Dmlkmen

If I remember correctly, Premeir lines were heard with Crossmen as well as a few other corps- circa 1992, 93-ish? Star of Indiana in 1992, ( I think) used them as well? I do remember the sound of the battery, particularly snares was rather unique. I wondered what happened to them, after those seasons. Interesting to see the are making a comeback.

i received an email from YEA this morning with a video of Geroge Hopkins explaining the pieces being played in the show. Do You Hear What I Hear as the Opener, sounds great.( There is audio of from last camp) . I like the chorale and arranging of the piece. At first, I found it odd they would choose a piece that could be considered as a ballad for an opener. But I think of their opener in 1996, and how that piece set the mood for the entire show- and many other corps such as Phantom in recent years that started their shows in much the same way. Other pieces being considered: Carol of the Bells, a mix of the corps song with O Tannenbaum, and the Hark the Harold Angels Sing as the closer. I like the fact that all of this Information about the show is coming out this early in the season. I think it will be another classic show for them. Good Luck to Cadets and Cadets2 this season.

Of course we all expect them to come out every hear with a highly entertaining jazz, rock, show tune, or lately...retro type of show. So I can see how this choice might throw a lot of people off. But Robert Smith's arranging will likely be marvelous to the Mussorgsky pieces. I can see how these classical pieces could be arranged into a jazz mood. There are certain elements to a show I think we all expect from Madison. Do I think Madison can maintain all of these elements with the music choice they made this year? Absolutely. The last few years I have been nothing but impressed. I feel that they will continue to perform exceptionally and more importantly entertain for 2012 with this choice.

Oldies ...but goodies...aka...why I still have a VHS VCR PBS recordings of the live broadcast/ or highlights - 1994 Live , Full Top 6 shows with 27th Lancers Alumni performance - 1995 DCI highlights show from PBS - 1998 DCI highlights show from PBS - 1999 Live Top 6 PBS broadcast - 2000 Live Top 5 PBS broadcast - Full shows -2003 PBS highlights show - 2004 ESPN DCI highlight show - 2005 ESPN DCI highlight show ( on DVD) - 2006 ESPN DCI highlight show - 2007 ESPN DCI highlight show 1-800 Video Express VHS tapes -1987 -1990 -1991 -1992 -1993 - and if you ordered these tapes in 1994 like I did, 800 Video Express threw in the documentary of the 27th Lancers performance for free. DVD - 2008 Top 12- The unedited cut. Full Phantom Regiment show.....I ordered it early that year . -Cadets of the 80s and 90s -Fan favorites: Crossmen and Cadets -The Star of Indiana Anthology -1992 Legacy DVD - 1988 -Legacy DVD - Kingsmen Alumni 2007 documentary and performance- cause I was in that one -BLue Knights 2011 Tour DVD CD -Kingsmen Alumni 2007 performance -Cadets of the 90s -SCV Traditions Vol 3 - 1999-2001 -Madison Scouts - Through the Years 1992-1996 with a special June recorded performance of 97- Pirates of Lake Mendota -BD The Championship Years 76, 77, 80, 82 ....know I missed on ether...great CD none the less -BD 83-88 CD -BD 89-94 CD -BD and The Cadets - 1996 -From Planet to Planet - Cavies 85-95 -Ornaments in Brass (currently in the Cd player in car.....) -Brass Theater 1994- Star and Canadian Brass produced CD then a bunch of shirts, programs

Fantastic news guys. Wow! Robert W. Smith's music or arrangements in drum corps are some of my personal favorites. Great storytelling in the music- Suncoast, Magic, Cadets 89, Madison last year..and now your take. Looking forward to this show. And as always, thanks for being Virginia's corps.

