HornTeacher

With all MM's dressed as Druids, and Drum Major dressed as the High Priest. For "throwing babies" purposes at finals, the Corps will actually raise the buried dead in the final 30 seconds of the show, leading to an insurmountable score in all GE captions. Unfortunately, the addition of these dead will result in the Corps being assessed insurmountable penalties for excessive membership on the field. This will result in several threads (with corresponding 54 pages of argumentation) over the following 9 months dealing with such questions as "Does a Ghost constitute a marching member?", "Should a Corps be assessed penalties for the addition of ghosts which take part without the Corps' knowledge or approval?", and "Should DCI enact a rule allowing the addition of ghosts to Drum Corps in general?". This; I feel, will be largest unknown.

Yep, I did...gotcha

Just one question... How does raising pertinet questions or counter-arguments automatically qualify one as a "loon?"

Kum bay Ya,. M'Lord....Kum bay yaaaaa.... Kum bay Y'a, M'Lord...Kum by yaaaaaa......

In the kindest way, "Et Tu, Brute." Nice...very nice. I appreciate your humor.

Call it what? Awwww...c'mon on...say what you're thinking. You are among friends here, after all. Promise.

Fine...I'll give you my take (since I've alread been accused many times of being a middle-of-the-roader who won't come out and express my specific beliefs on the subject).... 1) Sousaphones havn't won the day. Not by a long shot. 2) People who do not wish for the drum corps medium to be no known as "marching band" are not doing so out of any sense of entitlement or snobbery. I would guess (in my simple, and apperntly uninformed opinion) that the Troopers, Santa Clara Vanguard, Concord Blue Devils, Madison Scouts, et. al, have, for the length of time that Drum Corps International (and for some, before, and LONG before, I might add, that) have existed as DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS. It's not snobbery...I submit that it's simply HISTORY. Whether the semantical difference is of any concern...well...I'll leave that up to those who write the historical legacies (which, unfortunately, won't be you or me). 3) I may be full of #### on this whole deal. However...so may you. Nobody in the present day knows what direction any current/future termonology may take. If we did, then we'd all be considered idiots if we didn't employ our powers of foretelling into a rich contemporary existence.

Ahhh...you, kind sir, have rendered the tears to be flowing unendingly.

I'd like to sincerely thank DCP and all of it's contributors. Your contributions have provided me support which has finally been accepted in applicable circles. Being a somewhat perverse individual, and one who gravitates toward other perverse individuals, I (as well as the aforementioned individuals) decided to create our own "marching ensemble" -- for no better reason other than "just for the h### of it." We then filled our ensemble with the fullest complement of bagpipe playesr, kazoo players, noseflute players, jawsharp players (please note that I am being sincerely meticulous in fear of appearing ethnically-incorrect), musical spoon players, and a full complement of marching maraccas, which we could possibly find, coerce, or outright pay to participate. We have (for a long time) been seeking to enter our ensemble in parade marching band competitions...only to be rebuffed (and very sadly so to us, I might add) for the rather strange reason that our special ensemble does not constitute a "marching band." However, being the veritable Einstein that I am, I attended the past meetings of the individual parade committees and submitted to them copies of the DCP official threads which dealt with anything remotely regarding the "what constitutes a marching band" issue. I can now triumphantly announce that our little ensemble, the "Marcning Menagerie of Musical Misfits", has been heretofore accepted as a "marching band." I would extend futher kind words to all of you, but the (sniff) flowing tears (sniff, sniff) are rendering me, a mere mortal, unable to continue.

Tell you what...why don't we settle this by asking the young men and women who ride buses, sleep on gym floors, rehearse in sometimes un-godly conditions for anywhere between 6-12 hours a day, and criss-cross the country like directionless nomads for 3 months of the year what THEY wish to be known as being? We'll just disseminate a flyer to every member of all current corps, asking them to merely indicate whether they wish to be referred to as a "Marching Band," or a "Drum Corps." I'm sure that if the result of this poll indicates a strong preference for "Drum Corps," then the resulting answer from the adults who aren't even doing this anymore will simply say "Well, they've been indoctrinated to answer this way." Not a lot of credit we would be giving these young men and women, is it?

