tarpal

While the 84/85 Caballeros' Malaguena with back-to-back undefeated seasons is probably the most iconic Malaguena in my mind (and certainly the model for what Madison did in '95, since A Drum Corps Fan Dream was absolutely a Caballeros tribute- you don't turn a pinwheel playing the rumps by accident!) the Caballeros' 1990 arrangement is, I think, one of the most interesting ones you'll come across- there's a development section where the entire soprano line comes in either one by one or two by two in really thrilling counterpoint, building up to the classic hit.

I look to '03 as my favorite example of what the Cabs can do in maintaining their style without being a slave to its past-- a decidedly Latin show with no material (besides, of course, the iconic rumps, which should always be there in some way). And I'm taking exception with design, mostly. I'll never doubt the Caballeros membership. They're a determined bunch. I don't think that any member of the Caballeros is actively or even consciously feeling apologetic. I just get the feeling that the shows after '07 are about recapturing the past, not being the present corps and being current with the cutting edge of the DCA. The show needs to cohere more, and I don't think they have been since '04, really.

I happen to think that the Cabs are stuck in a rut, so to speak: the corps has been down in quality since its 2nd place finish in 2007, and I think the show design since then has been largely based on 'recapturing' the past Caballeros that were a DCA dynasty-- the Caballeros that owned the 70s and 80s, and were never out of the hunt in the 90s (and some say screwed out of at least one if not more titles that decade.) The problem with all of this is that the corps, in its identity, talks so much about tradition that it defines itself by the past glory of the corps. The 1975 Caballeros (with the very large exceptions of Mike Ryan and Lou Stork) aren't going to help them win the DCA. The Caballeros have a more difficult job than most in picking their show music. A corps wearing sombreros, a satin blouse, and kickpleats is going to look silly playing music that doesn't have that Latin groove. But that doesn't mean they need to focus on past rep. The most successful stretch for the Cabs in the last decade was 03, 04, 06, 07. (05 was a disaster.) All of those years were shows that (yes, even '07's Carmen) had a Latin groove, but were largely original and sort of abstract shows with great hornlines and powerful writing. These shows did not apologize. The most recent shows, from '08-'11, they apologize for the poor state of the corps skill level due to its youth (the corps was hit hard by long-time members moving on with their lives-- getting married, having children, etc.) by re-using Caballero 'classics' like Malaguena and Spanish Fantasy. The Caballeros need to stop apologizing and being stuck in the past and start innovating again like they did from '03-'07. You're not going to pull in new, talented young folk by showing them grainy videos and low-quality recordings from 30 years or more ago. Latin music is so deep and vibrant. If the Cabs could make 19th century French opera groove, they can make anything groove. They need to innovate in designing their whole show and picking music that, when creatively and innovatively arranged, will groove like every other great Caballeros corps before them while doing them honor by being the best corps in DCA again. [if you haven't guessed by now, I'm a Cabs alum.]

I think the last time was 2006! it was my rookie year, and they taught cha-cha to me backstage before we went on! a bunch of baritone vets, alumni and competing corps, stood around me... my ears rang for days!

cabs and pretty much everyone, really. cabs/sky might be the oldest, but cabs/bush and cabs/empire are much more alive. of course, six years of utter dominance has made all rivalries seem sort of petty, because everyone's competing for second

I think you'd find significant resistance from the administration of any corps that is in contention either for the last spot in finals or first place to spend any precious time giving a clinic when they could be rehearsing.

The problem is that most corps who aren't Reading are too concerned with trying to figure out how to beat them that they can't really divert time, energy, or resources to starting next year's race while this one isn't over. Reading's got it locked up light by Wildwood, so they can start planning for next year as early as they want because they know they'll win.

it must be fabulously wonderful to be able to pursue excellence purely for its own sake and not have to worry about winning

it boggles the mind that there are hypothetical 6-year veterans who have never lost a show. how do these people even feel? are they motivated by the terror of potentially losing for the first time, or are they so confident that they'll win that they go out with relaxation and swagger? it took me a year and a show to win my first show, and that was with a corps that placed in the top 4 in 2006, my rookie year. I think it's unfortunate, in a way: I had to give up marching a year and a half ago, and while I left willingly, the (substantial, but unfortunately overruled) part of me that wanted to stay might have fought harder had I thought there was a chance of toppling Reading.

the outfits make him! a different one every year (and I hear he still has them all)

is there a better example of the lifetime drum major?

I don't go to drum corps shows to see the hard work kids have put in. I know they do, but that's not why I go. I go because it's thrillingly entertaining, and that thrill comes from the raw power of drums and brass. The instrumentation DEFINES the activity.

The problem is that it's very clear that the spreads and scores from one weekend exert some influence on the scores and spreads of the next weekend; and that seems to be at the heart of what is being discussed here, because by most accounts the Bucs didn't deserve a 5-point edge over the Cabs.

Funny thing is, it seems that one of the catalysts for forming DCA, among other considerations as well, is that the Caballeros simply wouldn't stop winning the AL championship. Cabs won '51, '53, '54, and then a 7 year streak from '58-'64. DCA was formed in '65? And the Cabs weren't there the first year. History seems to suggest that when a corps keeps winning every single year, people want a change. I can't imagine that there was no anti-Caballero sentiment anywhere in the founding of DCA. Which is not to say that DCA is an anti-Caballero organization at all, although there are certainly some dubious Finals results in the 90s. I think it's naïve so say that the Bucs are ruining DCA; however, it may be equally naïve to say that one corps going undefeated for more than half a decade doesn't cause any discontent or a feeling of malaise in the people that aren't winning.

it does become rather dull when you know who is going to win every show. I also simply cannot believe that, because there was a "very respectable crew" judging, the expected results don't play into the official results. 2006 cabs comes to mind; the drill might not have been well written or terribly clean, but when you listen to that show, you can't suggest that that was a 4th place hornline you just heard. I know how good the Bucs are, and I have a world of respect for their product and organization, but it is beginning to seem that last year's scores are becoming more and more important to this year's spreads. I, of course, represent nobody but myself.