Sounds like a great show for the Anniversary year. I hope Open House had a great turnout. Good Luck this year. I"ll be cheering for you and Gades to bring it home to California, See you in Anna's Polis,

My first impression...sounds like something that is along the lines of Cadets 01 and 03. 4 different tunes that fit the title, but don't really represent a theme: 1 Old- Opener is maybe one of these: Young Persons Guide, Fanfare and Allegro, Candide, Festive Overture, Fiddler.....??..A favorite from their past. 2. New- Along the lines of what we saw with Vanguard in 08 and 11....Fits their character of being the Vanguard of the activity. 3. Borrowed- Why does it seem Cadets and Vanguard seem to play the same tunes that one played in years prior? Just a fun guess...But maybe this is what borrowed means. 4. Blue- Just a thought, but maybe something having to do with the Blue Devils? Either this, Or it represents something a theme or quote during the big band years, or Tin Pan Alley Years....hence a show that features Gershwin, Maybe some Bernstein/ Goodman with Fanfare Fugue and Riffs? Mixed with some Blue Shades to close? Last thought....it doesn't mean a show concept, but rather staff and direction. New, Borrowed, Blue ...Staff came from Bluecoats last year?? And that goes along with New. Old- Staff rettunring from 2011 and as always, Vanguard class and tradition.

Three things- 1. Star United Mini Corps is on America's Got Talent. They do a mix of their Tchaik show from this year- with their Star Alumni type show from last year. They succeed to Finals. They tell a compelling story along the way as to who they are, and where they came from.... 2.Performers from Blast! have an appearance in the Macy's Parade, or the Grammy's or Tony Award live broadcasts. 3.Drum Corps is pitched to the International Olympic Committee as a demonstration sport, in the next summer Olympics held in the United States. If Ballroom Dancing was considered a few years ago- we have "legs" in this pitch. Other ideas: 1. Documentary film on Drum Corps wins audience awards or overall best picture at Cannes or Sundance. 2. A spec script for Drumline 2 is pitched to the major studios- this time having Nick Cannon's main character as an instructor of a compettiive Band, post his college days. Either that, or a feature film that is about life in a BOA comepttive type marching band or drum corps. Somehow, Lord of the Dance took off after appearing on PBS...I always keep that in mind when thinking about how Drum corps could go mainstream.

Just thought of this one: Madison Scouts and Kilties- The Mad Plaid Their DCA Mini Corps spinoff - (Scott) Stewart United

Local corps merging- California and Oregon: - Mandarains and Pacific Crest - Mandarin Pacifc - Velvet Knights and Impulse- The Velvet Pulse - Gold and City Sound- Golden City, Drum and Bugle Corps - Blue Devils and Renegades-The Bay Area Evils, Drum and Bugle Corps -Kingsmen and Freelancers- The Kings Lancers -Vanguard and Kingsmen- The Kings Guard (Honorable Mention: Men of Class, Drum And Bugle Corps) Ohio and Pennsylvania: Bluecoats and Cadets- The Canton Blue Cadets Buccaneers and Glassmen- The Toledo Pirates Illinois and Wisconsin: Cavaliers and Phantom Regiment - The Green Phantoms Madison Scouts and Pioneer- The Irish Stouts...(with sponsorship by Miller Brewing Company) Texas- Crossmen and Revolution: The Texas Groove Drum and Bugle Corps Crossmen and Vigilantes : Bones of Banditos Drum and Bugle Corps Wyoming and Colorado: -Blue Knights and Troopers- Knight Troop

OP- Its been a couple days since I read this thread. Thanks for the comment about great post. . But going through all these pages, I just wanted to ask- Are you marching anywhere this season? I think the only way we are going to forget this perception of Cadets2 is by marching ourselves. And have more adults our age march with us. Our Recruitment campaign- "Like BeBe's kids- We don't die, we multiply".( Cause people our age probably remember who said that and what it means). Joking aside- Why does it seem DCA competitive corps have a shortage of us? 25 and older guys who still want to march? Maybe there are a lot of us, but we don't hear about them. Not as much as we hear about the kids. As I mentioned in my prior post, friends of mine have put down the horn, the flag, or the sticks because of thoughts on age, drill etc. In many cases, it has to do with thier perception of DCA making a cultural shift- That shift being not what they want or what they are used to. ( Not always because of physical demand). They may have marched in the 80s or 90s in DCI ( or wish they had).- but have some hangups on marching now. They may feel that the "pasture is calling for them" - either in "life with the wife" or they see so many kids doing this- Its just not their thing anymore. Its not by rule that DCA doesn't have an age cap- nor is it by rule they allow it. Hence, you are always going to get the answers you have seen on here- Mainly people stating the obvious.- That DCA corps can do what they want in terms of membership. The independence of corps to make their own decisions without the roadblocks of DCA -Its so Ron Paul- but yes, it seems that's the way it is. And that may be the way it will stay. So, if there is going to be a corps with an age cap, let's encourage ourselves to march and have others our age join us. The less of us- the more Cadets2 and all the doubtful and sometimes negative thoughts surrounding it, and the youth movement, will exist.

