brichtimp
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Posts posted by brichtimp
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1 minute ago, CrownBariDad said:
Now I AM confused. Are they DCA? Or Open Class? Or Open Class in DCA?
Defending DCA champions.
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I wonder if it's the battery or the pit that is having a bigger impact on the low percussion scoring. In terms of battery staging, it was a similar issue in 2014, and that section ended up 4th (if I recall). I think the battery chops and writing are awesome this year, btw.
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Just a simple thought....if the precision and quality of drill are not evident and pristine, then I don't care much about all of the body shaping, facial mugging, rolling around on the field, posing or any of the other visual elements. BD is elite, in part, because they execute the marching drill with top shelf precision.
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9 minutes ago, Tobias said:
It was an adjustment because the judges couldn't manage to listen to simultaneous musical voices (Percussion, brass, choir), so some brass was cut to allow choir to shine. Amazing all the #### other groups do is fine but a choir layered over some brass passages was too confusing for judges.
I like the choir fine, But I am not in favor of having it 'compete' with the brass for aural attention...I feel the same about Crown's excellent singer vs their glorious brass in the second half of their show.
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Seems like there is maybe too much time in the show where the brass is not playing...could this be placing a ceiling on their scoring potential in that caption?
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11 minutes ago, ThePlanets said:
So...I read a lot about how the blue devils' shows are intellectually stimulating... sophisticated...etc...and aren't written for the "average fan" to enjoy.
So I can have a point of reference...can someone cite some shows that are "written for the average fan" or that aren't intellectually stimulating, or that do "appeal to the masses?"
BD's Bacharach show from 2011? was not an intellectual exercise...I think 'avg' viewers could enjoy the tuneful arrangements, etc.
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A few thoughts from last night. I hope the Cadets, and their young brass players especially, can get sufficient rest and recovery time going into the big shows to come because it really seemed like they were running out of gas at the end of the show....reminding me of C2 brass when they are straining to push through to the end. Additionally, I am trying to get to a place where I feel that this specific source material ideally translates to the DCI idiom. I am hopeful that my view changes because it is obvious that the kids are giving it their all....ymmv.
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13 minutes ago, jwillis35 said:
Good point. As an outsider looking in I think it's been hard for fans and alumni of the Cadets to watch the past 4 years. When your history is so littered with championships and regional titles and top 3 finishes it can be tough to cut the chord and view this 2017 corps as a New Beginning.
But it is a new beginning.
If the sky is falling, as many have eluded to, it began to fall in 2006 and 2008. It fell further in 2010. They resurrected themselves for a while with 2011, 2012, and 2013. But in 2014 they took a potentially great show and killed it. In 2015 they had a silly show theme to go with the majestic works of Shostakovich. They had a championship music ensemble and still couldn't make the show work. They killed the GE with black uniforms, and ultimately they couldn't fine tune the guard. By 2016 it was clear they had fallen. Still had some talent, but the design was a mess. Kept changing the show. Nothing seemed to work. If they had normal talent that show would have finished in 9th or 10th.
The present corps (2017) is almost entirely new staff and design team. They have many new marching members, and this style of show is quite different from their typical show -- not to mention the risk they are taking with Mass. It takes time when you put a new staff together. They will also have to develop these new members. I say this is the beginning of the new era for The Cadets. I think their members are doing a nice job. It's a much better show than last year, and their score last night was pretty good.
Interesting that the shows in 2012, 2013 and 2014 were each criticized to some extent for issues around props (stage, boxes, monoliths, etc.). If I recall, they placed 4th, 3rd and 3rd respectively in those years. I wonder what they could or should have done differently to place higher each of those years....
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Cadets get props from me for attempting challenging Bernstein rep. That ending didn't make it for me at first viewing, and I have to opine that the robes make them look dirty even standing still...please minimize or eliminate them! Hope they can really clean fundamental things at this point.
