Glad To Be Hear

Is there anyone that knows the music in the latest Fan Network clip? The chords being played by the horns/low brass. It's a movie soundtrack I believe. Sorry to bug. This is driving me crazy...

Regarding the current video post on the Fan Network, what is the lush, ballad section being played behind the trumpets. I'm drawing a blank. Thanks!

Used to be. When corps were more "regional" -- and there were more of them. Not so much anymore.

I'm glad to see 1991 BD get so much love on here. I've stated before in other threads and I'll say it again. Best two hornlines I've ever heard: 1. 1991 Blue Devils 2. 1993 Blue Devils Try and get your hands on the Concord Pavilion recordings from those two years. Unbelievable.

Sorry. I don't get on here too often.

True. So maybe this discussion is long overdue?

Not technically. The name applies, in my opinion, if the group is playing drums and bugles. (I think bugles can have valves. Opinions will vary here, I'm sure.) Than maybe it all should be called Drum and Brass Corps?

Since the hornlines no longer play bugles, wouldn't it make more sense to call it Drum and Brass Corps now? I think this is a more accurate description of what the activity has become. (Unless you prefer to use "bugle" in a nonliteral sense.) And the horn lines are no longer made up of sopranos and contras. They're called trumpets and tubas. As much as it hurts to say it -- that's what they are. In this sense -- in my opinion -- the activity changed in 2000. Of course, this doesn't apply to the DCA groups that actually use bugles. Those are Drum and Bugle Corps. Anyone else see it the same way? (Puts on flame suit...)

Just a few that come to mind. In no particular order. Suncoast 1984 - Probably one of the most moving pieces I've ever seen/heard on a football field. Phantom 1993 - Fire of Eternal Glory. Very moving live. Garfield 1984 - West Side Story. Barbara Maroney. Cadets 2005 - Overture from Dancer in the Dark. Best part of the show IMHO. Blue Devils 1989 - Soloist has a bad night at Finals. But this thing was amazing during the season. Cadets 1993 - On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss. Cadets hornline turns the corner that year. Phantom 1994 - Clarie de Lune. Gorgeous. Cadets 1989 - Les Miserables. The corps is split into two groups and plays two ballads against each other. Crown 2009 - Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Somewhere from West Side Story woven together. Great arrangement and beautifully played. Star 1990 - Very short excerpt from Belshazzar's Feast. Thanks for letting me play.

I really miss the old days of the DCP forums. (By that, I mean just a few years ago.) You used to be able to log on and get camps reports, see photos from camps, listen to clips, and sometimes even see videos. You could get the inside scoop into what was going on with each corps. Now, it's a re-hash of the same old discussions, useless polls, etc. Sorry to gripe, guys. There's really no point to this thread. I just wanted to vent a little. I guess I won't be back on here until the summer. Oh well. See you guys in a few months...

You can say this about every drum corps...

Everyone's making strong cases -- but I still have to go with 1990. A quick recap (in placement order) for you youngsters: 1. Cadets - Bernstein's Greatest Hits. What else can you say? (DCE/DCI East Champion) 2. Cavaliers - Church/Choral Music. The Gloria opener/hit was amazing live. (DCI Midwest Champion) 3. Star of Indiana - Belshazzar's Feast. One of my favorite drum corps shows of all time. (DCI Mid-America Champion) 4. Blue Devils - Tommy by The Who. A rock opera in your face, with some jazz on the side. (DCI Canada Champion) 5. Phantom Regiment - Organ Symphony/Bacchanale. An underrated Phantom show. (DC Midwest Champion) 6. Santa Clara Vanguard - Carmen. My last favorite SCV show until the 2000s. (DCI South Champion) 7. Crossmen - Baroque Samba/Caravan. Classic jazz tunes and the emergence of a great drumline. 8. Bluecoats - Duke Ellington. Great big band music played by a BIG, extended hornline. 9. Madison Scouts - Lemon Squeeze/I Can Cook Too. These guys were the ultimate showmen. 10. Velvet Knights - School's Out/Summertime. VK doing their schtick. Before it got old. 11. Spirit of Atlanta - Gone With the Wind/Color Purple. The corps returns to it's roots. 12. Dutch Boy - Frank Sinatra. A Vegas show on the field powered by a strong hornline and beautiful guard. If you haven't seen videos from this year, check it out! The ENTIRE top-12 arguably at the top of their game. Every corps has their own strong visual/musical personality -- doing their thing. A great year.

