Geneva
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Posts posted by Geneva
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His wife was a Geneseean.
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He was a Rochester banker.
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The initials AJC were one of his creations.
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Tom,
Thanks for the Portland post. The 1965 state has always been a favorite of mine, but I have never heard the nationals recording before. What a robust and tight sound! It must have been a rush to play in the super merger corps of 1965. It sounds to me like drum corps animals at play having a great time! Breaking Hawthorne's strangle hold on the championship must have been thrilling. I regret that I never saw the corps live that year.
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1974. First year they held outside the midwest. Ithaca, NY.
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He was my sponsor at the 2011 DCA I and E representing the Appleknockers.
Our 1970 drum major was Karen McGrath.
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Wow! Images from my youth of a past era. A listing of years would be interesting. Seems like yesterday, but I know otherwise!
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On behalf of the Appleknocker family, our condolences to the Kleinhans family. Doug was our percussion instructor beginning in 1968. Under his tutelage, the line incorporated state of the art tonality and ensemble arranging. He was a welcome presence at our reunions.
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I remember tip toeing around the landmines and inflammatory personalities of RAMD. When George announced his intent to found an alternative site, I was one of the first to come on board. Thanks so much to John and all the moderators for keeping the dream alive and allowing it to flourish.
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Dan,
I just got my application in the mail. I hope that being late is not a problem.
Geoff
Trumpet
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I have to say that it depends on the area and not a specific Corps as to when Drum Corps became popular. 50s and 60s the East Coast had many more Church, American Legion and VFW sponsored Corps to keep the kids off the street than anywhere else. Most neighborhoods knew about it. The Midwest also had a strong following. Both my Grandfather and Mother were in American Legion Drum Corps in Missouri during the 30s. According to Mom, it was the "norm" back then. The Troopers brought it further West later on during the 60s.
As for Star bringing the sound and sight of Drum Corps to the "World" via Blast, that can't be argued. But, I beg to differ and with respect to Star of Indianna to their 8 year achievement. SCV went from 13th place at VFW '69 to 1st place at VFW '71. A mere two years after our first Nationals appearance and only 4 years after our inception. It made people in the stands wonder "Who are these guys?". After that, the West Coast was truly a part of the "National" Drum Corps scene.
So, starting with Coast to Coast awarness in the early 70s, along with the T.V. media coverage, more age-outs from the 60s and 70s teaching HS Marching Bands the "Drum Corps" style, it just naturally became "Popular" during the decade of the '70s and grew from there.
Oh, and I'm glad SCV didn't hang up THEIR Boots.
Maggie,
I became aware very early on of who SCV was. I remember standing on the ready line at Batavia, NY with the Geneva Appleknockers in 1969 at the National Preview show as Santa Clara stepped off playing "Procession of Nobles". I was completely blown away by how daring it was to attempt this piece in the marching format. I had just played it with my HS band and I thought it was a load in the sit down format. You very definitely put the west coast on the drum corps map! As has been already mentioned in this thread, this may have been the start of drum corps' respectability in the music world.
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I had the pleasure of playing Mr. McBeth's "Divergents" in 1974 with the Auburn Purple Lancers. I always enjoyed the awesome splendor of its voicings and the conviction of its rhythmicity. I felt it was a great piece for drum corps. I still remember barreling off the line with the soprano line in a wedge piercing the stands with its incessant and insistent strains. Surely, these are some of my best drum corps memories. I am sorry to hear of his passing. My condolences to his family.
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I have played a Kanstul 1600 trumpet for the past six years. I am very happy with its tone, intonation and responsiveness. My only reservations are that the valves can be persnickety and the horn fills with water at a remarkable rate.
In corps, I have played Olds Ultratone valve/rotor, Kanstul three valve, and Getzen Titleist three valve sopranos. I would rank them in that order as to my preference.
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I knew Dick from my earliest days in the Appleknocker organization in the 1960's. His passion for the activity and his giving nature are part of the reason that drum corps has endured and thrived through the years. Thanks, Dick and RIP.
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The Christmas Brass, a brass ensemble made up of members of the Defenders, Crusaders, & St. Kevin's Alumni
Corps will be performing a program of Christmas music both Sacred & Secular at the Providence Place Mall
Providence, RI this Saturday the 17Th at 2 PM. We will be in the "Wintergarden" section, located on level 2 in the center of the mall between Viera Bradleys and Tea Avona.
This is the second year for Christmas Brass under the direction of Bob Houde.
Christmas Brass will also be playing Sat. night at 7PM at the Faith & Hope Baptist Church at 93 Stanwood St.
Providence, plus on Sunday the 18TH at the Holy Family Church in Rockland, Ma. at 2PM. The Holy Family
Church is the founding Church of the Holy Family Defenders Drum & Bugle Corps.
We will also be performing at the Bristol, RI. Veterans Home on Jan 7th @ 2PM.
