BRASSO

I'm on board with such a proposal. As a matter of fact, I would not be surprised to see such a reallocation occur once the new musical toys are added. I'm convinced that the Visual Age of Drum Corps is about to give way sooner rather than later to a new era.... and that the new ara will not be so visual emphasized as it will be musically inspired. And the judges sheets, which have always shifted and evolved, will reflect a diminuation of the Visual and a rebirth of the Musical. ( but some of you may not like all the musical toys that inevitably will be coming into the activity. But that's for another thread and for another day )

if we all recall, Last year the Blue Devils took the high velocity driil maneuvers we have come to know the last 2 decades to it's maximum limit. They ran. That's right... they ran. Pell mell. They had their members run as fast as they could to get into position at several points in the visual show. This is of course about as high velocity as one can get in a show.... to have members run as fast as they can to get to the next formation. We have now explored in this Visual Age of Drum Corps the deepest range of the high velocity drill ( notice that BD did not win with the fastest of this high velocity style of drill last year ). How do the Blue Devils start their show this year ? You are correct if you said " with a slow cadence ". For most of their show, Blue Devils are doing frenetic things this year IN PLACE. This is a complete departure from the RUNNING they did last year. They have slowed down their high velocity visual moves considerably this year. They could always do brass and percusion and guard. This year's slower visual style approach will be replicated by them again next year should they win with this style this year. You can count on that. And some of the other Corps will rethink these high velocity drill patterns as well for next year in my view. I do agree with you that the choppiness in the brass charts from BD is still prevalent, but I would submit that it's not as choppy as in past years ( but I won't quibble on this point ).

1 ) 2002 ( Star ) 2) 2009 ( Temptation ) 3) 2000 ( Red ) 4) 2003 ( Bravo ) 5) 2005 ( Joy ) 6) 2004 ( Color ) 7) 2001 ( Harmonium ) 8) 2008 ( Neocosmos ) 9) 2007 ( Picasso ) 10) 2006( Cathedrals )

haha!..... so true ! As with most sports teams..... " gee, if we only had one more week " ( although if it's the Detriot Lions, Pittsburgh Pirates, Toronto Jays, etc " we just need one more YEAR !..... haha! )

Judges are instructed to judge the comparative performances of the corps in front of them in that competition. Period. What happens off the field, or in any previous show is a non factor. ( or at least that is how it's supposed to work anyway ) So it seems to me all of your scenarios would be irrelevant. There is no " sympathy " caption on the judging sheets either.

I selected the Blue Devils because their guard costumes ( why do some call these Corps guards " uniforms " anymore ? ) match their theme a lot better than most other Corps guard costumes do. I also factor in how the color of the costumes either blend or contrast well the other sections of the Corps. And in this case, Crown for example in my opinion have a hideous color green in their costumes that does not blend well at all with the other sections colors, and particularly the plumes. This is a very uncoordinated color scheme in my opinion that in no way shape or form is a complement to their creme colored and brown trimed uniforms. But hey, everybody's tastes are different and I understand that some like these colors and the overall guard costumes worn by Crown this year. And that's cool.

All the more reason why the Corps that wins it all, is the Corps that executes their show the best.... not the Corps that gets credit for the most demand and 90% executed. When in doubt, go with an easier show and execute the heck out of it when the alternative is to do a very demanding musical and visual show but with some dirt in it that hasn't had sufficient time to clean. For an example, I don't see anybody catching the Blue Devils this week. So far they are clearly the cleanest Corps out there on the whole. But if the season was longer...... maybe 2-3 weeks longer..... I could see a couple of Corps possibly catching this Blue Devils show and Corps this year.

