan. 13th and Feb. 10 at the Prince Post. If you performed in a drum corps or band in your younger days and would like to recapture your youth, or if marching with the Crusaders is on your bucket list, here is your chance. Call the corps phone, 617-448-0556 for more information.

Every year, I give mmembers of my corps, the Crusaders Sr. Corps a gift at our holiday party. One year I gave them a "Crusaders Tush Cush".I ordered it from Custom Mugs. They looked great, but if I did it again, I'd get thicker foam for more comfort.

I competed as a youth with the single valve/slide key of G bugle. Our instructors told stories of earlier days when judges didn't know what to do when horns appeared with these "new-fangled slides". In joining an alumni corps in 1991, I quickly went from a valve/rotor, to a 2 valved, and then to a 3 valved horn, all in the key of G. I always considered these to be bugles because of the key. I enjoyed being able to play more notes in the lower octave that earlier bugles didn't allow. The first time I attended a DCI show in which the corps played B flats, I went there expecting, and probably hoping that I wouldn't like it. To be honest, the Blue Devils blew me away and I honestly couldn't tell the difference. I wonder how many drum corps fans who say they can discriminate between the volume, the timbre, etc. could really tell the difference in a blind test. For tradition, I prefer the G horns, and I like them to be called sopanos, contra bass, etc. But for the actual sound, a great corps playing in either key works for me.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think there were other years when the Hurricanes wore shakos. The new uniforms look great, but being a traditionalist, they make you look like one of many other drum corps; and not like the Hurricanes. I prefer the style of head wear that is unique to the Hurricanes and Reilly.

What full corps will be appearing?

My Crusader Sr. corps has alumni from the Cardinals (Beverly), Musketeers (Peabody), Blue Angels(Danvers), Rockettes (Salem), Jeanette's (Lynn), Socialites (Saugus), North Star(Morth Shore), Reveries and 27th (Revere).

Don't you mean The Holy Family Defenders?

Now I am starting to understand why many corps play "original music" by their instructional staff.