ContraFart

Well there are those Bb marching french horns with mellophone bores. I think Holton makes them. Personally I think they are the biggest pieces of crap in the world, but horn players who are serious concert players seem to like them. When I think of the middle section, I really like the piercing sound a mellophone can offer. If you put a mid section out there that is too dark, then it gets sorta lost. thats my $.02

woo hoo go hoppy I may not be the biggest fan of your wants for the future of DCI, but as a member of the Crossmen in 99 I saw first hand your dedication to the sport. The Cadets as an organization are always good, and always fun to watch. I wish the Cadets the best this year.

Yes October is an awsome piece. I was fortunate enough to play it with my college band. I cant wait to hear a midseason mp3 so I can hear how it translates to drum corps. and yes what about the Colts?

I have to admit that '94 Magic is my favorite Magic show, followed closely by '96. In 1996 Don Taylor was caption head which in the 3 years he was there Magic had a hornline that could compete with the big boys. (with the crappiest bugles imaginable.) I think their hornline was 5th or 6th in '96 when they made their highest placment as a corps (tie for eigth). Robert W. Smith had a certain sound to his arrangements that just made the books he wrote very magnetic to the listner. But on the other hand Downeys arrangements are much more concise and well defined, and of course very exciting. The old magic had show designs that were original and fun. Whether it be taking you to the Cirque the Magic, or just celebrating Mardi Gras or Carnival. The new magic is a little more comformed to the norm of music selection of drum corps in the sense that it is a bit more esoteric. I am looking forward to hearing what the final product will be this year. They probably have one of the best overall design teams in DCI with names like Wayne Downey and Thom Hannum. It is a little early to know the identity of the "New Magic", but as a die hard magic fan I am sure I will not be dissapointed.

hmmm '92 Crossmen. The whole show!!!!! '93 BD that awsome mello lick '93 Cadets, that mello line in Phillip Bliss always gets me '94 Magic. one of my favorite all time shows '95 Madison OMG!!!! Wow! '95 Phantom, Var 18, when they played on one kneww in the frames, so beautiful '96 Magic, Hymn of flight '97 Cadets, opening statement '97 BD, really nice show '99 Crossmen, the 16 bar change we made in the closer (with the rippin mello part) '99 Glassmen, the unison line at the end '00 Cadets Whole show '01 Cavaliers Whole show '02 Magic running 16ths '02 Bluecoats BJORK!!!!! '02 Cavaliers, Timpani lick playing the theme

I am suprised I diddnt see BD '93 in there. That was an awsome book, and they turned it up about 5 levels on Finals night. I think Star blended better, and had a better overall sound, but BD '93 had probably the best performance. -edit- I really cant type

I think Crossmen and Phantom had the best all around shows. I diddnt see Spirit's show but I heard it should have made finals. Four corners diddnt wow me, but It was so well done.

diddnt PR have like 18 contras in 99? or ii at least looked like it did. Star '93 was a good line. But my favorite is PR '96.

Yeah Gino Cipriani and Fred Mehr (who was on admin staff) all marched Florida Wave in the 80's. They won a Div 2 title with them. I never heard heard anything about Tommy Santino marching FW, but it is entirly possible.

Avoid the University of Southern Mississippi. In the past 5 years, Music funding has been cut to 10% of what it once was. The marching band that used to be 350 memebers is now struggling to get 200 on the field and may not make our famous spellout. And worst of all the College of the Arts was cut, and consolidated into the College of Liberal Arts. This means that the school of music (which is now the department of music) will have to compete for funding with english and history. This is very sad since at one time USM was was one of the best schools for music in the nation.

I played contra. One of those Yamaha jobs with the G crook. But the way we carried our horns was all jacked up because we had like 5 different kinds of horns on the line. I used to get yelled at by the staff all the time becuase I would hold my horn backwards since the crook was in the way of holding the horn by the valve casings.

1993 Hands down. 1997 comes in at a distant second.

I marched one of those tiny 3 valved yamahas with a g crook. Talk about CRAP!!!!!!! The crook had to be duck taped on, but the nice part was the horn only weighed like 8 pounds with the crook. I also played on the DEG Bb last year when I did a gig with Micro Magic. By this time I was so used to my nice Miraphone CC Tuba that going to the DEG was wierd. It played like a beginner model horn. It had no smoothness and a few notes had problems projecting, but the horn had a NICE sound. My favorite marching horn I played on was a King 2 valve G like the ones the Glassmen used to have. They were light, had good projection and a pretty good sound, IMO the most balanced marching horn I have ever played. P.S. Sousaphones suck!

As a former Bones member, maybe I shouldnt add my favorite expression about the Cadets, j/k 2000 is my fav of their hornlines. I liked '95 and '98's hornlines as well but when I think of the Cadets I think of "On A Hymnsong of Phillip Bliss" in'93 I love that Mello line as simple as it is.