Orpheus

Congrats! - ^OO^ - Now we've just got to get him into the DCI Hall of Fame, where he belongs.

Yes, PR did have all-black uniforms for a while, and I think it also cost them some of that "visual impact" that TSRTS13 mentioned. There's just not enough contrast and they don't stand out. Whereas white or brightly colored uniforms might give a tall and expansive look to a corps, very dark uniforms can have the opposite effect, making them look small and compressed. They might look sharp up-close, but when you're however-many yards away at the top of the stands? It just doesn't have the same sort of effect. I don't think it'd be enough to significantly impact your Visual scores, but who knows? I doubt any judge would count it against you consciously, but a tenth here or there just because something's not as flashy as it might otherwise have been? It's possible. If people think that the color of your shoes, or whether or not you've got stripes down your leg can raise or lower your Visual scores, why not this?

I agree. The "Cadets-lite" version of the uniform they've worn the past several seasons has never impressed me. They really do look like a cheap knock-off of the "real" Cadets, in my opinion. There's certainly something to be said for tradition, class, and elegance. I think this is a great decision and I can't wait to see how they look.

Jeez ... you're taking this all way too seriously. If you don't think that a corps giving their show a title that is simply a punctuation mark, and then telling people that "!" means "eureka" is both pretentious and a cause for amusement, then you'd better be on the lookout for a new sense of humor. :D Remember when "Politically Incorrect" would give out their "get over yourself" award, in the shape of Prince's name-glyph? With the exclamation point, SCV crossed the line from "abstract" to "gimme a break." IMHO, of course.

Or maybe they just decided to go in a different direction? Did people make this same argument after BD sort of flopped with their '05 show and then turned around and did a much more straight-ahead production in '06?

The actual title was "<?>"

Not "old school," necessarily ... just not heavy-handed and obvious. There were shows with overly literal themes in the 80s. And there are shows that are mostly non-thematic today.

Soon to be announced: "The Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets are proud to present their 2007 program, '&'." correction: I just learned from my inside source that it's gonna be called "/."

Ummmmm ... yeah, I know. You have to learn to recognize when someone is just being silly. B)

Well said, John. Bravo.

I don't see where it says that "eureka" is an alternate pronuciation for "!", however. I think "Zot" and "Bang" are as good as anything else.

Ah, yes ... but what about countertenors?

Bingo! We have a winner. :)

Funny thing, though ... as much as I loved SCV '04 (it was my favorite SCV show since the early 90s), I didn't really appreciate their horn sound that summer. I might be the only one, but I found them to be a little thin-sounding and top-heavy. Technically great, but just not the deep, rich sound I generally prefer, esp. from a "classical" corps.

That would work, too ... a reference to the good ol' starters pistol. :D

Of course there was a basic concept behind the overall design, which any successful show needs, but they weren't trying to get across a heavy-handed "theme" or any sort of straightforward plot-line, which IMHO often tend to simply bog shows down. A touch of characterization is sometimes useful (BD '04), but sometimes too much of it can really be too much.

Three weeks still qualifies as "short notice," if you ask me.

Ummmmm ... by definition, an aria is a song, right?

I've had more than my fill of both of 'em for a while!

So, like, you don't think that there's a fundamental difference between drum corps (a youth activity) and a regular job? Much less the military ... Sure, everyone agrees that slackers and troublemakers can and should be asked not to return. But cutting a vet just because a rookie has a better audition is pretty low, in my opinion.

Of course, the funny part about that is that the quality of "D1" corps in general, both in terms of design and execution, has improved so much since then. I mean, it seems to me that the top twelve or so from this past season probably perform as well, from an objective standpoint, as the top six or so from fifteen or twenty years ago.

"Just" announced? Kind of short notice ...

I prefer, "Zot!"

a "symphony" =/= a "song"

Us weirdos who post on DCP are a teeny, tiny percentage of the "paying public."