I feel fortunate ton have come into DCI as a teenager between 89 and 93. Hence, if I were to look at that time, much of those moments come from there.: 1990- 1993 - Star of Indiana- In the Lot, brass warm up arc. Sitting with my friends as a teenager. In total awe of the sound. Then following the corps into the stadium to see their show. Good times..... 1994 Star of Indiana and Canadian Brass- Brass Theater....Wolf Trap, Reston, VA. The Canadian Brass did an annual show there. Crowd was always very stoic. As Star did their part of the show....particularly Medea...you could hear the drum corps people in the audience react. Some in the crowd shouted , " Finish it" ...which caused some heads to turn. It was the single coolest mix of the " mainstream" seeing and experiencing corps. 1994 BD - August, Pittsburgh PA: It was towards the end of the season. About a week before Finals. I was sitting near the front row, getting blasted. BD was on another level that night. Loudest corps I have ever heard. Day Dance ...snares high sticking as they rotate the block. Blew the crowd away. 1995 Madison Scouts- Allentown. Greatest Crowd reaction to a corps I have ever seen or will see .....Crowd was so loud I lost my hearing. 1998 Madison Scouts- Azusa, CA Rememberance- One of my all time favorite closers - Live. I remember that show. En Fuego. 1999- Santa Clara Vanguard - Garfield HS - Dale City, VA I was sitting rather close to the field for this show. SCV's performance was the most intense I have ever seen. Being close to the field, I could see the performers faces.- just incredible. 2007 Kingsmen Alumni in Long Beach,CA- Brass Warm Up - track. I was in this arc, as I was in ten corps.158 G hors playing a variation on F tuning. I am pretty sure we caused some flight delays at nearby Long Beach Airport with our sound. Everyone had the "lean back" going on...incredible BTW....you can see this on video on the Kingsmen Alumni website. KAC 2007 Performance at the Rose Bowl- Looking up at crowd after the last note of Firebird. 2008- Phantom Regiment- Vista, CA- Warm Up Arc - Brass Only two of us in the lot- and we were about 20 feet away from the horn line. Phantom warmed up on a soccer field. I was sitting in the goal as they arced around the goalie box. It was as if I was sitting in the middle of the arc, they were that close. The line played Canon and part of Ave as a warm up....What a privilege.

