Jump to content

Bachstrad

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    49

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Bachstrad

    SCV's show was an epic musical fail.

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    On 8/14/2018 at 8:42 AM, SWriverstone said:

    There's a well-known and studied psychological phenomenon called the mere-exposure effect (also called the familiarity principle). It means people develop a preference for things merely because they are familiar with them. Put more simply, if you listen to lousy music long enough, you'll start thinking it's good. (This isn't opinion—it's fact.) 

    It's clear that DCI audiences are suffering from this effect in a big way. Witness what DCI judges considered the pinnacle of shows in 2018 by awarding it a championship (SCV). Now I get that drum corps is more than just music—it's "art" (though I could make a case for why it really isn't, even at the highest levels). Drill, choreography, difficulty, etc. are all part of the activity. But the emotional underpinnings of any show are the music. You aren't going to be swept to emotional highs by a single high rifle toss or a big two-handed rimshot. The music matters—a lot. 

    I've spent countless hours of my life studying, listening to, and performing music of all kinds. I have a BM degree from Juilliard—which doesn't make me more knowledgeable than anyone else—it simply certifies that I'm very knowledgeable about music—and what distinguishes good music from bad music. Contrary to popular belief, music isn't "in the ear of the beholder." It's entirely possible to judge it objectively and even place it (roughly) on a universal scale from bad to good. (If you're someone who believes the quality of music is entirely subjective, you're a hypocrite—because you logically must say the same about everything in life—which I'm sure you don't.)

    So on to SCV's show: I've watched it several times. Not dozens or hundreds of times—because remember the mere-exposure effect? I'm not going to destroy my judgement by watching it every day for the entire summer (like the corps members and staff do). The first criterion for great music is that—on the first listen—it moves you. If it doesn't, then it could easily be argued the music has failed. Some might argue that it's not just the music in drum corps that should move you, but the collective experience of music, drill, and choreography. Fair enough. But nobody would argue that the music has a far greater impact on a show's general effect than either drill or choreography. And drill and choreography don't even come close to having the emotional impact of music.

    I watched SCV's show with an open heart and mind. I love SCV! I always have. And I give every show the benefit of the doubt because I want to be moved emotionally. When I watch a drum corps show, I want to have tears in my eyes. I don't give a flip about how cleanly a difficult move is executed. It's interesting, but that will never move me to tears. (That's a bit like trying to be moved to tears by a brilliantly-designed coffeepot—it ain't gonna happen.) While watching (and listening) to SCV's show, I paid attention. I focused on the melody (or absence of it), the harmonies, the transitions, the tempo changes—I sat back and let it wash over me without judgement.

    It left me cold and feeling completely flat.

    After hearing it the first time, I thought "Okay, I'm just not familiar with it." (There's that principle again!) So I watched/listened again. And again. And in what is a testament to the absolute sterility of the show's music, familiarity didn't help at all. Every time I listened to SCV's show, it was just as pointless and unemotional as the previous listening. Here's what I noticed, repeatedly:

    • There were no discernable, memorable melodies in the show—and by melodies, I mean a sustained melodic line lasting at least 8 bars (at the same tempo) that very clearly moves from point A to point B in an emotional arc. (Think of just about any Beatles song, any Rodgers & Hammerstein musical, or any Beethoven symphony.) Even after repeated views, I couldn't sing along with 2 bars of this show (and I have a good ear for remembering melodies).

    • There was no sense of a grounded tempo anywhere in the show—by this, I mean a chance to get into a groove—to feel the pulse of the music and actually have a chance to tap your foot or rock gently along with it. Tempo changes were so frequent they suggested a kind of musical schizophrenia—arrangements driven entirely by the drill and perceived difficulty.

    NOTE: Even some of the most brilliant, avante-garde compositions in music history hold to a steady tempo for at least 16-32 bars—I'm thinking of pieces like Stravinsky's Le Sacre du Printemps or Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra orJohn Cage's Third Construction.

    • There was no overall sense of continuity—no feeling of going on a journey from the beginning of the show to the logical conclusion. Despite the flowery descriptions creative staff come up with to justify their shows, SCV's show was quite literally like a long series of 1- or 2-second cuts in a video, each one jarring, seemingly designed to be as abrupt as possible.

    This was, plain and simple, an epic musical fail. (And therefore, a fail of a show—in spite of winning.)

    Some of you reading this will think I just don't get it. Okay—I'll humor you: I get cubist paintings. I get architecture by Frank Lloyd Wright. And I get music by Steve Reich, Igor Stravinsky, Vincent Persichetti, John Cage, and countless other "challenging" composers. I have a very sophisticated musical ear. My favorite composer is Charles Ives—I've listened to his Concord Sonata hundreds of times—and every time I hear something I didn't hear before. (And trust me—Ives' Concord Sonata is light years ahead of any DCI show in sophistication.)

    Some of you will think I'm just an old fart who doesn't understand current music. At this I just shake my head and laugh: have you noticed that people still love The Beatles, Beethoven, Mississippi John Hurt, and Joni Mitchell? This music isn't any less relevant and popular today than it was 25 or 100 years ago.

