Brian Tuma

Thanks. After reading your great ideas, I thought you might like it.

Oops, tried to add video via iPhone.Perhaps the music of Gustavo Santaolalla? He's written so many film scores and I think an arranger could find 11 minutes worth great music. http://youtu.be/4etxL7f8ACE

I apologize for that. It was positive. I get a little defensive when I feel people think only World Class matters. I just wanted everyone to know that the Blue Stars didn't just pop out of nowhere when they re-entered World Class competition in 2006.

No point missed. I was just making a correction that the Blue Stars were a bad example to use of a corps that folded and was out of competition for "years". Also, for the record, Blue Stars did not miss three or four years of consecutive competition.

This is an incredibly bad example of a corps that folded. Blue Stars were out of competition for the 1983, '84 and '86 seasons. They competed three times in '85. They were out of circulation for a few years, not "many". In these "many" years out of competition they managed to win FOUR world titles. Thanks for totally diminishing the great history of the Blue Stars. I guess corps don't matter unless they are competing in World Class competition.

Sensuality, not sexuality. Big difference. BD's guard exuded tongue in cheek sensuality. I found nothing lurid about it.

A great place for Pioneer to make some contacts in the Milwaukee non-profit scene is an organization called Newaukee. They are a group of mostly young upcoming professionals who are looking to get involved with local groups. Maybe recruit some additional board members who can bring an objective eye and a breathe of fresh air to Pioneer.

No layover in Denver ?

And a corps with only 4? shows under their belt at that!

Ouch!

You really could have just turned that comma into a period and deleted the rest.

Romanticizing genocide and hunger strikes? Tell me more.

OC was one of my top 5 most memorable shows in 2012, Top 2 in 2013. I think they'll land in my top 2-3 in 2014 (I need to see BK). Love the "quill" flag/banner during the ballad. That is going to be a great effect once it's cleaned up. I was choked up just watching an early season video.

I think that's very realistic.

...and we're off! It would be fun to just focus on how improved Pioneer is this season and what a good show they're putting on the field. You can tell the kids know it and it's starting to show in their confidence and performance. They were given a show this year by their staff with some real meat to it. It will be a JOY to watch them progress.

Optimism is a good thing. I believe they have the infrastructure to achieve it. They certainly have a huge base for recruitment within the Milwaukee/N. Illinois area.

Pioneer had a couple of the panels up on the frames at the Scouts show. They were of southside Milwaukee churches - St. Stanilaus, The Basilica of St Joshephat and I'm not sure about the third but I think it is the St. Joseph's convent chapel. Also, their original parish, St. Patrick's. I might be wrong. There was also a stained glass panel that may also be from a Milwaukee church. I enjoyed their show. It is written well for the abilities of the corps. The guard is bigger this year and has a very challenging book. Brass line is larger as well and once they develop more stamina I think the show will come alive. I'm looking forward to seeing them in Cedarburg and Whitewater within the next couple days. It looks like they are stepping up their game this year. Let's slow down on the predictions in placement within the next three years unless you were being sarcastic,bmjfelts1988. Go Pioneer! You have a very entertaining show. Better every day!

Off the top of my head. Bjork's Overture from Dancer in the Dark. Bluecoats 2002, Cadets 2005. As far as any orchestral transcriptions are concerned, I need to put the source music out of my mind and accept what I'm hearing from a drum corps for what it is, not for what I want it to be. Ravel is a perfect example, his orchestration is all about color which cannot be duplicated using only marching brass instrumentation. Although Blue Knights did have a good front ensemble arrangement of Jeux D'eau in 2008.

I feel the only movements that might be problematic from a movement standpoint are #3 Rufford Park Poachers and #5 Lord Melbourne. Lord Melbourne could actually be convincingly "faked". Crown is the only corps I would like to see do this from a brass standpoint but SCV would bring the visuals.

I was under the impression DCI had a minimum rule as well. I'm thinking 30, as I remember Racine Scouts having trouble filling their ranks early summer 2012.

I would love to hear Troopers weave some of Gustavo Santaolalla's soundtrack themes into a show. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=1yIDt97zQgY

I enjoy checking in daily during the competitive season. I posted with some regularity last summer but then closed my account. It's so difficult to stay away from all the scintillating conversation so now I'm back.

Mandarins - My grandfather took a huge risk coming to America at the age of 16, not knowing a soul. He didn't have the Chinese Exclusion Act working against him but he had to be resourceful and brave. Mandarins' show really portrays the immigrant experience as an exciting, risky adventure without being preachy. I get choked up imagining the risks people take to come to the States. Oregon Crusaders - Someone mentioned the long title of the show. I think that title is genius. It really sets the tone and dispenses with the need for NARRATION. It moves me in a way similar to that of the 2010 Phantom Regiment. (I enjoy my drum corps deaths presented in a subtle manner.) You just get to sit back and enjoy the experiences that the couple portrayed in the show must have lived. The mournful wails from the brass soloist in the opener really hit the mark. There's so much in this show that moves me. At times it's joyous, sad, frivolous, irreverent, and solemn. Colts - Field of Dreams. So happy to see the Colts being all wholesome. Crown - The emotion in this show , for me, comes from thinking about how talented and hardworking those kids are. Crown is really putting out something special. BD - Once again, their unsettling brass book is giving me the shivers - in a good way.