OP ....Your point is taken by others. The others don't post on DCP, ( to which they would support you). But they are out there marching in All Age corps and have felt somewhat slighted like you. I will offer some of their opinions in this post-as there are two sides to every coin. I don't agree with them entirely, as I support Cadets2 decision to go DCA. But because I don't see many coming here to defend your thoughts, I thought I would mention some opinions in support of yours. . Perhaps their thoughts will make others think too.... When announced by YEA....Like the OP, I didn't like the concept of Cadets2 going to DCA. This because I felt Cadets2 could help DCI Open Class make a comeback on the East Coast. I wanted something like the Garden State circuit to happen, where, like a "Target in a strip mall", Cadets2 considered themselves an "anchor corps". Thus, Jersey Surf, Spartans, 7th Regiment, Spirit of Newark, and Raiders would have a stronger Open Class audience in the Northeast. When Crown, Cadets, and Boston were not your anchor corps after July 4th.... Open Class corps could hold their own in providing a great show for fans. I wanted to see the East Coast Open Class scene, become like the West Coast Open Class scene. The West benefitted tremendously in Open Class when the Rose Bowl was DCI's site for Finals in 07.. 4 corps Open Class corps in the Southern California formed around this time, including two Alumni groups in Kingsmen and Freelancers. Post Rose Bowl- there is a great regional touring model. and a DCI Pacific Open Class Championship. My bottom line.....I want to see DCI have more regional touring models like California. So why do I agree with Cadets2 decision? .... In the absence of what was the Garden State Circuit, DCE, and DCI South - The reality is the East has DCA to supplement that model. It has experienced a "Renaissance" in DCA corps coming to field in the same way the West experienced it in DCI due to Finals 07. Windsor, Fusion, Gold, Alliance,, ...and now Cadets2. More corps, more regional touring opportunity. Hence, Cadets2 more than enhance that model. The reality is not DCI- but you still have marching opportunity, and that is what we all want to see. So....Win. Now, in support of other views....When I hear from friends and others who I either march with am fellow fans with- This is what I often hear.... They don't get why Cadets2 will cap their age, and are more importantly, allowed to do so, when all other corps they compete against allow all age to everyone. why are the Directors of other corps not speaking up at the DCA meetings or otherwise to vote against this? Also, they ask why someone must audition for a DCA corps...it's a foreign concept to them. They also see that being able to come in as an affiliate to the " Marching Music Major League World Champion" - presents an unfair advantage in recruiting. This, when many corps already struggle to find members. And lastly.....the obvious. ...Cadets changed the way everyone marched drill in the 80s and they believe in Music is Movement. So will they change drill in DCA to a point...where like "pricing out", they " drill out" other corps.? Will those corps die off because they fall behind those that adopt? The result of changing drill begins to force out the "old guard" in many corps Those individuals who were that nucleus that started the corps - quit. They are the individuals who are most loyal to keeping it going,- These are the guys you count on year after year....while some come and go- this "nucleus" comes back. Now....gone My friends are not afraid to march, over these opinions, as alluded to in a prior post. But what I think they are seeing with this is a point of being "disenfranchised" so to speak. They march DCA and are not in their early 20s.... So they don't feel it's right to be competing against a corps that will for the most part be- for youth. They feel in many ways there is DCI for that- and that that DCA should be an alternative to that youth mission of DCI. On an extreme side, they feel it's a gray area that needs to be worked out between DCI and DCA, The worst part about this...they stop marching cause of a feeling of no longer wanting to be there. I think it's like being in a marching purgatory for them They are not yet wanting to standstill and play as alumni...but at the same time dont want to march 150 to 200 pages of drill to march against a corps that has an average age of a DCI corps. They are somewhere in the middle.of the current state o things. They would march DCA2 - " The Senior Division but not yet Alumni Division" if there was one. I will be marching this season. At 34, I am not yet in " marching purgatory.". I look forward to seeing Cadets2 play "To Tame the Perilous Skies" and bring back 92......Well, one can hope. But what I don't want to see is friends of mine give up, nor others blow up after we see the results in Annapolis. I am having a hard enough time convincing friends to march because they already feel that DCA has gone the way of youth. Now with a corps that has an age cap...it has become harder.... But, I guess if they don't march,,,,,thats them, Not me.

I think what they call in college football " The Program" doesn't change. Musically, Cavaliers have been the most all over the place corps in terms of themes and selections during the last decade. Change is constant with them, overall, with their identity in music. But the drill, marching style, movement....I think it stays the same- they will still be the most innovative along with Cadets. the new writer will have a tremendous role to fill, no doubt. But the trademark innovative drill they have had - it will, still be there. I think the 2012 drill will still be the most technically demanding of any corps. And unless they are playing something along the lines of their ballads from 93 and 94 as a theme - I think we will be getting those showmanship moments like we saw in Fight Club, Pressure, This is my Rifle...Stilts etc... I don't see this changing. Its something we have come to expect from them since 2000. What I would like to see in drill with them.... A disciple of Gaines ( but I am not sure there was one) or someone who takes more of a Pete Weber approach. Has there been a new writer announced yet?

