gcuzzocrea

If that was the day I think it was, I was actually concerned that we probably shouldn't be out there for as long as we were. That was the school where there was an electric sign out front that kept blinking the time and temperature every few seconds. And it was in plain view of EVERYONE on the field. All day long, in the middle of rehearsal, we watched as the temperature kept going up and up. 101...103...107...116!!! I think that's the highest it got to.

Another example: The 1992 Velevt Knights used a two-tone uniform design (red on the front, white on the back) that was taken directly from North Penn HS, a look they had employed for many years prior. It was the same drill designer (Eric Kitchenman). Same basic concept and effect created. Gary C NP Staff

You are. That band played plenty. It was an interesting show, using Prokofiev's version of R&J rather than the more familiar Tchaikovsky version. It wasn't the best NP band they've fielded, but some of the staff changes they made for that year on the music side of things really helped solidify and sustain that program ever since.

Then again, North Penn has had shows with narration even back in the early/mid 1990's. -Gary C NP Staff

It sure DID appear...

>Crossmen: I didn't see the demand that everyone was talking about >(especially visually....they don't even touch a difficult musical passage if >they are moving). Well, this is simply not true at all. Gotta defend my team (and my drillwriter) here. "Heat of the Day" is one of the most complex and intricate (not to mention exposed) musical selections on the field this summer. We could have taken the easy way out and stood still while each section of the brass played the initial rhythmic melody statements, but we didn't. It's ALL done on the move. The exposure and simultaneous demand of what our performers have been asked to do, given what they are playing, is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen in drum corps. It's an aggressive, daring, risky, and ballsy approach to a very complex piece of music. I could think of at least 14 or 15 drill sets in the opener alone where the challenge of what they are playing is extreme along with what they are doing on the move. As far as the demand of the rest of the visual program, the ends of "Heat of the Day" and "Strawberry Soup" are towards the extreme end of the spectrum as far as difficulty goes, and there are several other points in those songs where the challenge is comparable with anything the "top" corps are doing. And, like other corps, we have plans (and have already started) on making some of the less demanding things in the program more interesting and challenging for our performers. Where we end up in the competitive mix will be determined by how clean we can get (like everyone else), but unlike other years, we have MUCH more ammunition to work with in terms of talent and program design. For a first-year drum corps drillwriter, Darryl Pemberton will be a name to be reckoned with for years to come in the drum corps ac tivity. I can appreciate your criticism, especially the fact that you chose not to make it a blatant biased attack (your stance on the YEA corps is well documented). And just like it upset you to read what you thought was unfair and inappropriate criticism of the Bluecoats' show (which you addressed in your review), that's how I feel about your comments towards the Crossmen. Thanks for your time...I'm glad you appreciate the entertainment value of our 2002 show. I hope you take a closer look at the content of the program the next time you see it. Have a great summer.....