Hi Bill,
Could you use any more players for the Sat afternoon performance?
Geoff
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A sleeper pick for the "drum corps stadiums" list...
The stadium in Hamden, CT, where the Fresh Air Fanfare was held in early June.
I thought that was a terrific venue, and there was always a big crowd at the show during the years I marched.
1966 Fresh Air Fanfare Fleetwood recording-NY Skyliners, a lead line to die for!
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My earlier answers were based upon those venues that still exist. However that is not the only path this thread has followed.
If you're talking "best stadium" as far as atmosphere or ambience, Roosevelt Stadium, site of The Dream, The Preview of Champions, The 1966 VFW Nationals and The 1963 World Open, and the 1972 DCA Championship wins, hands down, no comparison. But, as others have said, the field was usually pretty awful. Often, the field was more dirt than grass, dusty from baking in the hot summer sun (though a few years saw it as a 'mud bowl!'), and the grandstand had generally less-than-desirable customer 'creature comforts' (some would call it a dump!).
Still, the number one fond memory of stadiums in which I marched and competed. The atmosphere was electric, whether we came in first or last. If you were never there as either spectator or competitor, you have no idea how special those Dream Contest afternoons were!
I was at Roosevelt once (I was a spectator). 1972 DCA! What a show and atmosphere. Perhaps the greatest display in senior corps history top to bottom. Five championship performances. I was thrilled with the experience.
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actually, '66 DCA was in Bridgeport JFK (speaking of great drum corps venues)
'67 was first year at Aquinas and it was a HUGE crowd...
Now those were compromises... to keep peace between Lefty and Cos... Vince Bruni got to become DCA President and have the championship move to Rochester... Think of it... Brigs and Cabs were in DCA for 1966 Bridgeport... Crusaders still held out... then... in one year... 1967... Cru joined DCA, Had their director elected President and got to have the championship moved to their home... now that Vince Bruni guy... how he could maneuver (politically)... I still miss him...
Yes, those DCA's at Aquinas were great. I attended as a spectator, but I was referring to The NY/Canadian shows where I competed in the junior circuit.
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I liked Aquinas Stadium. Playing there was always special. Great crowds, a real drum corps showcase. We used to play there at the New York/Canadian championships. I can remember one finals in 1966, I think, where the whole horseshoe was full...even the back side! Of course, the big draw that year was the defending national champion Rochester Crusaders!
Another special stadium was Cawley Stadium which was another concrete horseshoe in Lowell, MA north of Boston. I have sweet memories playing there in 1967 in the prelims of my only American Legion nationals.
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At the 2005 Echotaps closing ceremony in Bath, NY I had my neatest and most
unexpected drum corps encounter of the day. As
the 800+ musicians filed away from the Bath ceremony field, I heard
two elderly buglers engaged in an animated discussion of their
performance, "Wow, every time I played today, I got better than the
time before. I hadn't played Taps in 50 years!" I laughed and
commented that now that he was in shape he should sign up with "Bugles
Across America" and continue to play Taps. Somehow the discusssion
turned to our prior playing experiences and I learned that these two
had been long-time members of the Hawthorne Caballeros. The one fellow
remembered the Geneva Appleknockers senior corps well from the 1954 AL nationals in
Washington, DC. I mentioned that at that time Frankie Farr was a hot
soloist with them and his comment was that Frankie was indeed very
good, just ask him and he would tell you! He then said that he could
keep up with Frankie...eating hot dogs and drinking beer, if not
playing the bugle! As we parted and shook hands, he introduced himself
as Ralph Silverbrand (legendary drum major of the Caballeros)!!
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what?
no "Bubbles was a cheerleader"? Now THAT was a classic (seriously - I loved it)
and when will we here Lassus (sp?) Trombones? You'd have to bring papa Pero out of mothballs
I don't know about "Bubbles", Tom. It always seemed so "light in the loafers" relative to Cozz's "blow the house down" style. At Geneva, we were amused to hear them play a song that made them sound like they were just skipping merrily along. There was a big difference between Joe's on Cozz and Joe's on Corky.
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1965 my favorite St Joes year...........
Agreed. The corps was awesome old school. Great lead line and drum line. I loved the way they entered the field to a single snare tap with the drum line carrying their drums perched on their shoulders. They would attach the drums to the slngs, then 4 snare taps and the drum line would rumble to life as the guard and horns would file in and snap one by one onto the starting line at attention then parade rest. Gives me chills just remembering!
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I have always admired the 1995 soprano line as one of drum corps' all time finest. It must have been a thrill to play in that line.
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My horn is a Kanstul 1600. I think it is a solid horn with nice all around playing characteristics. My only reservations are that the valves are high maintenance and the horn accumulates water at an uncanny rate.
Guess Who?
in DCA All-Age Corps and Alumni Corps Historical Forum
Posted
As in TCI (Tri-County Incorporated).