Bossop

On Sunday, January 15th, the Crusaders Senior Drum and Bugle Corps of Boston is hosting an Open House for prospective members, or anyone who is just interested in seeing what our corps has to offer. Please join us at the Lt. Norman Prince VFW Post at 428 Main St. in Melrose, MA. It all begins at 1:00 PM. Meet some old friends and make some new ones. We are the corps that never goes hungry, so there will be plenty of refreshments. One of our goals this year is to become more family-friendly in terms of scheduling, so members will see more summer open time to allow for drum corps fun and family weekend activities. Once the music is taught, there will be fewer formal rehearsals. New selections arranged and taught by Instructor Joe Nuccio for 2012 are the RAF Film "633 Squadron Theme", "Unchained Melody", and a Patriotic Medley. Retained from last year are "Mondo Cane" and "Hava Nagilah" For more information, call the corps phone- 617-448-0556

This year the (Boston) Crusaders Senior Corps had its 20th Anniversary Gala. We had a successful ad book that included many photos. One photo pictured all our members that previously marched in the I.C. Reveries (predecessor of 27), the 27th Lancers, and the Light Brigade. Ironically, it totaled 27 members and appreared on page 27 of the ad book.

I guess the organizers need to be sure to let people know about the party. At $5.00 a beer and $8.00 a mixed drink, the two bars on the floor made money, but with better attendance, they could have really raked it in.

After the show, there was an all-corps party right on the floor where the corps had performed that evening. It seemed, however, that the only corps that attended in great numbers were the Crusaders(the corps that never goes home)and St. Kevens. Crazy Eddie Kelley (a member of my Crusaders corps) was the disc jockey, and we had a great time until the hall staff asked us to leave (at 1:00 am) I don't know if the other corps were unaware of the party, or if they just chose to not attend. But we had a blast.

If the Brassmen are as good as they were at Sac's show this Spring, everyone will be impressed. I'll miss Sac and Hanover, though.

I thought the Viking horn was a Shofar. I said to myself, "Cool! We have Jewish Vikings!"

We'd prefer the lead sop- but what kind of beer did you say it was?

You'll just have to wait. She's not moving until the end of this year. Our loss may be your gain.

One of our best melophone players has an exciting new job opportunity and must relocate. She may join the Bridgemen. If this happens, I think the Bridgemen should forfeit their first round draft pick to us, the Crusaders Senior Corps of Boston. What do you think?

I usually take ticket orders for the DCA finals for members of my corps (which is appearing in Rochester for the Alumni Corps Spectacular) but I haven't seen anything on the DCA Web Site yet. Does anyone know when the tickets go on sale?

Getting uncircumcised has the advantage of having a place to put your gum during a sandstorm, but not many other benefits. Actually, I've found some inexpensive aluminum bottles that are smaller (2 1/2 oz vs 4 oz for the Holy Water bottle)and don't require alumnium tape to hide it and to attach it to the horn, leaving a sticky deposit. Just use a metal hose clamp that tightens with a screw driver.

My wife is a dental hygienist and gave me free samples of Biotene. Didn't work. I know the problem is only partly nerves but medication is a factor. Often it's during the easiest song later in the routine. If it were only nerves it would be at the beginning or on more challenging stuff. In the CYO Nationals Tribute show a few weeks ago, I only needed 2 little sips and played the best I have done in a long time.

I have a parade recording of St. Agnes playing "Conquest".

I marched in Mission Drums with Prince in 1966. We finished near the bottom as we had started off the year with a strong corps but lost many guys for various reasons during the season and had to regroup. In fact, we had to drop out of a few shows to learn a new, simplified drill for 30 horns when we had started the year with 42. I swear we took a few years off the life of our drill instructor Vinnie Ratford. When I perform in exhibition with the Crusaders Senior Corps at Mission Drums this year, I will be one of 2 guys in the corps (and another is recovering from major surgery) to have competed 45 or 46 years ago in that show and is still marching.

Almost a year has gone by, and now I've refined my water contraption. Instead of the 4 oz bottle covered with aluminum tape (which left a sticky deposit in the horn) I've found smaller, aluminum 2 oz bottles, and bought a hose clamp which tightens with a screw and holds the bottle to the horn. It's very neat and is hardly noticeable. Kids in competing corps probably wouldn't need one, but would this be legal under rules of competition?

In 1966, I was in Lt. Norman Prince, and we practiced in Commonwealth Armory in Boston, right after the Crusaders practiced. When I heard them play "Mondo", especially with the sopranos doing all the rapid double tonguing, I can vividly remember saying to myself, "Holy sh-t, I'm glad I'll never have to play that!" Fast forward 45 years- I'm in the Crusaders Senior Corps, and I'm playing it now. So never say never!

Boston's "Waldo" was conceived by a couple of members (One of whom was Gil McDonald who still marches with the Senior Corps)when viewing a Lowenbrau sign in a local bar. At first it was black and not named Waldo. At the time, several local corps, including the Crusaders had some sort of knight in their logo, and they wanted something different. They thought the split tail made their lion unique. Several years later, it got the monicker "Waldo" and several members claim to have been the namer.

