Faust

Speaking of the 2007 DVDs, anyone know if DCI has made the switch to widescreen for these DVDs? It would be such a pleasant surprise.

Oh my God! These CDs are great -- especially when compared to those in 2006. The horn lines just jump out at you. The Eureka and Vanguard yells are spectacular. I was blown away by how much of the crowd comes through during these moments. Love it and have been playing it on my CD player all day -- with a brief break for food and water. Oh yes, and the last 1:45 minutes of Blue Devils' program is simply wonderful to listen to -- it tweaks the emotion so well with an impressive blend of memorable melodies and a manly onslaught of emotional strength. There is dirt from the screaming sopranos and middle voices but who cares! It sounds freaking awesome!!

I do not have a problem with music outside of drum corps. Actually, there is a healthy relationship between the two. For example, there are pieces of classical, jazz, and rock that like that drum corps have performed over the years that make help me in enjoying both approaches even more. Moreover, drum corps has, in some instances, made me aware of pieces of classical music that I never knew about but have since come to love. A recent example would be Phantom Regiment's 2006 version of "Ave Maria". After hearing them at finals in Madison, I went in pursuit of the classical version that was scored by F. Bieble for men's voices. Listening to the classical recording made me like the piece even more. So I think non-drum corp and drum corp music can benefit tremendously from each other.

One thing that I noticed, and this may be very telling, is that Phantom Regiment 2007's music is very much melody, melody, and more melody. No wonder it is so catchy. Mind you, I am doing this without visual, i.e., just listening to the musc. I do not know what Phantom needs to change, to win a championship, but for God's sakes, do not change your musical approach. I love it, because I enjoy listening to your music over and over again. There is so much variety, and yet, it is so easy on the ears. You don't have to strain to appreciate and try fevershly to find the melody. I wonder if the corps' arrangers are thinking about writing music that, long after finals are over, can be appreciated and stand on its own from a purely audio perspective (i.e., without reference to any visuals). Thank you, Phantom!

Anyone know which judges are to put on the 2007 Divison DVDs? I am hoping that they at least one of the audio tracks will be Music (General Effect) judge. We had a great year in terms of musical offerings, and I would love to hear the judges reactions to the different sounds that the corps had to offer the judges.

Has a corps ever done a show based on Handel's "Messiah"? Ending the program with "Worthy is the Lamb" from this oratorio could bring the house down.

I would propose that Phantom Regiment do a show based on some great Christian hymns. So many to choose from, but please end the program with the corps' great rendition of "Amazing Grace." I can't begin to imagine what a reaction, given the times we live in, crowds -- especially at Indy 2008 -- would give to such a song. Indeed, for it is by Grace that we are saved.

I always post this. Please do show based on A. Mozart's Requiem in D Minor.

Does anyone know if DCI will again be making arrangement with local hotels such that we can go through the DCI website to make reservations as in years past; otherwise I will have to start making my own arrangements...now! b**bs

Anyone know if the corps designers have started work on the 2008 shows? Santa Clara Vanguard has a name for the corps' show but, I can't seem to find anymore details. On a side note, I am surprised no one, for purposes of generating attention and discussion, has started a hype thread about the 2008 season and going out on a limb to call out who the next champion will be. :P That type of thread always gets people up in arms and generates a few good waves on DCP.

Within the past 10 years, drum corps have continued to innovate and the push the envelope of what we consider a drum corps show. I think it is great that the activty is moving forward. Nonetheless, some of the shows of not too long ago -- say within the last 10-15 years -- would give today's shows a run for their money. Which of the following shows do you think could have taken first at Finals this year in Pasadena? [1] Star of Indiana (1993) [2] Madison Scouts (1995) [3] Phantom Regiment (1996) [4] The Cavaliers (2000 and 2002) [5] The Cadets (2000)

I would like to see... [1] Santa Clara Vanguard do their show on 3hree Italiann composers: O. Resphigi ("Trittico Botticelliano"), G. Rossini (Overture to "Barber of Seville"), and T. Albinoni ("Adagio") [2] Phantom Regiment do an entire show based on A. Mozart's D Minor "Requiem". [3] Cadets do their show based on music from "The Lord of the Rings". [4] Blue Devils do a show based on national anthems of the following countries: Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Belize, and Columbia. [5] Cavaliers do a show that based on Native American music. I think they could use material like that in a very innovative way.

I blew my money on the Mentos!! Actually, I spent the greatest amount of money on the tickets. I invited two other people to come with me and was more than happy to pay for our three premium seats. We had a blast! Then I got there and spent about $100 on souvies and $30 on food. All in all, a great drum corps weekend. I can't wait until next year!!