Exactly. I can see the Cavaliers returning to the use of more props next year and going vertical more in their visual show more than the horizontal high velocity moves of late from them. The Cavaliers have certainly shown the ability to adapt to the new realities over the years, as well as to set the standard in some years. And in my view, they won't be the only Corps to slow down a bit their visual moves. ( and at the lower placing Corps, one can be assured that the Crossmen and Madison Scouts will begin to rethink their current high velocity drills as they are getting hammered on the execution side of this, with so much marching dirt in their shows that it's beyond the members abilities to execute their shows with much proficiency )

The high velocity, frenetic paced, drill days are coming to an end. Once it is seen that these once considered innovative drill moves no longer lead to a Title, then other Corps will change. I applaud what the Cavaliers have brought to the activity in terms of fast paced visual drill moves. I really do. But watching them this year, those moves seem somewhat stale now. The Cadets ( my opinion ) are doing some of the most fast paced, high velocity drill moves I 've ever seen in DCI. If these type of visual shows no longer win a DCI Title, then you watch, the Cavs, Cadets and others will begin to adjust themselves to the new reality. The " next big thing " in Drum Corps will NOT come from the fast paced, high velocity, frenetic, visual side of things. It will come from the use of added instrumentation. And this exploration into the instrumentation side will in my opinion begin to slow down the high velocity drills we've come to expect the last decade. This is why in my view the Blue Devils brilliant use of the stationary chairs in their show this year will be a harbinger of things to come over the next few years. I think the 2009 Blue Devils are simply ahead of the curve on this. And I do agree that Drum Corps will begin to go vertical more on the field with props. All this will make the Cavs, Cadets high velocity drill moves we are watching now seem increasingly outdated.

SC Vanguard Boston Crusaders Blue Devils

2009 Blue Devils.... then they might be able to set the record for the highest score ever in DCI . I don't think they can do so at this point. However, they already seem to have the execution of their show down pat. With another week they may have been able to put more moves together on the chairs for even more GE coming into the extra week for a possible record score. 2009 Crossmen..... they needed another 2 weeks it seems to me.

If one looks at all the creative, innovative things that were first done in DCI over the last 35 years, invariably they were introduced by one of the top finishing Corps in that time frame. Not all of the creative things. But certainly the vast majority. And once those creative changes take place they ALWAYS filter down to the lower placing Corps in future years for use. You partial list here, crfrey71, demonstrates this. It is rare indeed that we see a creative idea first introduced by lower placing Corps staffs. Anyone that thinks that should the Blue Devils win this year with this use of chairs that we won't see more props used in stationary positions next year is kidding themselves. I predict that out of Cavs, Cadets, SCV, Crown, that 2 at minimum of these Corps will utilize lots of props on the field next year AND that at least 2 of these Corps will have less high velocity drill formations compared to this year. I guess we'll just have to see. But you watch. We will. I'm pretty confident of this.

The Kilties still perform... still compete....they still play some of their classics....they still wear the same uniforms..... it's all still available. You just have to look a little harder apparently. But the Kilties are still with us doing what they did 30-40 years ago and competing still ( DCA ). They don't " need to be brought back " it seems to me. They're still with us to still enjoy.

cool... an INT review !

The fan poll results of a show in Buffalo, NY were not favorable to California Corps, but were to a Ohio Corps ? The fan poll results of a show in Las Vegas, Nevada were not favorable to a Ohio Corps but were to California Corps ? Who would've ever predicted this , huh ?

With few exceptions, the winning DCI Corps is never the crowds favorite Corps that year. It is considered a classic Corps for the ages when BOTH the judging community and the nation all agree with who was the most entertaining AND the most proficient Corps that year. So if I'm the Blue Devils, Cavs, Cadets, I wouldn't sweat this stuff. Everybody loved the Star of Indiana shows in their earlier developing years..... until they were in the winners circle or just outside of it a bit. As the saying goes.... " it gets lonely at the top ".

My guess, it's got to do with DCI slotting. Blame it all on that.

I don't like it when INT goes on too long also.

The poll was silly absurd to begin with. If " long lived" was the criteria, the Kilties don't have to " be brought back". They're are still performing and competing in DCA today. If the poll was for just people who saw these Corps in DCI, then there is no way that as much I personally like the Kilties, that a national poll of folks from back in the earlier DCI days would choose the Kilties over these Corps. Heck, why didn't they add the Star of Indiana to the mix in this poll ? The Kilties no doubt would have been selected over the Star of Indiana too. ( haha!) And where was the Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights in this poll if " most successful " is a criteria ? Again, it's not reflective of any reality. We can still see the Kilties today doing the same entertaining show they've always done. There is no need to " bring them back ". So it's appropriate to look at the" 8 times the others" in that fun way and not take the poll seriously it seems to me. Again, I miss the DCI Kilties of the early 70's too. But if this was a real national poll, the results wouldn't be anything like this, and I'm sure if you are honest about it, you'd also agree.