That makes sense. Thank you!

I played in drum corps during the 1960's and perform now with an alumni corps. True, corps back then had a unique sound that was easily identifiable. But today's corps learn a new routine evey year. We would usually change only two or three songs each year. If a tune was popular, we would keep it forever. Sometimes it would become a "signature song." Today's corps change staffs as often as I change my underwear. (O.K., gross exaggeration- very gross)- but they do change staffs often, and each change can bring a new approach and a new sound.

This topic came up last evening before putting on an exhibition at the CYO tribute show. In the 1960's, just about all drum corps wore shakos. Today, many still do. Traditionally, drum corp shako wearers position their chin straps just below the bottom lip, at the top of the chin. Most band members who wear shakos, position the strap under the chin so as to keep the hat from blowing off in the wind. This looks odd to me as I am so used to seeing the shakos worn drum corps style. I believe the military cadets at West Point wear the strap on the chin as drum corps do. Any theories as to why the difference?

The Crusaders Sr. Corps of Boston will be hosting an Open House for prospective members or anyone who would just like to check things out on Sunday, Feb.13th, at the Lt. Norman Prince VFW Post on Main St., Melrose from 1-4. This will be our 20th anniversary year as an alumni corps and we would like to bring in a few new members to join us in this special season. I have anticipated some questions some people may have about joining, and have taken the liberty to answer them in advance. Top Ten Reasons for Not Joining the Crusaders Senior Corps 1. I don’t have enough time right now. If not now, then when? If you really want to be in a top alumni corps, you will find a way to balance your commitments. Our philosophy is: family and job first, then drum corps. Would it be wonderful if all members made every practice, parade, and show? Of course! But something called “real life” enters the picture, and we don’t expect everyone to make everything. Make what you can. We’d rather have you for 80% of the time than 0% of the time. 2. I haven’t played a horn in 40 years. Most of our members are returning from a lengthy layoff from performing. It may take a while, but if you make the effort, your chops will come back. It’s like riding a bike. (Of course, I can’t ride a bike.) 3. My old horn had just one valve and a slide or a rotary valve. Our bugles are in the key of “G” and have 3 valves which make them much easier to play once you get used to them. A full lower octave is now available which didn’t exist before. A month of practice should see you making real progress. 4. I’m too old. If you’re in decent physical condition, you can do it. Our membership ranges from 22 to 73. The only way you can age out is to join that big drum corps in the sky. (And I don’t mean the Skyliners!) 5. I can’t afford it. Our dues are not large at all compared to competing corps. It’s $75 a year, with the corps providing the instrument and most of the uniform. If you are in financial need, even that fee can be waived. (But don’t let us see you throwing them down at the bar and smoking a pack a day.) 6. I don’t like modern drum corps music. As an alumni corps associated with the Boston Crusaders, the majority of our music consists of Boston Crusaders classics. In fact, since this is our 20th anniversary year, all of our songs are Boston Crusaders classics. 7. I won’t know anyone. You might be surprised who is here. Chances are you will find old acquaintances in the corps. And remember, there are no such things as strangers; only friends you haven’t met. 8. I don’t look good in a uniform. The spandex you see in drum corps today is for the kids. Our uniform is designed with the mature figure and physique in mind. We wear black which is slimming. 9. I was in another corps, not the Crusaders. I am not an alumnus. The term “alumni corps” does not mean membership is limited to former members of the Crusaders. In fact, most of our members were members of other corps and bands; some of which were bitter rivals of the Boston Crusaders. 10. “BAC” stands for “Bad ###ed Crusaders.” I don’t want to be associated with a bunch of trouble makers. That label, unfortunately, was pinned on the corps 40 or 50 years ago when times and membership were different. That’s not us! We are a kinder, more gentler Crusader corps that takes pride in getting along with all the other corps, parade coordinators, and show sponsors. To swallow that old line, you are depriving yourself of a wonderful drum corps experience. Just ask all the former “Light Brigade” members who have recently joined. We hope to see you there!

On Tuesday I'm headed to Venice, FL for 6 weeks, and one of the things I was looking forward to was visiting my friends in the Sun Devils. Last year I interviewed Mark Cole for DCW, and I enjoyed seeing Eddie Doherty, JJ and John again. I wish you good luck in making a comeback. It will be a very difficult journey, but it can be done.

We expect to be at Rochester this year. We are way ahead of where we usually are musically for this time of year. This is our 20th year as an alumni corps, and we have brought back some of our best Crusader music of the last 2 decades. Our show is: Captain from Castille, Conquest (orchestral version), Man of LaMancha, Artsa Alinu/Hava Nigila, Mondo Cane, Don't Cry, Conquest reprise, with El Capitan for an encore. Our horn line is about the same size as last year (around 50), percussion 20-24 (we may bring back quints)and a guard of about 12. Of course, we are always welcoming new members to help us celebrate our anniversary year.

We were invited to appear at the show, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves last year, but it was a matter of expenses. It's just a little too far and would require an overnight stay. We had to pick up a couple of extra parades last year to finish the year in the black.

How about a preliminary progress report? Are you getting good attendance? Will you be appearing in any shows before Rochester?