Vdad76

My favorite BD closer is "Dindi", then "When A Man Loves A Woman".

As a retired HS Coral Director, I have been able to see Chanticleer in performance several times in concerts, clinics etc. However, the best times I have been able to see them was up close as I was in charge of the rehearsal/performance venue for the SW division of the American Choral Directors Assn. conventions in Kansas City twice. I got to meet them, spend time listening and watching rehearsals and got to spend time with them after their performances as they lounged for a while afterwards in the dressing room area they had which was adjacent to a lounge area for pre-performance tuning, last minute rehearsal and after wards relaxing. They are a great group of guys and even though there had been a large turnover in their group personnel in the 20 years between being able to see them in this setting, there were guys that remembered meeting me the first time through. The Beibl price is a stunning piece live, as you would expect, moving audiences to tears and standing ovations. I loved the rendition that Phantom put forth and have enjoyed greatly hearing many of the Choral pieces that have been brought to the field. I'll add the following - 1989 Cavies - performing John Rutters, Gloria. Recorded by, John Rutters group, the Cambridge Singers on the CD titled GLORIA! 2013 Carolina Crown - Phillip Glass composition, Vessels. Recorded by Western Wind on the CD titled, An Almost A Cappella Songbook. 1974 Blue Devils - Chant and Jubilo by Francis McBeth. Recorded by Hardin-Simmons University under McBeths' direction. 1973 Santa Clara Vanguard - Fanfare and Allegro by Clifton Williams. Recorded by Eastman Wind Ensemble on CD titled British Band Classics conducted by Frederick Fennell. 1975 27th Lancers - Crown Imperial by William Walton. Recording by Eastman Wind Ensemble on CD titled British Band Classics. 1980 27th Lancers - English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughn Willams. Recording by The Cleveland Symphonic Winds, conducted by Frederick Fennell.

Best recording for me on this is Eastmans Wind Ensemble under the direction of Frederick Feneley, doing several of Wagners snippets from his Operas, the CD is titled, Wagner for Band. When the French Horn, Baritone, Trombone, Tuba line comes through in final few measures it absolutely makes the hairs on your arms and neck straighten. If it is in tune, and believe you can tell, you can actually feel it, it just about lifts you out of your seat. Our beloved Band Director at Central Michigan University, Norman Dietz, used to bring in all the low brass and French Horns from the Concert Band into his Wind Ensemble for that piece when he conducted this. You can't imagine what power is generated by 40 or so low brass and Horns on that particular piece, when they are in tune. It is life altering.

1. 27th Lancers - Crown Imperial. 2. Scouts - Slaughter On Tenth Avenue. 3. Spirit of Atlanta - Georgia. 4. Muchachos - Picturas De Espana. 5. Vanguard - Fanfare and Allegro. 6. Cadets - Rocky Point Holiday. 7. Carolina Crown - The Gates of Hell. 8. Star of Indiana - Parados, from Medea. 9. Cavaliers - Mars, from the Planets. 10. Sacramento Freelancers (aka Capitol Freelancers) - Breaking Up Is Hard To Do. 11. Bridgemen - William Tell Overture! 12. Blue Devils - T.O. 13. Crossmen - Appalachian Morning. 14. Bluecoats - Johnny One Note. 15. Kilties - My Favorite Things.