I didn't say I didn't. In fact I do like it. Even today. But few people that were around to see all 4 corps will tell you that given a choice between bringing back the Kilties, Bridgemen, Suncoast Sound or the Anaheim Kingsmen, they'd pick the Kilties. That's just plain silly. The fact that this poll has 8 TIMES more people choosing the Kilties simply brings a chuckle. It HAS too. The poll is not relective of a national reality at all. But I'm happy to see the suport of the Kilties in that poll nonetheless. Good for them!

This is the same polling place where 8 TIMES more people that voted on that site wanted to see the Kilties come back more than either Anaheim Kingsmen, Suncoast Sound, or the Bayonne Bridgemen. Now.... don't get me wrong, I LOVED the Kilties. ( and the Bluecoats this year ) But good grief, we shouldn't take that site seriously with 8 times more people wanting the Kilties back over some of these legendary top corps and great entertaining Corps like Suncoast Sound, Bridgemen, and the Anaheim Kingsmen, etc.

Yes. the Boston Crusaders broke 90 tonite for the first time since 2005. Congratulations to this Corps for attaining this mark. I always consider it a mark of excellence worthy of note to see a Corps reach this 90 or over mark when they havn't done it ever before or in quite some time. Congratulations to the Boston Crusaders for their Corps hitting the 90 mark tonite.

As the saying goes, immitation is the greatest form of flattery. Corps that win a DCI title have a profound effect on future show productions stylistically. I'm not suggesting that Corps emulate the Blue Devils. They won't. But a Corps could easily use stationary props next year in a creative way and it will be of their own unique design and creativity. Lets not forget that the Blue Devils were the LAST Corps to come into the Visual Age back in the late 80's and early 90's. They relunctantly recognized that simply playing great jazz accompanied by a killer drum line was no longer their ticket to a DCI Title. So THEY changed. For all their great accomplishments the Blue Devils did not usher in the Visual Age of Drum Corps .The Cadets and The Cavaliers did. The Blue Devils were brought into the Visual Age kicking and screaming. But once there, they adapted quite nicely indeed. I can envision other Corps evaluating the landscape and adjusting accordingly as well. And high velocity drills.... where some marchers are running to position..... and out of step I might add... just to complete the visual move..... those days I believe we are about to turn the page on. And the Blue Devils 2009 production is just the beginning of thev end for The Visual Age as the activity continues to evolve over time. That's how I see it anyway. ( and the synth, a guitar, etc is NOT used to ehance a VISUAL move Drum Corps fans )

In my opinion, the Blue Devils won't be doing any high velocity drills next year should they win this year. The Cavaliers in my opinion should be credited with much of the creativity that ushered in the Visual Age that won them a few titles not that long ago. Maybe this high velocity style will win a title again. I say it won't. But that's just my opinion. And I could be wrong. I'm not saying that ALL Corps will abandon this high velocity marching style next year. Nor that it is even preferable that they or others do so. But I am saying that we'll see more stationary props used next year and SOME Corps toning down some of this high velocity drill moves we've come to see of late. Otherwise, BD will go out with a similar show next year and these contenders will simply repeat what has made them top contenders of late, but not title winners. I can see a few Corps rethinking this high velocity drill approach in pursuit of a title at the end of this season. I'll even go out on a limb and predict which will be one of Corps that will alter their drill approach and props consideration should the Blue Devils win this year...... the Cadets. But who knows. This is just my personal prediction and speculation afterall. Time will tell.

I think the Cavaliers visual drill moves for 2009 are not a departure from them at all. By contrast, the 2009 Blue Devils visual show is a departure from their 2008 visual show. ( again, I 'm not talking which stylistic approach is " better " ). The visual show design from this year's HN Cadets is vastly different than last year's Cadets show ( as one would expect as it is an anniversary celebration production ). 2009 Crown's visual designed show is also vastly different in design from their 2008 visual as well. There is more velocity in their drill than we have seen from them in the past. Most of the Corps have much of their movements done with high verlocity. 2009 Blue Devils have some moments of high velocity in their drill this year, but it's show is more striking to the degree such high velocity movements are absent for much of it's 2009 visual show.