If I remember correctly, in 1990 -- six regionals, six different champions. When was the last time the entire top six had a LEGITIMATE shot going into finals week.

If you're taking the ENTIRE top 12 into account -- which I think you should -- then it's 1990. Hands down. Everyone, doing their thing, at (or near) the top of their game.

Great insight on the design end of things. Best review I've read yet -- this year!

By being innovative...

This whole issue is very simple to me. To answer the question posed by the OP -- running is still in the confines of moving, playing, drumming, spinning/tossing. That's what drum corps is. Cadets, if you truly want to be innovative, try to communicate the same theme/emotions/etc. in the confines of moving, playing, drumming, spinning/tossing. That's where you've been innovative in the past. And that's when you guys are at your best...

I don't think it's so much an issue of "dark" music... but disjointed. There is no more musical flow. No (musical) development. No build-ups. No pay-offs. And there's only so many rotating boxes that can keep me engaged/entertained. As an arranger myself -- I think it's still possible to develop entire pieces of (melodic) music in a modern/contemporary style that can challenge the audience AND entertain it. That being said, I'm not very happy with what I've seen this year. With the exception of Crown...

Mmmm. This whole discussion is still apples and oranges: Orchestra = Orchestra Symphonic Band = Symphonic Band Jazz Ensemble = Jazz Ensemble Marching Band = Marching Band Drum Corps = Drum Corps I don't know about you guys -- but I marched drum corps for a different, and unique, playing experience... (To answer the original poster: I haven't been to a show yet.)

Before we purchase the flags new -- does anyone have 3-4 pairs of white (or clear/net) "wing" flags for sale? Let me know ASAP. Thanks for your help!

Thanks for running a little interference for me, Robert... Guys, relax. I'm not attacking you or your corps. But I am speaking from my personal experience, conversations I've had with members, staff, etc. over the years. And just impressions I get when reading posts on the forum here. Again, I think the word "controversial" gets used a little carelessly here. And there are drum corps that think -- and take pride in to some degree -- they are being controversial. I don't see anything controversial in drum corps. Never have. I just see groups trying to be creative and push an activity along. Some things work and some don't. (And that's all a matter of opinion.) And just because someone posts their thoughts on a subject here, don't tell them to "figure it out", and ask them where they marched, and if they have any clue. And, yes, it is just drum corps. As you get older, you'll gain some perspective... Thanks for reminding me why I don't post on this forum often. Good luck to all corps in '08!

Guys, the shows were not CONTROVERSIAL. Those were just years when corps were trying out new and innovative show/visual/musical concepts. As in any creative arena, people are always trying to push the art form. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you don't. Sometimes people cheer. Sometimes they boo. Let's stop the talk about shows being controversial. Being controversial is saying there was no Holocaust or that there was no moon landing. Or what Imus said about the Rutgers womens' basketball team. Drums corps shows have never been controversial. They've been successful (in doing something innovative that year) or not so successful. And I think it's funny that the Cadets members were read blogs/posts from people that just didn't like their show. Wasn't necessary. Those guys weren't being controversial. They were just trying to bring a not-so-cohesive design concept together in two-and-a-half months. Again, sometimes it works ('05) and sometimes it doesn't ('06). I really wish the leadership there wouldn't try and paint that "us against the world" picture. Don't drink the cool aid, kids. It's just drum corps. Oh well...

I always considered "the lick" to be the unison horn figure AFTER the corps starts moving again -- after the baritone solo/bass feature -- and stops. Funny, that line had always blown me away on the videos/recordings. I'm glad to know it caught other people's attention too. Good stuff. Wasn't Robert and Frank Williams in front of that hornline those years?

All great points, guys. I consider 90-92 to be the end of that great 80s-90s era. And this year being a return to that competitive (and entertaining) level.

Yes. It was 1990. Every top 6 corps won a regional. Not sure if that will ever happen again... Again, I see this year as a RETURN to the competitiveness of the early 90s. Not the most competitive ever. We tend to have short memories...