1. Blue Devils - they just have it figured out. They have a stronger "JV" than most corps Varsity and have a C Corps, which no one else has at all. Meaning, they have an average age of probably 19-21 every year. Kids get immersed in the system for several years and they get "cream of the crop" auditioned from all over. Even in a large age out year, which I can't imagine being much more than 30, they have kids from B that can go right in and the best of the auditions to step in. I can see them winning their 25th title by the time they celebrate their 65th Anniversary. 2. Crown - if they can get someone to believe their percussionists play at a high level and are taught by people who know their stuff, because that's the only thing holding them back. They seem to have the other captions pretty well understood. They even play more than anyone else - over 8 minutes! No one came within a half a minute of time playing time on the field. 3. Santa Clara - they will make it close, I think, but there seems to be something holding this corps in the same placement area of 4-7. Have no idea, especially after the beautiful show they brought forth last year. Visually and musically it was stunning! Maybe it needs the ghost of Gail Royer to appear through a mirror in the center of the field. 4. Bluecoats - I don't know how they can top the three year run they have had in the past three years on their way to the title! I'm not sure where they are taking us next, but I'm willing to follow! Their use of electronics assisting with, combining with and used on its own has been ground breaking and exciting to say the least. Like many of the old folk who were looking at the involvement of electronics as Satans work in taking Drum Corps as we knew it, to hell and back, I have been not just pleasantly surprised at what they have done, but have cheered it every show (sorry to my fellow old folks - I've been around drum corps since the early 70s and loved every second of parking and barking, anything you can play, I can play louder and higher and color guard that was featured with devil may care equipment work and dangerous exchanges, tosses and head chops!). I look forward with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind for finding out and experiencing next years show! 5. Cavies - the Cavies are back, the cavies are back - now can they keep the swagger, geometric patterns, drill cleanliness and take what they did on the field last year to new heights? 6. Cadets - lots of staff changes and some friendly faces being brought back to the staff. I am hoping to see the innovation and success that was the hallmark of this corps! 7. Phantom Regiment - let me hear that sound that makes me want to listen. No one has that beautifully balanced deep symphonic sound! Put a show together worthy of your history and foresight! 8. Boston Crusaders - a plan to make it to the top of the heap, new staff, new attitudes, new lots of everything. I hope we can see you slay the dragon and make the journey worth everything it should be! 9. Blue Star - good job of keeping the momentum they have going forward. I like seeing and hearing what they've come up with. A Sideshow, A Dream, what's next? 10. Blue Knights - there is a corps for everyone that each of us has that they just don't get, either their show, their music, their visual package or something. Blue Knights is that one for me. I don't get where they are going or what they are doing. 11. Crossmen - they have been one of my favorites from their beginning. I have one of the original capes (they auctioned them off in 78, IIRC). Loved that look, the sound they had. I love seeing Bones at Finals. They seem to have leveled out and maybe have the Texas market cornered! 12. Scouts/Troopers/Academy - two oldies and a newbie. Who goes in what direction will be determined by the planning of each of these staffs in trying to find what each group of kids handle best.

Some oldies, but goodies - Rob McConnells' T.O., then maybe La Suerta de Los Tontos, Channel One Suite, Legend of a One Sailor and When A Man Loves A Woman. Or put Chicagos Free in, or Joabims' Dindi, or Chase the Clouds Away. Possibly some Don Ellis (since 27 isnt around anymore) - Open Wide or Niner-Two or One More Time Chuck Corea. Maybe some Burt Bacharach from their tribute show a few years ago. Could even go all the way back and do a new arrangement of Chant and Jubilo from their first DCI finals year - if you haven't heard it, you should. Bring back the gigantic sound deflectors from 76 and then to top it, bring out Bonnie Ott to play the solo from her brother's arrangement of Legend of a One Eyed Sailor (just like she played it in finals in after he had died), that would top it for me! Come on, more selections from you all. With the brain trust they have, they could easily step back in time for a year and rock our socks off, especially with electronics helping. And with the guard they have doing When A Man Loves A Woman - oh my, there would be people flocking home to create new lives after that!

No bandwagon fan here, either. Exposure was incredible - white pants, white shoes, speed to kill, body movement like no one else. Let's get dome things straight. You don't win DCI by marching pathetically. It doesn't happen. I've judged for many years and I know several of the DCI visual judges and none of them said anything close to pathetic, bad or even mildly not good. I love it when someone can't get their own focus off from something they saw early in the season and just can't wrap their head around that things get better and people improve. They see it once and that's the opinion that they keep, no matter what.

If you have 1 person judging finals every year what you are talking about could happen. They would be the only person judging so they could think back and remember what they gave Cadets those many years ago, make the decision that this years show was as good as the previous score and give them a number that would be in its correct place. Instead we have gone through several sheet changes, de-emphasizing some things, emphasizing others, creating new captions, getting rid of others. We have different numbers of judges going along with those sheet changes, giving more opinions along with different head judges who bring their own opinions into the fray too. We have a different amount of judges within a single season, shows without people judging on the field and only upstairs in the press box, we have different judges judging each show, especially with complete different panels in Quarterfinals, Semis and Finals. What I'm getting at is that there are too many variables to grant your wish. We could take examples from every year and slog through this discussion and it would not make any sense. The only number that counts is 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc. there is no way we can do what you want.

No problems at all. I used Chrome.

Please don't get set back. I thought they had turned the corner in 2014, but apparently not. Cavies seem to be back on track, but Madison just can't get over the hump. I think the last show that had the bones to be competitive to get into the top 5 was back in 95 (all Spanish music, with Malaga as the big composition that they built it around or maybe the Pirates show which was a couple years after that.

Crown fires percussion staff and decides to really throw money around, so they hire the entire Santa Clara and Blue Devils percussion staffs.

