barigirl78

I'm reading this thread with much interest. I only saw SCV's show once and I'm intrigued by some of your points. But, I'm really curious if the problems you note having with the SCV show are typical of all drum corps music at its current style of design or unique to SCV. Your critique begs the question of which corps you think wasn't a fail, if anyone. It would really help me understand where your coming from. When I read most criticism, I like to have a sense of the critic's tastes. While you mention some composers you like, drum corps isn't an orchestra playing a complete piece of music as it was intended to be played. As others noted, most corps just play snippets of music to portray a mood in the story they are unfolding. In some ways, it's like soundtrack to a film. Your opinion is far from meaningless. I think it's intriguing. I just wish I had more drum corps-based context and that you could apply the same principles to some of the other shows and tell us what you thought.

All regionals held outdoors should have a "rain date" wherein the corps that were rained out have to compete at a later time when it has stopped raining.

The final performance was their best of the year. That margin between 12th and 11th was quite small. In the end, they tied with PR in GE, came in 11th in Visual, and lagged just enough in Music to put PR ahead in total score. Fans can argue with those numbers, but they "is was they is". The placement may have been one slot lower this year, but the corps certainly was as good, if not better, than last year.

I just saw on Facebook that the Crossmen waited for Mandarins at the exit to welcome them to DCI.

That was the best run I've seen the Crossmen have all season. Every section of the corps stepped up.

Go, Bones!

They came in 10th in Visual and 11th in Music. The only thing that kept them in 12th was GE. Four different GE judges tonight. There's always a chance. These members keep pushing and they have a great attitude. One last time.

I love the all-female ensemble for the ballad in Crown's show. It takes this dinosaur back to the "all Girl" corps days when seeing such a thing wasn't so unique. It so lush and beautiful. In its own way, the "All-Girl" corps of drum corps were an interesting cultural phenomenon.

Two years ago, the Crossmen had a huge tarp in their Continuum show. I was at the practice when the design team said they were taking it away. The members cheered. As far as I can tell, the lack of tarp made no difference to their score.

My personal GE score for the Cavaliers would jump if they were really singing.

The Cadets put their vocalists on the field...and it works. One wish I have about the Crossmen vocalist is to move where he is standing.

At the beginning of the season, I didn't think much of this Blue Stars show, but they were totally committed to it and turned it into something special.

This two Music Analysis judge thing is getting like GE. One MA judge had the Crossmen in 1st (so far). The other had them in 4th. I guess the reason for two judges is to account for such difference of option, but jeez.

Nearly a 2 point jump by Mandarins. Wow. The Crossmen have a chance in finals to take that 11th spot that they had last year.

I want to add that over the years, Phantom was the corps that taught me to appreciate classical music. When we toured with them in '78, they were beating us every night, but I still bought one of their Beethoven t-shirts.

This is not the first time I've seen Phantom. But, every time is like the first time because I remember absolutely nothing about their show except those ladder props. It's a show--for me--without any highlights. I know I wasn't a music major and I'm not a classical music expert, but it seems like one of those shows where you gotta be a judge to appreciate it.

It's an earworm. Beautiful REM song.

Nope. If it was there, I seem to be missing it.

Why does Flo never give us a close up of the bass player/

...and the winner of the one-handed fleugel solo goes to...

YES! (Crossmen opener)

This is why watching the semis below the top 12 is so important to me.

Spirit brought it. Now, the Crossmen have to.

This Spirit soloist is a truly talented young man. I hope he's not an age-out.

This is a good run by the Colts, a corps I always enjoy.