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Just now, jasgre2000 said:
I really love The Cavies uniforms this year too. They look bada$$.
And, I really miss the iconic and timeless SCV uniforms.
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17 minutes ago, jwillis35 said:
A good point no doubt. Sometimes they can be too literal and it hurts the show. Too much info.
On the other hand, I still believe there are design teams out there that were stunned and blown away by Phantom Regiment's 2008 Spartacus production. A top 5 all-time show in my book. We discuss the trends of BD, Bloo, and Crown quite often on DCP. And no doubt all 3 corps are doing amazing things. Bluecoats in particular have developed a style that joins music and visual in a unique way and provides a cool factor. And the discussions on what BD has been doing since 2008 are still taking place.
What often gets shoved aside is the effect Phantom's show (Cadets 2011, Academy last year) had on designers. Those shows are more literal, a story summarized into a 12 minute show with some abstract elements, but with very literal characters, acting, narration, singing, etc. Definitely a more pronounced story line. If you can get it right that kind of show can be thrilling.
In some respects, that also describes the last show where Cadets were on the podium....despite the tarps, 'Oprah' and the droopy Capitol banner...and...ah...Copland...what a concept.
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I think the talent level among the top DCI corps this year is jaw dropping. The Cadets are really strong in terms of percussion talent, the guard is very good and the brass is developing (although I don't always hear a maturity of tone that I get from BD, Crown, et al). I am curious to see what the scoring ceiling can be for Cadets this year if they can approach clean execution in all phases....feet, for example, are well below the standard of the most recent years where they medaled. This is apart from design considerations.
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Bloo and SCV were both musically incredible at this point in the tour. Amazing talent and creative arrangements and design.
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Karel Husa would be speechless!
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Feed working well tonight via Apple TV over wifi on multi cam.
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I feel bad for the singer. Ella Fitzgerald would detract from that beast horn line, which is a shame if Crown does not make some drastic changes, imho.
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Nice drill sets and arrangements from Genesis....very enjoyable!
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Running multi cam on a Dell 24" monitor via a Mac Mini.....Chrome browser and Audioengine speakers and DAC. Video and Audio are fine for me so far.
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1 hour ago, Tommeee said:
I believe the above "trends" are irrelevant to this year's corps.
I also disagree with the opinion that Bloo's show is better or more innovative than last year.
I actually think there's innovation with the Cadets this year. Perhaps it is being lost in all the dirt that is currently present.
Remains to be seen how far they will progress this year, but looking at the last year Cadets were on the podium (2014)....that's an outlier on the list. That corps placed no lower than 2nd in any show until Sat night at finals, and were actually 1.1 up on Bluecoats after Prelims....even with the immense fan popularity of Tilt and the relative dislike for the huge stage and narration.
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1 minute ago, Cappybara said:
lol I look back at that closer and I just laugh. Musically an awesome show but man...
Yep....2014 cheese...giving away the Silver on the last night.
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We viewed last night's performances live, with trepidation; but the feed (with one brief freeze) was actually solid on multi-cam view...so, I either had a 'unicorn' internet feed ot there may be hope for the summer. BTW, the level of percussion talent was more than impressive....Chino Hills was fabulous on the HS level.
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1 hour ago, BoaDci said:
Stop.
Not really politically motivated, but arguably factual. That was a strong Cadets show with no weak links between brass, percussion and guard, and aspirational in the sense that patriots of all political persuasion could get behind the message.
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Hallmark also shows SCV at the end of their broadcast.
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SCV won the parade, and it wasn't close!
William "Allen's Town" - Friday Night - Aug 4th, 2017
in DCI World Class Corps Discussions
Posted
According to my son (a C2 snare tech the past two years), the corps has improved considerably during their mini tour this week, and the battery really benefits from getting feedback from great DCI judges like Prosperie. I enjoyed the beauty of the corps' soft melodic playing....fairly seamless....following BD would have been a tough chore for any DCA weekend corp.