Staff fed up in what way? Not trying to be snotty or sarcastic, just interested. Seems as though Cadets have not had a breakthrough idea, especially visually since Angels and Demons. You could usually count on Cadets to come in with something groundbreaking, or at the very least something that was out there and worked, every 2-3 years. Visually, they haven't looked like the Cadets in a few years. Those kaleidoscopic effects are not there at all. Maybe try going back to something like West Side Story to connect the audience and alumni?

Disagree on this with you. They are as clean, if not cleaner than BD - the Bieber number exposes them way too much with the horn line trying to dance. Way too dirty. The rest of their show is spot on, but that drags them down. Crown is cleaner, but not so much that it buries Bluecoats. Being a judge and writer, you are cueing in on Bluecoats and not watching the other as closely.

Agreed on your conclusion. The pressure is really on. I love the ballad/jazz section. Great stuff, but the ending felt too soon for me tonight, I wanted more! I thought the whole opening section was as good as I have seen it all year! Their tough brass runs were as clean as they've been all year too. I do think Bluecoats seem to be having electronics problems during their shows this week or am I dreaming? I saw a couple of new things tonight in BDs show that helped clean some things up, but I really do not like the whole corps dance section at all. It still looks sloppy and does not fit into the show. At least the kpop eventually made sense with little red last year. Crown plays like their hair hair is on fire. When they turn it on, they are lights out the best brass line. Balanced and balls to the wall. Really like the show itself. I love Vanguards show, I get the whole thing, visuals, music everything. They are still not quite as clean as I would like and I think that's why they are so far in back of the top 3. If they were cleaner, I think it would a 4 way race, not 3. Cavies show was incredible tonight. They have that swagger back, the geometries visuals that no one can touch. Percussion and guard need to take another step up, they have never had a great brass line, when they won, they very good brass and the rest was unbeatable. Cadets finally reversed their trend of "meh" GE. They really performed tonight and I thought they might be in 5th, but at least it's starting to work. I think they need a new design team, more than anything.

I was lucky enough to be there for all three days in KC. Hot and humid. It was also the last time the didn't give out scores or recaps (only in Quarter finals/Semi finals), it also may have been one of the top 2 or 3 shows I've ever seen. Madison was right on in everything they did - the perfect storm, in semis. Vanguard just about knocked Madison out the next night with a great performance of Phantom. Wasn't that the year that BDs soloist choked every Soprano solo so badly in finals that DCI put the Semi-Finals show on the CD and DVD or was it 1989? I remember really feeling for the kid, it just wasn't one solo, I think it was 3 of them, lips just gave out. Being a mellophone/French horn player, I'd had it happen before.

Garfield - West Side Story was genius, musically and visually. Angels and Demons is in there too. SCV - Fiddler on the Roof. Crown, Rock, mc2 and Heaven and Hell (last year). Madison in 88 or 95. Blue Devils with Channel One Suite.

Santa Clara 1988 or 89, either show is fantastic!

I think that's the challenge for most corps. When the staff can remain together and progress together, you will find that the good placements follow, but the maturity of the corps is just about as important. The staff can't provide the kids with shows that are over their heads in maturity level of marching, playing, ability to project to the fans and judges (GE), and maturity level of, when trouble hits can you wade through it instead of letting it move your concentration to things other than your performance. If you look at any top level corps, the people in charge have been there for several years, know the navigation of whom to hire and how to keep the staff together and happy. There are a myriad of things that have to be moving simultaneously to keep the corps going (witness, Cavies, Scouts. PR - all of whom have had major changes at the top of their staffs and management and witnessed a plummet in scores/placement/swagger/etc. Each have been searching since those times for the answer to get them back in the race. Unfortunately what happens is that the average age of the corps goes downward, thus maturity level heads that way too because, let's face it, everyone wants to be on a winner, so kids become "free agents" and try to get to a corps that will give them the best chance of meddling, meaning the other corps become feeder/training corps for the top 5-6 corps. This affects the staffs who can't take the corps to the heights they wanted, get let go (or hired by another corps looking to make that magical jump), creating a cycle that perpetuates itself until the right combination of circumstances, hirings, staff ingenuity and maturity of kids hits and brings the corps back to its place in the realm.

