longtimedrumcorpsfan

Having followed the Blue Devils closely since 1985, as well as working as a volunteer carpenter on their practice field in 1985 and 1986 (I'm in their camp), the video of the lead mellophone's victory run (page 100) was interesting, in that he played a total of only 3:45 minutes of the 11:30 minute show. I realize the mellophones can't play all the time, with percussion, pit, and other brass being featured, but I yearn for more playing and less movement without playing. Seems like the brass played more in the old days. I wish that were true today. The total time the Blue Devils brass line played, including soloists, was about 6:20 minutes. Crown and SCV brass each played for about 8:30 minutes during their shows. I guess that's why I enjoyed their shows more this year. Give me more brass, Blue Devils!

Akron show on periscope: https://www.pscp.tv/w/1OyKApWMjbWxb?q=bluecoats

I don't have Flo, but here's a nice scope of SCV from tonight. Decent audio. https://www.pscp.tv/w/1RDGlvgjNdNxL. I love the new ending.

Comparison of Santa Clara's scores this year to Blue Devils' all-time high score in 2014: Prelims SCV 96.80 BD 98.55 Semis SCV 98.26 BD 98.95 Finals SCV ? BD 99.65 SCV may do it --- we'll know in 24 hours.

I think this is the video following the Stanford show which has the magnificent mellophone sustained chord near the end: https://www.facebook.com/darnell.johnson.1829405/posts/10155681506330838. Thrills me every time I hear it. I hope this is the music at finals.

Superb review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts so quickly after the show.

Petition link in case no one else has posted: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-dci-unique.html

I have been viewing DCI shows in person and on video since 1965. I guess I'm no different from any other fan, in that I like to be thrilled by what I see and hear, to see a performance that exceeds my expectations, to see something innovative that gives me goosebumps. That said, I am concerned by some trends that mostly make me less of a fan than I was a few years ago. A trend that bothers me terribly is the switch in horn sound. In the early 60s corps played a one valve bugle. Then the switch was made to two valve bugles, then three valve bugles, and now trumpets. The bugle sound seemed to me to be more powerful, gutsy, in your face, raw then the trumpet sound is. Some corps seem to be tuning their trumpets to achieve a bugle-like sound, but the majority of horn lines do not have that "old-time" sound that I crave hearing. Another thing that bothers me is when the time limit switched from 13 minutes to 11:30. I know this occurred many years ago. The extra 1:30 seemed to allow for a fuller development of the theme, the story line. I sometimes feel that corps seem rushed to squeeze in the show. The use of the human voice is another unfavorable trend that seemed to peak in 2008. The Cadets sang back in their 1984 West Side Story show, perhaps the first use of voice, but it never seemed to catch on widely until 2008. I don't care for it, as I feel the human voice is no match for the sound of a horn line. Mercifully, there was less use of the voice in 2009. The use of electronics is another trend that dismays me. I guess the DCI Rules Committee felt they had to allow this innovation for the first time this year to allow a creative edge in show design, but it bothers me deeply and has me on the edge of abandoning DCI more than any other trend. On the positive side, I like the increase in size for the World Class corps. Seems like 120 or 128 was the largest size I remember it being way back when, then it went to 135, and now 150. Great. Allows for more sound and a larger color guard and pit. Despite my concerns expressed above, there were a few shows that thrilled me: Carolina Crown's incredible brass book, Holy Name Cadets drill, Blue Devils wonderful visual design and in your face horn line, Santa Clara's magnificently subtle drill and sound, and the Blue Stars sound. Yet, overall, I found myself with a sense of uneasiness, of incompleteness compared with years past. I am interested in what others think of the trends that have affected what we see and hear on the field.