mellobobv
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Posts posted by mellobobv
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Very true. I suppose the horn could be in C, in which case the transposition is a little trickier. I'd suspect he'd just rewrite the parts. A C horn in a line of G bugles would be an intonation nightmare too. Props to the guy if that's why he's doing!
That is our music arranger Gary Dicklemen. He writes in both keys and is helping us in the line as we lost quite a few of lower bass players.
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Enjoyed the show and great weather. Liked the new mini-corps "Rocketeers" Hunstville, AL. Good luck to you in future I&E @ DCA.
Tampa Bay took me by surprise. Quite large for a new all-age but you can tell they need more reps and competition. At times the sound from the hornline was a bit flat and hornplayers not coming in together but all in all I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them for the first time.
Shenandoah Sound was a big surprise. Last time I saw them they only had like 5 horns and a couple of drums. Liked their book with Gershwin music. Always nice to listen to music you know.
Alliance is much bigger now then when I last saw them. I just wish they had a CG because then they can really fill up the field, but big improvements overall since I last saw them. Clean horn line and nice size percussion section. Drill really moves them around the field and at times too quick for them to do but time will tell in a few weeks before Rochester. (Note: if only they had "G" bugles again and blow the stands away")
CV has a great guard that fills the field well and deserved high honors for CG. If they can get a few more percussion and at least 10 more brass they would do really well.
Overall I am glad I went and got to see these corps again. It has been a couple of years since I last saw these corps and now with trumphets instead of bugles the sound is much different. These corps need 60 brass to get the power of 30 "G" bugles.
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Absolutely. Of all the good people I've met through drum corps over all these years, Mike is at or near the top of the list, without question.
When he was drum major with the Manville Crusaders in 1973, he had the respect of everyone in the corps.... we would have followed him to the ends of the Earth if he had asked us to do so.
I saw him over the summer at the DCI East show in Allentown in early July. He was there with his daughter and granddaughter. How time flies!!!!!
Fran
Hey Fran, Bobby Vivalo here. Yes indeek Mike Marsh was the MAN!!! Now, to answer the question both my sister and I began our DC careers with the Manville Crusaders from 1962 to 1969. I then went solo to Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights for the '70 season and am still with them in the alumni. Went back to Manville Crusaders for the '73 season after the GK's broke up.
Fran, please give my best to your wife and brothers Lenny and Marty.
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Hi Bob....Yep it's ME. Can't seem to shake this Drum Corps' thingee. I remember the '94 All Stars like it was yesterday. Remember our Mellophone Instructor, Regina from Sky? She's been with Empire for a few years now. Then there's Mark Sinden who I marched next to (he dropped out for a few years ) is back with Empire.
Sure missed GK at the Alumni show the last couple years. What a kick### soprano line.
Yes, I hear ya. We decided that if it is not in Scranton we would not go. Miss ya' though Gene. Can't believe how fast time flies. I had been a volunteer with the CorpVets this year but could not make it up DCA weekend. (ran out of vacation time). Anyway, I am glad it was you, and yes, our sop line is unbelievable. We have about 10 horses that can do what needs to be done. Sort of like a mirror image of the old "Sky" greats of the '60's and 70's.
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Really enjoyed this years edition of the Alumni Spectacular. Especially with the addition of Opti and Les Diplomates. Speaking of Opti.....I see there is an article on this site about "Building The Green Machine". Sorry......It was already built in the '60's and they were called The Toronto Optimists
The only thing missing during their show at Rochester was the "Fixed Bayonet" drill AND McConky.
"Mean Gene" is that you? This is Bob Vivalo, Blessed Sacrament and we met at the Macy's Super Corps in '94 and a few other shows after that. Glad to see you comment. Live in GA now but still come up to NJ to play with the GK's. Young Brian, my sidekick, is married now but his old man still plays with us.
Bob
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It's not too early to plan your trip to Plymouth, MA for America's Thanksgiving Celebration the weekend of Nov. 16 and 17.
My corps, the Crusaders Senior Corps of Boston is staying at the Radisson Hotel, and when we tried to get an additional 3 rooms, we found that the hotel was sold out. The longer you wait, the farther away from Plymouth center you will be.
On the evening of Nov. 16, there is a free patriotic concert at historic Memorial Hall. This concert is great entertainment, but usually doesn't feature the drum corps. It starts at 7 p.m. The next morning, at 9:30 a.m. is the parade, that features all the great alumni corps that will perform in concert later, plus all kinds of other musical and marching units; plus floats and characters for the kids. The parade goes through the center of Plymouth and passes by scenic Plymouth Harbor and the Mayflower II.
There is a teriffic food festival (11-3) on the waterfront, where you can taste great chowder, soups, and desserts from local restaurants for one low price.
At 6:30 p.m. is the Senior Alumni reunion Concert, also at historic Memorial Hall. The tickets are $25.00, and there isn't a bad seat in the house. This is probably the first concert nationally to feature only alumni corps and it is well attended.
WHDH T.V. personalities Randy Price and Francine Rivera are co-hosting the event as WHDH is a media partner.
Although the corps participating this year haven't yet been posted on the official web site www.usathanksgiving.com,
over the years we have seen the appearance of such alumni units as Boston Crusaders Sr., Hawthorne, Blessed Sacrament, Light Brigade, St. Kevin's, Connecticut Alumni, Park City Pride, Mighty St. Joes, Kilties, Manchester Muchachos, Vallyaires, Sky's Championship drum duo, Holy Trinity, and several others that I can't remember off the top of my head.
There is a great Fall holiday atmosphere, and what better place to be around Thanksgiving time than in Plymouth, MA. After all, the Pilgrims didn't land in Albuquerque!
Check out the web site or call 508-746-1818 for tickets to the concert.
Art
I agree Bossop. I am a member of BSGK and have gone up to Plymouth a number of years with the corps prior to moving to GA. What a great crowd for the parade and show in the evening. Talk about Yankee hospitality........whew! The best around, and they know drum corps. The corps befriended with the Brown's in our first year up there and we have been playing in their front yard every year since then. The weather has always been sporadic but who cares.......it is Plymouth.
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Been playing since 1962 and now play with Blessed Sacrament alumni. Why do I still do it? Comraderie, enjoyment, just plain love doing the DC thing. Playing in front of crowds and hearing the applause and standing O's when we finish with America or Emblem. (although nothing like the '70 Dream at Roosevelt Stadium with BSGK during Free Again and you could not hear anything except the crowd). Don't attend too many shows now being that I live in GA now, but still travel up to NJ a couple of times per year. Was up at the Archie 75th Anniversary event on Saturday and caught up with a lot of old friends. (Right Robbie?). Never too old to keep playing and marching.
Alumni Spectacular Review
in DCA All-Age Corps and Alumni Corps Show & Event Reviews
Posted
Cathie - thank you for taking the time to review. Sorry you missed us - Blessed Sacrament. I watched most of the shows from the end of St. Joe's to the Cabs. I finally got to sit and relax and enjoy. As I said in a Facebook comment every corps did a fantastic job in entertaining the audience right down to "blow my face-off" of Sky, B-Men and Cabs. It is nice to see differences in song and drill and no "cookie-cutter" corps as in DCI. And, you can leave the show and "hum" songs in your head that turned you on. All of the Alumni corps have their "staple" of songe,ie, Elks Parade, Call of the Bulls, William Tell, Bully, My Romance, etc. And it is why the Alumni Corps have become a popular venue for guys like us who love this activity and continue to partcipate.