markdewine

Scoutnout- He didn't say piccolo.....he said piccolo soprano. It's a brass instrument! Do your homework, mr. know-it-all.

BRASSO- Clever comeback! I can appreciate your quick wit.

No, this is not another thread about WW. It's a thread about a ten yr. old smart enough to know that if it's not going to be drum corps anymore, why bother. Those young talented hands might be better suited to persue a pipe band, fife& drum corps, rock band, jazz band, symphony orchestra, .... Something that is at least what it says it is!

Is DCI trying to eliminate older fans? Is the Pope Catholic? Does a bear xxxx in the woods? Does Howdy Doody have a wooden xxxx? Are you kiddin' me? What could be more obvious? Fans of "Drum Corps As We Know It" have been ignored by DCI for decades. We begged, pleaded, screamed and hollered about electronics and amplification, about narration, dance, woodwinds, etc., and DCI ignored all of it. I recall inquiring to the DCI office about an older Legacy DVD. They were out of that particular one. When I asked if they would order any more, I was told, "No, probably not. Nobody likes that old stuff anymore."

So, posting a comment that makes a comparison to world history is unacceptable? Well, let me put it this way, there have been many who were passionate about their visions for the future. Some of them perpetrated incalculable harm and indescribable disaster, in pursuit of their "vision." (Is that better???)

Ya know, if they allow ducks in drum corps, it won't be long and Hoppy will be lobbying for geese. Geese with some sort of electrical cord inserted into the rectal cavity, I'm sure.

The comment re: 1918 was meant to be tongue in cheek. Sorry I didn't post "LOL" and a "smily" emoticon for the thin-skinned youngsters who simply MUST have everything in their life PC. My bad.

.....no, square one would have been back around 1918, when drums, bugles, and uniforms were plenty. With all the changes, were on square 2,486, and it's pretty much not even drum corps anymore.

kamarag- I never said it would be rational. But at least it would be DRUM CORPS!!!!

kamarag- I never said it would be rational. But at least it would be DRUM CORPS!!!!

kamarag- Your point is valid. Who would decide "What is Drum Corps?" Hopefully, rational people. People who understand that drum corps is a "marching art." Not a "dancing art." If I want to see someone dance, I'll go to the freakin' ballet. People who understand that brass and percussion instruments, by their VERY NATURE, do NOT need to be amplified. People who understand that a marching group wears a uniform, not a "costume." If I want to see someone wearing a costume, I'll wait 'til my doorbell rings on Halloween night. People who understand that it's not necessary to be "ashamed" to carry the flag of your country on the field. People who understand that if the fans don't like it, they'll quit showing up. People who understand that flags and rifles, well spun, are much more exciting than someone twirling a hoop. Heck, there's eight year-olds in my neighborhood who can throw a hoop in the air and catch it. People who understand that the journey toward perfection, is so much more important than perfection, in and of itself. Hopefully, people who understand that Drum Corps needs to remain Drum Corps, just as Scottish Pipe Bands need to remain as they are, and Fife & Drum Corps need to remain as they are, etc.

Gee, it's finally time........time to choose up sides, like when we played dodgeball as kids. Okay, go stand against the left wall over there if you like narration, amplification, singing, dancing, sloppy guard work, music no one has ever heard of, woodwinds, "dutts", flat flams, cookie cutter uniforms, doors, chairs, kevlar, 30 people trying out for one opening, staffs with egos the size of Uranus, ad et nauseum........ Those of you who like drum corps, go stand against the right wall. Now, for the rules of the game........ Those of you against the right wall will have balls. BIG BALLS !!! You may throw these at the participans who are on the left. Those on the left are NOT ALLOWED to make contact, in any way, with the aforementioned balls. Any player from the left side who is hit, struck, blasted, smashed, by a ball, or who catches, deflects, touches, throws, or attempts to return said ball, in any manner shall be disqualified PERMANENTLY, and must leave the game. Those left standing, WIN!!! Look folks, it's inevitable that in time the powers that be will have their way. Let them have it! But first, let's choose up sides. Even if those of us who want REAL Drum Corps must start over from scratch, so be it! Too difficult to start over? The journey of a thousand miles, begins with a single step.

