Railfan

I'm too old to objectively respond to this topic. So, I'm going to take a nap instead.

I can understand any nonmusician thinking that a saxophone is a brass instrument due to its looks. Saxophones have, probably since inception, been the orphans of the instrumental families; neither belonging entirely in the woodwind family because it is made of metal, and not really belonging in the brass family because it uses a reed. But then you all knew that already, right? On further thought, I can remember seeing clarinets made of metal. And of course, flutes now are almost all made of metal. So, what was my point again? Oh yeah, merging all into MBA.

Is it time to change the name of this activity/organization from DCI (Drum Corp International)? How about the LVFS International (Las Vegas Field Show International). Or maybe we could just merge it all into MBA. No satire here.

I wonder if anyone will ever be able to fix the toned down dynamic range from the recording of the 1978 Atlanta show. That group had a sound to die for; great dynamic range, great tone, and near perfect intonation and balance. I had a great audio recording of them from Whitewater that year, with no limits put on the ranges of the volumes, but I loaned it to a friend and never got it back.

Having not bought DCI materials the past several years, I was not sure about all that. Glad to hear they do improve things. Wish they would have been able to fix the sound with the 1978 Spirit Of Atlanta show; what a shame that recording was/is.

1) I agree that the sound is not up to the levels of the video. Sometimes, the loudest peaks are sounding as if they are "crushed" or the system is overtaxed and cannot handle the volume. Is that a result of bandwidth? At least it is not as bad as it was in the late 70s/early 80s when the sound levels were physically manipulated, turning down the dynamic higher decibel ranges so as to protect the microphones/recording equipment. 2) Whoever is running the video board (director) needs to be more familiar with the shows. I know there is so much going on during the shows that it is impossible to get everything, but there were many times the camera feed was switched after the solo or whatever had already started. Also, particularly key visuals were happening on the field and the video feed was on the pit, which wasn't doing anything special. Maybe some of these could be addressed in post production, when the DVDs and BRs are produced.

I am glad your Drum Corp family has helped you with your loss. May God be with you and help you through it all.

DCI is a sport. It is a competition; a musical competition, a competition just like other sports without physical contact between the competitors. But it is a sport none the less.

oops!

Nope, must be my server?

How do you get the quote to work?

Please, not Phantom of the Opera again. I enjoyed it in 89 and don't want to risk tarnishing the memory with a new version. SCV needs something new and fresh.

I don't like the Indy Colts all that well......oh wait a minute, wrong sport. Sorry.

Please keep the Phantomettes.

I would like to see the Troopers in the top 12 again, but they need to up their game to do that; drill design (less knee bends etc and more marching), stronger music arrangements and better timing between the music and the guard choreography. With that in mind, I am still cheering for the Troopers each year.

Can't beat that kind of publicity.

Having class has its own rewards.

Been a fan since the early seventies and I can identify with just about everything on that list. If I may add one thing; hearing drums in my head as I lay in bed, in a motel near a highway with tar strips.

Today, it is all about scores first, and maybe entertainment second,for the most part. If you can do both equally, great. But for goodness sake, don't let entertainment get in the way of winning. The last corp that lived by the rule of entertainment and scores equally, was the Bridgemen. I do miss them. Nothing wrong with creativity, but I do agree with you on the music. To me it is obscure in some cases, but it seems to the young drum corp crowd, it is "popular music" whether anybody else knows it or not. While the obscure music is not attractive to me, neither is rehashing the same ol' stuff over and over. Corps need to open up the musical book and look to other venues of music rather than classical and motion picture music. While those two types of music do offer many opportunities for good shows, there also exists great opportunities in other forms of music as well. An excellent arranger can do wonders with any form of music as long as the original has something to it. As an example, Dixieland music has such a rich chord progression and harmonal structure, that it would be ripe material for any good arranger and show designer.

A journey through the American peoples' music: Spirituals, to Barbershop Quartets, to Dixieland Jazz and Big Band Jazz, to the Blues and finally Rock and Roll.

Still proud of you Troopers.

Yeah the tunnel applause was great! Love the Troopers, always have for many, many years.

Win, lose, or draw, Troopers I really enjoyed your show. Thanks all of you.

OK Troopers, it is your time, your field now. Show 'em what you've got. Best of luck.

Well Troopers. In a little over an hour it will be your time. Above all else, enjoy yourselves and savor every second you are out there. It doesn't last forever, even on the internet. Best of luck.