fsubone

Bluecoats have worked in some pretty spectacular tuba features in the last 5 years or so unaided by the synth. SCV had one last year and in 2013.

It really is great. My favorite part of that show, just the long build-up to the impact. Crown chose not to rush the development, which is something a lot of corps seem to do. Yeah, there were timing problems, but I wouldn't have wanted them to do it differently

Because I didn't watch Full House, that somehow shines a light into my rationale for posting on here? Interesting analysis there

Crown 2012 or Coats 2010 were best in the last five years. SCV 2004 was pretty phenomenal. 1990s- PR 1995 or 1996. Funny how every discussion of low brass playing turns into jabs at synth players. Kind of forgets the contribution those 36-44 kids are making.

Am I supposed to? Is this some strange, old-school reference?

They did. The sections were often segregated out, and they spent a ton of time with the low brass buried in the back. He got a lot better in 2011 and 2012, and keeps improving.

The drill was too open to get the brass all together. Look at the opening to the Mahler. You've got tubas and euphs spread across 60-70 yards, all trying to line up very technical sections. It was very hard to get lined up across the ensemble. I think the brass spread made it hard for them to max their score, even though that was probably their best brass book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HsJ3a6GWeM Indeed, certainly no musical contribution at all here. Especially not during a percussion feature.

Who the hell is Uncle Jessie, and what was the point of replying to me? I must have done something to hurt your feelings as you're following my posts around now.

Which is interesting considering that SCV and BD use two completely different styles of visual design and performance. I like what they do, Pete Weber does some beautiful drill On the subject of brass playing, maybe it's down to harder visual packages. Or it's that they can integrate parts across the captions now. Maybe it's the judging sheets. I don't really see a problem with it, but it's the era I'm from, so I could be wrong to most on here

They did have a 19.5 in VA, so clearly the judges didn't see all the interval issues you speak of. Could be that the drill was designed so that not everyone was 2-3 steps apart constantly. Some designers choose a more organic approach with spacing.

Well, aren't you just Mr. Sunshine and Rainbows? Don't you think anyone in DCI could continue carrying the torch and keeping the activity alive, or are you very convinced that everyone will run it into the ground?

So….. It's okay because someone else did it somewhere else on DCP? Guess that's an excuse.

Maybe saying that it was a waste of the member's talents is not the most tactful way of presenting a critique on the show? Just maybe.

Yes, most of the camps I attended and have taught, we did a lot of stuff on concrete or asphalt. It's just what's easily available.

How? Because one was visual and GE excess that messed up a solid show, and the other was musical, and was an absence of playing? You've made your stance against the Bluecoats show this year very clear, but I would appreciate you elaborating on how not having the percussion play during the ballad was a poor decision.

I think Zildjian has used the same methods and materials for the last 400 years or so

I've always been partial to down endings, whether it's Cadets or SCV. They always seem to do it the best

As excessive as Cadets' banners and flags and giant people and multiple uniforms?

For sure it can. Just seems like it requires expert writing and performing to sell it. It certainly is the exception.

They can ask BD how to simulate walking on a high-wire. Seems like they've included it in most of their shows since 08.

That one was a very good usage of it, but those are pretty rare examples. Cadets did it in 2002 as well. Looks like more groups use percussion for very small parts in their ballads, or not at all. Just isn't a necessary thing when you go for subtlety and lyrical quality.

Probably because their battery wasn't necessary during the ballad. Most corps have their batteries sit out during ballads. Having people ram notes just doesn't blend with lyrical ballads. Unless you're Phantom, then you try and shove a ride cymbal part into New World Symphony.

I went to the normal circuses as a child, which was past the era of sideshows. I just don't see sideshows as being something bright and cheery types of things. Maybe it's just me though.

Just an observation from the title and the picture they released. Doesn't really scream happy show to me. Seems like a side show would lend itself to a darker, more edgy show. I have no insider information or anything. I saw similar comments from multiple other posters here, but it's all just speculation at this point.