Navillus WP

The U.S.M.C. two-valve Kanstul bugles have no model number. Under the corporate logo and the words Custom Classic is engraved THE COMMANDANT'S OWN. That's the only model number required.... They are made exclusively for The Marine Corps, replaced every five years. And I play such an engraved THE COMMANDANT'S OWN baritone that was traded-in for the replacement cycle. Rich "voice", handsome horn. Click on: http://www.trumpetguild.org/news/news06/458kanstulbugles.htm

Kids like what they know. (I'm a retired educator.) It's subjective. Are "Jersey Shore" and "Deadliest Catch" better than "Law & Order" and "NYPD Blue?" (Answer: The apples you know best vs. the oranges that you know best.) * The "story" was different in the days of Ol' Skool. There was a progression to a drum corps show: OTL, drum break, Presentation, drum break, Into-Concert, Concert, Out-of-Concert, drum break, Off the Field, Final Fanfare. The best corps played-up the General Effect expectation of all parts. Get the audience (aka: "popcorn-eaters") out of their seats clapping and yelling -- make 'em emotional, make 'em smile, make 'em reflective, set up up for the finale, tug their heart-strings, leaving cheering and raving about the performance . Some corps did it better than others. Drum corps affectionado's grew to understand this progression, and could detect execution changes (good or bad) in performance of any phase of the progression from season to season, or even individual shows to later performances. * Also, old timers often made a deliberate decision to march (not "perform") in drum corps as an alternative to high school and college marching bands, usually held in lower esteem for lower marching skills, easier drill and music, less challenging color guard expectations, less commitment to seeking perfection execution of the program. When top-end drum corps began to look & sound more like marching bands (even good ones) it created a sense of incongruence. * There was a significant rift in the world of Class-A (World Class) units with the advent of try-outs for "corp-ies" (those who jumped from one corps to another), rather than making a loyalty commitment to your local corps, thru good times in and bad. While younger people think jumping from corps-to-corps "is what it is," old timers often continue to look less-than-warmly upon "corps jumpers." Just my two cents.

Here's a link to the current "Mission Drums" show link: MISSION DRUMS SENIOR D&B 2011 Mission Drums (DCA now, no longer CYO) hosted by Spartans of Nashua, NH Lawrence Veterans Memorial Stadium Lawrence, Mass. SAT 23 JUL 2011 Mission Drums Line-Up: Reading Buccaneers - Harrisburg, PA Empire Statesmen - Rochester, NY Hawthorne Caballeros - Hawthorne, NJ Connecticut Hurricanes - Derby, CT Fusion Core - NJ Boston Crusaders Alumni - Boston, MA Park City Pride - Bridgeport, CT

Steve: as you undoubtedly recall, at the 1971 IOU Nationals (aka: CYO) we (27th) were on the Starting Line when the downpour started. Uniforms, flags/silks, drumheads, hats/tams, everything. Our opponents were able to file out ahead of us to get under cover, but we were last out. Corps were allowed to "re-tune & warm up" but we were disallowed because warming up after taking the Starting Line was not allowed. We finally went OTL, and were so pizzed-off that we performed with fire in our gizzards .... and the crowd loved it, which in turn got us even more jazzed up! During the Retreat ceremony, Tthe crowd went bezerk when PA announcer Dom Bianculli announced that we finished 7th. (Steve Dorgan's connection in later years with one of the judges of the show revealed that they were shock that the tabulation put us in 7th, which led to spirited discussions that year about lack of standardization or accountability.) Also, after we left the Retreat Ceremony and were really collectively angry, George B stood on the rear step of the old "mail truck" and yelled "ALRIGHT, PEOPLE! .... Aright!..... GET OVER IT. Go home." We got into our personal vehicled and drove home. Practices on THU and FRI were very, very intense as I recall, going to midnight both nights. -Bill-

67Mmp71: I agree with you. The VFW Nationals was a big deal to participant corps seeking a national title, but was not necessarily the "high point" of the convention for to VFW members in attendance. Corps management could hype-up the significance to us kids, but there less emphasis on filling the stadium with drum corps fanatics for the finals as DCI does for the DCI National Finals. There were usually more people in the stands at Shriners International, World Open, Dream, or the US Open.

Back to the era of VFW Nationals: prelim show was shortened (emphasis on marching error-free). Often music sections were left out that had a history highest exposure to "tics" -- tenth-of-point deduction (-0.100) per execution error. Marching routine was usually changed to delete those pesky error-prone sections. Every "tic" counted. Accordingly, corps had (in essence) two routines, and the prelim show was the one less-practiced. Just one example of problems: many nervous marchers stopped marching when they usually stopped for concert instead of continuing in motion; a rise in stop/start errors. (each costing a tic.) Hours spend preparing for inspection line; yes: one inspection that counted in prelim and final scores. Very political atmosphere: Good example - Garfield had its M&M GE score lowered by the chief judge, offended by the formation of a peace sign "while our boys were fighting in Vietnam." One of the (several) motives for the formation of DCI was to take veterans' group politics out of the judging the National Championship.

L-R: Bob Constantine, Steve Groh, Billy Morrill

Soprano is Jack Glancy, DM is Tim Higgins.

1971 at Bridgeport CT

Just joined. I live in Montpelier, VT Started St. Agnes CYO Senior Band (Arlington, MA) Former 27th Lancers (SEP 1969-MAR 1973) Currently Defenders Alumni Corps (Plymouth County, MA) Fan of "ol' skool" drum corps. Not a fan of modern drum corps.