The rumor I heard is that DCI will let the top 7 go their own way, and will then take the other 493 corps that DCI has been hiding in a closet somewhere for the last 36 years, and put them back on the competition field. AND......DCI has decided to re-instate the 1975 Muchachos prelim score ,and adjust all the finals scores for that year. So, maybe Madison will hold on to that title, maybe not..... Just kiddin' Whatever the news, I hope it's for the betterment of the activity.

2003 DCA moment...When the Brigadiers played their ballad to the Empire Statesmen at finals retreat, out of repect to their corps director Vince Bruni, who had recently passed. Indescribable moment, except to say that everyone felt for Empire, at that moment.

If one could capture the "essence"....the "aroma"................the "boquet"....of Drum Corps, and bottle it........we could all buy it, and wear it in the off-season. It would help us to get thru the tough times, when nothing is happening in Drum Corps. What would one name it? "O de Camp Randall"? "FINALS"? "Last Run-thru"?

We really need to be careful here folks......next thing you know there will be a stoneage corps on the field..... They will play on mastadon and wooly mammoth horns, pound on logs with big clubs, run around waving animal hides, and "re-discover" the origins of fire as their show concept. ...and yes, they will all look EXACTLY like the Geico cavemen. "Ladies and gentlemen...on the starting line.....Zinjanthropus!!!!!

My take on this topic is that corps identities seem to be "different" now, compared to BITD. Not better; not worse. Different. For instance, there used to be corps that would rip you to pieces on the competition field, and if you didn't like that and had something to say about it....they'd rip you to pieces in the parking lot. There were a handful of corps like that, and that WAS part of their identity. Drum corps has matured to where we don't see that anymore. There will always be the corps that will just CRUSH an opponent on the field, scorewise. Therefore, there are the unfortunate corps who just sometimes feel they don't stand a chance against the powerhouse corps. So, sometimes a corps is arrogant; others...not so much. For some corps, their uniform is a special and distinct part of their identity. Troopers, for example. Other corps perform blistering hot jazz that just rips your face off, while still others perform classical shows that almost rival the world's best orchestras. It does seem to me that BITD, members were "fiercely" loyal to their corps. Many marched only one corps until they aged out,(some at the age of 23 LOL) I'm sure that back then there was the occaisional member who skipped around various corps wanting to win the Legion, VFW, or CYO Nationals. Seems like ring chasers are a little more prevalent nowdays. Also, with current members more likely to be able to sight-read music, and even some who can write and arrange, that's a big step up from the days when MOST learned by rote. I think that can affect a corps identity. Anyway, just my rant, FWIW...

Not enough historical content. 2009 DCI no longer moves me. Old-style DCI still makes me clap and holler. DCI no longer cares about "the old days" of drum corps. Therefore, DCI no longer gets any of my $$$.

Tansea- No one EVER played "Danny Boy" like 27. Just reading your post, I got massive goose bumps and misty eyes. Possibly the best "exit" in drum corps history!!!

Toughest part of a for-profit drum corps would be the cat fights between prima donna performers..... "I must have x amount for the season, because I was with such-&-such corps, and the won x many World titles. THAT person only marched with so-&-so and NEVER won a championship!"

BRASSO - Yes, it is a little known fact that Beethoven was often chastised for his sloppy demeanor and ragged attire. Sadly, those comments fell on deaf ears.

Big W - Excellent post regarding the 27th Lancers, George Z., and the Cadets. Well done!

I used to get "LEI"ed in Hawaii. Quite often, actually.

Maurice (Moe) Knox

OT- When I was a kid, my grandmother would cut the cheese, and just be oblivious to it, like nothin' happened. My brother and I would laugh and giggle, and she'd want to know what was so funny. I'd just look at my brother, and we'd laugh all the harder!