The "We-Are-Not-A-Marching-Band" Selected Brass Instrument, Percussion Paraphernalia, Non-Threatening and Non-Military Guard Equipment Corps International. Real bxxxxxx' Letterhead, that one.

I agree, FSU, it is a "spirit of the rule" thing. But -- when has that ever stopped someone from doing what they want and citing the precise rule -- the LETTER of the rule -- when it fits their purpose? And as for sacrificing one marching member to facilitate filling a speaking role: that's a simple one...DCI could allow every Corps to add ONE "roster spot" (above the maximum) for the express purpose of "narrator." This provides extra spots for those who wish to be involved in Drum Corps (the apparent current justification used by those seeking the addition of woodwinds), fulfills the age requirement as it currently exists, and negates the issue of incorporating adult "ringers" into a Corps' program. Now, onto the issue of a lasting World Peace. ( )

I was just doing some reading on "non-verbal narrative." It does exist. Therefore, what is to stop a Corps from enlisting a pre-recorded non-verbal narration by Doc Severinsen or Allan Vizzuti and using it as a performance enhancer? I know, I know...I'm getting stupid here. But...somebody, someday may do this very thing, and claim that it's allowed since it's non-verbal narration, pre-recorded, and hence, not subject to performer age rules.

At the risk of appearing to be excessively "persnickety," am I the only one who finds it to be rather odd that Corps may enlist the aid of adults to fulfill their needs for narration? I had always believed that Junior Corps were to consist of performing members who were aged 21 and under. To use an adult narrator (who, while not marching, playing, or utilizing guard equipment, still may be considered to be a contributing performer in a Corps' program) seems to be in violation of this very rule under which DCI operates. Sure, we'd all love to have the contributions of individuals such as Wayne Harris (or James Earl Jones, or any other adult performer with a strong, stentorian voice). But a performer is a performer is a performer...and DCI's age limitation rule would seem to exclude their usage. Somebody...please let me know where I'm missing the boat on this one.

Thank you, BeenThere, for mentioning the Troopers' "Ghost Riders" from the early 70's. My first introduction to Drum Corps was an exhibition in Syracuse, NY in 1974 -- the night following the DCI Championships in nearby Ithaca, NY (although my mind might be playing tricks on me slightly). In any event, we (myself and my bandmates from a small rural school in central NY) were there through the grace of our band director. We played that selection that summer...as arranged by our BD. We, in our small, rural school minds, thought we were pretty darned good. But seeing the Troopers march off the line to that...oh, mannnn. After about 30 seconds, my best friend stood up and exclaimed what we all were thinking..."Holy Sxxx!! They're playihg our song!!" Of course, it wasn't our song, but the Troopers'. In any event, a life-long emotional affiliation was born. Thanks for invocking a most pleasant memory.

This new look really reminds me of a representation of the costuming in the movie "300." Not sure if their program has been announced as yet...but I definitely could see something based on the music of Tyler Bates.

Maybe a bit of a surprise is in store...for instance, maybe some of the traditional white will be found there? Not much for balance, I grant you; however, it would still bring a bit of an "ahhhh" upon the first turn.

Promise?

I like your additions, Jeff.

Hmmmm...."Bondage" program?

July 8, 1980 Memphis, Tennessee Spirit of Atlanta -- "Let It Be Me." (Edit): After thought, I decided to re-read the OP. In light of what was originally asked, please allow me to say that this performance by no means would be my "favorite": it is merely what I consider to be the "best." For those who know what I am referring to, in all facets of performance situations, you'll know what I'm talking about.

Hey, Pete...If you play Crown's narration to last year's show backwards and at the speed of pi, you can distinctly hear "Paul is Not dead, he's writing for Gaga...Paul is Not dead, he's writing for Gaga...Paul is Not dead, he's writing for Gaga...." Blows one's mind.

Too many to count. But the one I'm still waiting to hear (most probably done by Troop, since it would best fit into their "style"): The Water Is Wide/Shenandoah. One piece. Same time. I've heard them done many times in choral music arrangements. At the very least, James Taylor fans should love it.

And here all this time I thought it was Martian for "Goooooo TROOOOOOP!!!". Silly me.

Priceless!!