balanceandblend

yep....simply the most screwed corps of 2006.....but, can they please get Paul Rennick and/or Jeff Queen back, or at least someone that can write/teach to their capability? and nobody ever answered my question about why they lost Queen a couple years ago.

Now that I think about it, it has always been more of a tone quality thing that bothered me about Cavies. They often seem sort of edgy and not as pure as other top echelon corps. but, whatever works for them, I guess. The judges obviously like something about their sound more than the other hornlines out there....maybe they just don't play things that require balance and blend

yep..those #'s are definitely subjective. but, it really would not be hard to have good balance, blend, etc. when all you play is whole notes and half notes. still yet, I'm not agreeing with the judges when the brass difficulty is not up to par with other surrounding corps. either. Don't get me wrong, I still believe Cavies have a brilliant staff with regards to show design, visual, and GE...and often percussion.

Blue Devils....maybe PR...great line, I love it, maybe just a more edgy balance and blend Cavies... no way...definitely don' t think of them as far as balance and blend...they are just brilliant in show design, visual. etc. I might have a agreed with you if you would have said Cadets, just because Gino is there. But, that still makes Crown at least a top 4 hornline

Name a corps this year that is better balance and blend and intonation.

No, they didn't place 10th in brass, they placed 10th in Music overall. They were, I think 7th in brass, and 6th or 7th in ensemble, but should be higher in both IMO.

Is Crown's hornline better than BD? no....BD is one of the few corps that always plays excellent dymanic contrast, and great intonation. Are they better than Phantom? depends on how you look at it. Phantom has a very rich sound, but they also have occasional blasters. I will say that the baritones at the end of the show last night almost made me get out of my chair and jump up and down in the theater, and they were playing that well at the end of the show...truly pushed even more at the end of the show. Is Crowns' hornline better than Cadets? probably not, but Cadets had a few intonation problems that I did not hear in Crown, and I like Gino's hornlines better than any lines ever, aside from Star in the early 90's. Are they better than Bluecoats? again, it depends on how you look at it. Every corps. has its own unique sound, including Cavies, which I don't care for...a little too much high end these days. But, I really tried to find a mistake in Crown's line last night in the theater, and I could not. They need to be rewarded for what they are doing in horns and ensemble.

The Cavalier's brass book is not demanding at all. They just have a great concept/show design. They are playing lots of half and whole notes...sorry, but that is reality.

How can this be? Crown has the best brass line in the field with regards to tone quality, intonation, balance, blend, etc. I'm so sick of seeing corps screwed because one section is (percussion) is lacking a little, so the judges have to bring other areas down a little so it doesn't look strange on paper. Last year Crown probably had a top 3 brass line, and they were screwed then as well....and speaking of their persussion, which I thought was not as dirty as BAC and SCV in the theater...maybe it is just not a book the judges like. But, why did Crown ever lose Jeff Queen? He was doing a great job with the corps. and was with Crown under Paul Rennick when he was in charge. Those drumlines were always top 6 or 7 material. I don't get it. A top tier brass program should not be finishing 10th place in Music.