I like great endings (tags) past endings- play one off the field. Bluecoats 93- Tag to Night in Tunisia SCV 00- Tag to Stained Glass Cadets 87- Tag to Appalachain Spring.... drill just kept going Phantom 10- Soloist playing the corps off the field The mother of all tag endings: BD 88....left them clapping to the soprano soloists and wanting more. Great Closers: Star 90-93 BD 88- Since I Fell for You Madison 98- Rememberance 91 Crossmen-Third Wind 92 Cadets- To tame the Perilous Skies......Mellophones. wow. Underrated: Phantom 91- Bacchanal- The total closer. Cadets 01- Farandole- A closer to one of the toughest brassl books ever in a show. IMO. Madison 90, 91, 99- You can Cook, City of Angels, JS Superstar- Always Crowd pleasing stuff that I think is overshadowed by the 94-97 years. Cavaliers 91- Mentioned already. But I love how the crowd goes from forte to fffffff after the flag toss and the push to the sideline. Cavaliers 92- One of my favorites ever. Flags and snare ending...awesome. SCV 97- Slow moving piece but just a great push to the end. BD 11- House is not a Home reprise ...felt 88 to me, And I loved it.

1991- One of my favorites of any corps. 1998 and 2002 tie for second. 92's drum solo/ drum feature wins the high percussion award.

1. Star of Indiana 1990..... I have waited for redo of this one for a long, long time...and by a mile in terms of anything else I would like to see redone. If Crown ever decided to go heavy classical and bring it back, or if SCV wanted to do a Shaw arrangment of it.....win. 2. Blue Devils 88......Not so much the music but that style of the way the show was designed and the music was arranged. Big Band Hits. And with that show, a closer that is a ballad...Then close it all out with crowd accessible brass tag ending. I think BD had " that feeling" going this year with the House is not a Home reprise to close. I loved it. It brought some feeling of 88 back for me. 3.Madison Scouts- A show with Rememberance, with a side order of some Don Ellis tunes. 4. Crossmen 1991 ...Not literal, as I would also like to see other tunes from Metheny's "Still Life Talking" added Add "Its Just Talk "and a pre show of the introduction of Minuano (6/8). Keep the drum solo, ballad, and Third Wind. 5. Blue Devils 1993- unleash your horn line. 6. An all Adams show, mixing some familiar tunes from the past (Short Ride, Wild Nights, pieces from Nixon in China) with new ones. 7. Cadets 1990- I like the Idea of some of the tunes from that year and 86 being revisited for the 2009 season....before they went all WSS. I would like for them to revisit that idea again, somewhere down the line. I really liked that idea in a prior post of BK doing Trittico again. With the design team they have now, that would be very entertaining.

I feel privileged to have been able to experience that show live in Allentown. ( But then again, it was a privilege overall to experience most shows live, that year) I was just getting into corps as a teenager at the time. Hence, every show I saw was giving me my first impressions and overall identity to corps. While Crossmen and Cavaliers were my favorites in terms of entertainment...II remember along with Star's show, this one left me asking "how did they do that?"..It just floored me with the technicality in brass. I was introduced to Blue Devils though their 88 show, on VHS. While I saw that at the time as a phenomenal brass show, seeing them live for the first time in 91 just validated that by a thousand. Boo thanks for making this the download of the week. One request if anybody knows....A few years ago, I remember seeing a video on the Fan Network about BD's 91 season. It was ahead of it's time, as I recall, because it was one of the first to document a corps season, much like Tour DVD's do today. I haven't been able to find it since that time on the FN. I was thinking it might be on BD's site? Does anybody know? side note....there is a very nice recording of the ballad (sans percussion)- over on the " tube".

Sounds like this could be 1992 revisited or rebooted- which is a very good thing. I thought that the reboot of "To Tame the Perilous Skies", was going to be a concept for Cadets2, from prior announcements. But if the concept goes to the "A corps", than even better.

Congrats to all tonight. Great performances. My bias is Renegades, (still saying wow to that performance)... but all groups just floored me tonight. A big congrats also goes out to Gold, Fusion, and Govies for cracking the top 11 and getting into the hunt with these Open corps. Congrats Govies and Fusion in making Top 10!

Kevin, thanks for the great commentary tonight. Will you be back tomoorrow night to cover Finals?

Empire....goosebumps, love this show. Kevin, any updates on scores?

correct. we haven't got that far in the elimnations yet....

Peashey answered this in a thread from last week: "Is this the year for Class?". ( Currently on Page 3 in the forum). I asked the same question. Its prelims score for voting rights. performances tomorrow will be Top 4 A and Top 10 Open. Looks like Gold, Fusion, and Govies will vote this year.

Wow. Just Wow.... Congrats guys. I know emotion is strong in the post show huddle.....