Given that the crowd is full of die-hard drum corps fans, fun stuff was guaranteed to happen in the stands. I'll share two: [1] Apparently, even the appearance of Mickey Mouse and the presentation of some awards was annoying to one fan who didn't seem like he could hold it in anymore and wanted to know how the final 12 corps placed. He angrily shouted, "Hurry up! I need to pee!!" Those of us near the south side of the stands got a good laugh out of that. [2] And thank you those audience members who brought the beach balls! Post your funny moments!

I had a great time at Finals this year at the Rose Bowl. The weather was great, the turnout was great, and corps this year were really terrific to watch. I can’t remember the top seven corps being so good. Here are my impressions of how they did. Bluecoats: This corps has come a long way and has matured tremendously in the past two years. They took a smart risk with this year’s production that made for a very entertaining show. I like their uniform as it makes them look sleek and tall. Last year’s uniform made them look pudgy and I always felt the plume from last year’s uniform made the members look short. I don’t know what this means, but I remember more of the visuals generated by the color guard than I do of the music. The detailed guard work with the rifles and briefcases was very cool. I also liked the orange jump suits, as this lent more sincerity and creditability to the show’s concept. I felt their placement relative to Carolina Crown’s was about right. Carolina Crown: This show is downright entertaining and is easily accessible. The amount of humor was just right, the use of narration was fitting, and the music was catchy. It had great moments and is the closest to a Broadway show that any corps has been able to achieve in recent memory. So congratulations on being able to make me forget that I am in a football stadium. The slow production is lovely in terms of the brass work. It was such a good contrast from the dynamic opening statement. Time just slowed down and I got the goose pimples that make that movement so memorable. It captured that American spirit of reverence that, perhaps unsurprisingly, reminded me of Aaron Copeland’s music. This show definitely was deserving of the Spirit of Disney Award. Santa Clara Vanguard: This show is classic Vanguard. It did not contain the clever gimmicks that Bluecoats and Carolina Crown had in their shows, and the fact that it placed higher than Bluecoats and Carolina Crown’s shows speaks a lot to the show’s conception and design. No additional remarks needed. Phantom Regiment: Since this corps is my favorite corps, I may be guilty of heavy bias. Each of the musical selections was spectacular because it showcased the grace and power that this horn line is capable of generating. The opener – brilliant keyboard writing -- was very dynamic and the Flower Duet was exquisitely performed by the two soloists. I was so was so focused on the brass and percussion that confess I did not pay a great deal of attention to the color guard. Visually, I thought there was enough variety in the drill to hold the audience’s attention. Maybe the evolution of the forms is not at the level at which The Cavaliers’s drill are designed, but it was, nonetheless, interesting to watch. I loved how the third production ended with the corps surrounding the soloist and the wings coming out from behind him. The audience reacted with the “ooohs” and “aaahhs” that the show’s designers so effectively elicited. The closing moments were all anyone could ask for from a Phantom Regiment closer – kneel, leg-out, and the roar of the crowd that completely drowns out the hornline – almost like the ending of 2003! No they did not take first, and although I love them very much, I felt their placement relative to The Cavaliers, The Cadets, and Blue Devils was appropriate. The Cavaliers: As always, they bring such amazing drill to the field. The music was technically very good, although, compared to Phantom Regiment’s musical selections, The Cavaliers’ interpretation of Billy Joel’s music was not as memorable to me. However, I liked how the guard and horn line were so well integrated. Each was critically necessary for the other in order for the drill to make sense. The Cadets: I confess that I was skeptical of the use of narration, based on the chatter on DCP. However, I will admit that I thought it was pretty good. Like the Bluecoats and Carolina Crown shows, the narration did not feel as if it was added on after the show was designed. It was needed for the show to make sense. I don’t think you could do the show without the narration. Having said that, I thought this show was tremendous. God, the technical ability was just through the roof!! Great brass work, great color guard work, and great percussion work. This show deserved nothing lower than a second place finish. Blue Devils: My, my, my. What can I say? What can anyone say? They came to throw down, completely decimate the competition, and offer a show so evil in conception that it would turn to ashes anyone who dared look upon them. The use of the black dresses at the start of the show was perfection, and the use of the white dresses at the end of the show was perfection. The brass, color guard, and percussion were so perfectly integrated into this show, that you did not see three separate groups. You saw just one corps. The sound is just wicked. God, how can they play like that? The sound was beautiful and destructive at the same time. How do you do that?? And was it me, or did I hear “Ode to Joy” at the end? You guys and gals deserve that first place trophy. Congratulations for exploring such stunning ideas!