GE - Bluecoats (Crown/BD close 2nd & 3rd) Visual - Blue Devils (Bluecoats close 2nd) Music - Crown (Bluecoats close 2nd) Brass - Crown Percussion - Bluecoats Guard - Blue Devils 1. Bluecoats (it's their year, leading the activity into the future!) 2. Blue Devils (with their system in place, they may never be lower than 2nd, ever and winning every two out of three or four years might get them to 20 titles by the time DCI turns 50!) 3. Crown (this horn line is magic, they seem to be able to play all night with balance, dynamics and beautiful sound - in tune and loud, make chords seem louder!) 4. Santa Clara (most interesting and pleasing visual show, just not clean enough, early enough!) 5. Cavies (are they back? It sure looks and sounds that way - and we all hope it is!) 6. Cadets. (need to get back to being a leader in the activity) 7. Blue Knights (will they be the next group to move into the upper echelon - top 4?) 8. Blue Star (great historical group who consistently entertain) 9. Phantom Regiment (closer just doesn't get it done, This is a composition that works incredibly well on the field and should be something wonderful for PR to put in its cat agony of great closers like - Elsa's Procession, 1812 Overture, Death Hunt, Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah, Spartacus or Beethovens' 9th Symphony, but it just did not get there!) 10. Crossmen (are they finally finding their footing? Texas is a goldmine for HS kids - big time marching bands, lots of kids to recruit from, but can they keep them through their age out to get the maturity you need to get to the top 4?) 11. Scouts (they keep lingering at the 9-12 spots - will they ever get their swagger, sound, attitude and sophistication back?) 12. Academy. (welcome to the top 12, now can you be an upwardly mobile group headed towards the penthouse or are you a one hit wonder?)

Muchachos, 27th Lancers, Sacramento Freelancers, Anaheim Kingsmen, Kilties, North Star, Bridgemen, Polish Falcons, Guardsmen, Star, Velvet Knights, Sky Ryders, Argonne Rebels, Bleu Raeders, Suncoast Sound, George Zingali, Steve Brubaker, Bobby Hoffman, Michael Gaines, Dennis Delucia, Jim Ott, Gail Royer, I miss them all!

Quarterfinals 1. Cadets 2. BD 3. Crown 4. Bluecoats Semis 1. BD 2. Crown 3. Cadets 4. Bluecoats Finals 1. Crown 2. BD 3. Bluecoats 4. Cadets

I think it will depend on the panel, especially Color Guard and Percussion, but it could be a wild card such as Visual or Music Analysis. This is up in the air, but and this is a big BUT, if BD wins tomorrow by .8 or more, it's over. I think there will be three specific things to watch. 1 - GE. Is it a jumble of numbers or are things across the board in placings. To me this will indicate who the judges think has dialed in on their show and unless someone comes with an awfully flat show the next night, a set of numbers that are mostly 1s, with maybe a couple of 2s sprinkled in will indicate that and as long as it doesn't fall flat, it won't vary much over the next two nights. If the numbers vary, that means all bets are off and it's the best performance every night and who knows what will happen! The biggest thing I will look for is Bluecoats score in GE. If it's no worst than 2nd or 3rd, then they are hitting the recorded sounds with the "played sounds" and the judges/audience reactions are in sync. If it's 4th or worse, then it's not working. There are a lot of behind the scenes stuff here, meaning, judges, officials, directors, audience - who believe they are fighting for the future of Drum Corps and the direction it's heading, playing or playing part of the time with recorded sounds and/or amplified sound (if you want more bass, turn up the channels the contras are playing on, or don't worry as much about dynamics, we can create them. 2 and 3 - Color Guard and Percussion. We all know these are the bane of Cadets and Crown this year. If Cadets pull at least 3rd or Crown can slot in 3rd or 4th, then we have a big time battle on our hands and everyone should be excited like no other time in DCI. Any other category, watch for someone who suddenly jumps to unknown places in their scores and the relationship to its cousin categories (upstairs vs. on the field categories). Remember they all have different things they are supposed to be watching for (individual vs. group), but they have inter relational parts, so what is seen and heard up top does relate to what is seen and heard on the field, in music and visual. If those are far apart then there are some real discrepancies as to what is being heard and seen, not impossible, but should be improbable.

The bothersome part for me is that the numbers had been very jumbled in each sub heading, giving us the closeness of the scores. I know BD is the only group who doesn't seem to have a "dinged" category in the adjudication sheet. For Cadets it's been Color Guard and Crown has been Percussion. Bloo seems to take get knocked in any kind of coordination aspect as judges are still trying to figure out what they want out of the electronics vs. whatever in a show. I don't like seeing certain judges and knowing that they have any kind of negative thinking in any category, such as I mentioned above. It seems like some people have a slotted score or range of that score fixed in their thoughts, without giving the chance that a group could break out and into a new box area on the score sheet. It seems like some names get attached to certain places/score range for certain groups. I would love having the feeling that any of the top 4 could have that "one moment in time" when things sync together and the performance rises above the others, to win.

Except BD is not listed as performing at Massillon.