docachna

Hopefully this rings a bell with someone here. Back in (I think) the late 70's (at least 75 or after), some junior corps did a show which incorporated the Star Spangled Banner - in the middle of the show. I was thinking it was the Argonne Rebels, but I can't find a repertoire list for them that lists them using SSB in a show (although I can't find their '77 repertoire). I used to have a recording of this chart - probably on cassette - and we all know what happened to those long ago !!!! Anyway, this arrangement was in 3 -- started with a "fanfare" motif that started with about a measure of a tri-tom figure, then going through about a 6 to 8 measure fanfare, than ended on a fifth chord held out on a fermata --- then the traditional pickup to SSB. Great harmonies -- lots of suspensions -- excellently written. Not like anything I'd heard before or since. I believe it may have started with the melody in low brass, and the the second 1/4 of the melody then went to the upper brass. The 3rd and 4th measures of the third 1/4 of the song ("and the rockets' red glare") started with low brass on melody, and got in a measure or two of some very strong dissonances in the upper brass - then when the song started wrapping up, it went right back to a very traditional-type arrangement - until the end, when what was normally the final note (home of the "brave") was instead a descending moving harmonic "Carillon" figure to a minor 2nd/V chord -- then a huge fortepiano on the last note (and, of course a sop went up to the fifth !!! Gotta love soprano players on G bugles......). It's bugged me for years that I don't remember who did this, or when. I'm hoping that somebody who played this back in the day might recognize this and go, "yep, that was us in 19xx !!!". If you recognize this, or think you know of somebody who does, please message me. Obviously, a place to find a recording would be the Grand Prize, but at this point, I just wanna know !!!

I agree 110%. Once woodwinds are added, the essential base of the medium is changed. You may like what you see (or not) - but it no longer is a D&BC. However, the guy who said woodwinds don't project -- put the Ohio State University Marching Band and the Michigan State University Marching Band side by side, then tell me that. The alto and tenor saxes in the Spartan Marching Band give a "flavor" that an all-brass ensemble (tOSUMB, SCV, PR, whoever) simply cannot duplicate. A kicking-butt sax section is the difference between a great group, and a so-so group. Agree wholeheartedly for flutes & clarinets. They belong in concert groups.......... I've already almost sworn off drum corps, given the most recent "trends". Bringing in woodwinds would certainly do it for me. They are no longer corps - period. "If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck....."

I've only been watching corps for 35 years now -- but Michael Cesario was "spot on" with the above comment. The "WOW" is gone. For fans and judges alike. Staffs are so preoccupied with showing up "the other guy"'s staff that they've abandoned the paying fan completely. And the corps management have bought in. Instead of being an activity directed at the audience, it's become totally introverted and narcissistic. Heck, watch the video of '76 Bridgemen at finals, near the end of the William Tell opener; watch the judge in the center of the picture (drumline ??) "leaning into" the accents..........he was gittin' it, let me tell you ! I don't think you get a judge involved like that anymore.....And don't think the Bridgemen didn't catch 9 kinds of h*ll that year for their "revolutionary" getups and show. "Drum Corps As We Know It Is Dead" !! Heck, they were digging the hole.....everybody thought the world had ended. What's the difference ? What many here have said. It used to be that the music was always the primary consideration. The drill, etc., complemented the music, but you never forgot for a second that the music was IT. The drill and the show were the vehicle by which the music was presented. Now, however, the music is just one of numerous similarly-weighted components in a "total mosaic presentation" of a brand new art form. Next thing you know, white turtlenecks on the drum majors will be "all the rage"........... Call me a dinosaur if you want; couldn't care less --but 95% of the shows out there bore me to tears. They're like genetically engineered food; it looks like hamburger, but boy, it sure doesn't taste the same when you bite in. Drum Corps "music" today, standing alone, is little more than Muzak. And it's even more sad when you see the technical ability of many of today's players, and you think what they could do with some material that actually woke their audiences out of a snooze.....

Brings to mind warming up in Bridgeport, CT in 2006 with the Bridgemen Alumni Corps. Jersey Surf was doing marching warmups next to us (in their normal impeccable manner, of course !!!). Somebody in the Bananas observed, "Boy, are they good !". Whereupon somebody else promptly pipes up, "Yeah --- and skinny !!!!!!".

Probably my biggest disappointment with the Madison Alumni Project was when they didn't finish out "Malaguena". How can you take "part" of a classic like that and not at least give the audience the "Happy Ending" they were looking for ??

You are quite right to express concerns about the circumstances of the theft. Although we have no idea at this point, I certainly hope any "holes" in the system have been patched. If not, shame on corps management. As to donation - challenge to all alumni corps members to match my $20. The kids don't deserve to pay the price for either the criminality of someone out there, or any (arguable) carelessness on the part of their staff. There's plenty of time for recriminations if they're deserved. Help the corps finish the year.

RU kiddin' me, dude ? We put a corps on the field last year. Rocked the house at DCI East in Allentown, among others. They're marching again this year, and rocked DCI East AGAIN. 60 horns -- G bugles. Heckuva sound !!!! B)

Yershat Ahati ????? Say THAT fast 3 times...........

And the theramin award goes to...........\ Brian Wilson !

Excuse me, sir --- Please put one more vote in the "no" column for narration. TYVM.

Boy, you've got that right !!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not tech enough to tell you what to do, but the DCI chat helped me fix that. Try going into medial player, Tools, Options, Performance, and raise the buffer time to 30 seconds. That cured mine........

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They didn't move the mikes for Crusaders........it's them.

Unexciting...........