    When it comes to music, you can't get rid of the fundamental elements that make music great without destroying it:

    1. It moves you emotionally on the FIRST listen.
    2. It is memorable—you can actually hum or sing some of it after one hearing—and ALL of it after several hearings.
    3. It has a steady, consistent pulse that you can slip into and feel—in a sustained way—while you listen.

    SCV's show had NONE of these qualities on the first hearing (or second, third, or fourth). which is why I call it an epic fail.

    What disturbs me even more than SCV performing this show (who has a long history of connecting emotionally with audiences through great music) is the fact that DCI judges apparently reward this "music" that is devoid of any characteristics of good music. Yes, I know—they're judging more than the music (I already acknowledged this), but the judging community has lost its way. Clearly judges are more focused on difficulty (in the form of chaotic, disjointed shows packed with tempo changes and 32nd-note runs) than they are on emotionally connecting with audiences.

    ---
    In many ways, I guess we've gotten what we deserve. It's widely acknowledged that young people today have an average attention span of seconds. Maybe show designers are catering to this? Maybe we—as an American species—have lost the ability to focus on something more than 10 seconds without needing an abrupt change? Listen to pop music today and it's clear that it exists on a level far lower in intelligence than it ever has in the past (just look at all the hit songs about nothing more than partying). Even the Academy Awards have officially decided movie audiences are dumb–they've created a new Oscar for "Best Popular Film."  (Because a popular film can't be intelligent or have depth.)

    If anyone out there disagrees with my premise that SCV's show was a musical fail (and I'm sure hundreds or thousands do), feel free to explain (hopefully in more than single-syllable words) why you think it was great. Tell me how this show moved you emotionally. And as proof, record yourself singing some part of SCV's show and post the MP3 here. :-) (Corps members and staff who performed/arranged the show aren't allowed–your impartial judgement is long gone).

    Scott

    Yes Scott, the moon does follow you when you walk from your car to your basement appartment in your parent's house... 

    • Haha 2

    40 year dominance

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I do understand how we might see a "squeeze" (in general) exerted by DCI rules and trends on scoring and thus placement. Without morphing into a convincing facsimile of a particular style, your favorite corps may have faded, rather than excelled. I recall listening to a standstill in 2016, and thinking how I could easily mistake the corps for another particular well-known corps due to the similarity in style and music selection. I'm happy to say there are exceptions, such as Cadets, Cavaliers, Star, Phantom 2008 comes to mind, and Crown. I'm not completely thrilled with the direction my beloved western coast corps has taken, however, they, as have several others, made an excellent effort to combine a variety of elements (present and past) to produce/perform a product that makes me catch my breath, heart a beat wildly in the closer, give me those wonderful goosebumps, and bring me spontaneously to my feet. They have not won a championship for many years, but I still love them, and appreciate the shows they put on the field. 

    • Popular Post
    • Popular Post

    DCI Southeastern Regional - July 28, 2018

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    8 minutes ago, tedrick said:

    so this is just not a very good season - show wise --- from a basic entertainment stand point --

    simple thumbs up/thumbs down rating of the shows:

    1 Santa Clara Vanguard 93.675 (thumbs down)
    2 Blue Devils 93.250 (thumbs down)
    3 Bluecoats 92.775 (thumbs down)
    4 Carolina Crown 91.525 (thumbs down)
    5 Boston Crusaders 89.950 (thumbs up)
    6 The Cavaliers 89.925 (thumbs down)
    7 The Cadets 87.487 (thumbs down)
    8 Blue Stars 86.250 (thumbs down)
    9 Blue Knights (thumbs down)

    I think this has to do with narrative - I'm not connecting with the stories in any of the shows - I'm just not finding a lot to engage/excite me....

    Maybe re-runs of Golden Girls and a looping tape of BAC will do the job ... 

    • Like 4
    • Thanks 1
    • Haha 5

    Babylon

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    * Opening, as designed, grabs our attention

    * Multi-level towers are organic portion of show

    * Show design stretches end-zone to end-zone

    * Interesting variety of extraordinary soloist 

    * Unified Dance Scene well executed and FUN

    * Horns UP is a drum Corp fan's MOMENT

    * Emotionally, visually, auditorilly satisfying 

    Very much appreciate this show, especially considering the effort necessary to transform themselves from middle-of-the-pack finalist, to performing organization capable of producing and brilliantly performing BABYLON.

     

     

     

    Why SCV should win DCI 2017

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I love how Blue Devils tie in Legend of the One Eyes Sailor in their percussion  at the outstart of the show... the opening Brass hits of Vanguard's Oroborus... Crown's intricately woven Fugue... Cavies' FRIGG'N sexy and incredibly talented guard... and on, and on, and on infinity... it's been a great year to watch Drum Corps!   :laughing::whip::bluedevil:

     

    Why SCV should win DCI 2017

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    2 hours ago, dans said:

    I wasn't looking for a conversation. I was simply stating my opinion regarding 2017 SCV. I have seen them 4 times and each time I enjoyed them less. That is really all I have to say on the subject. And your Kool-Aid comment was not consistent with trying to have an "intelligent conversation."

    Drinking the Kool-Aid: "...used ironically/humorously to refer to one who accepts an idea/premise [opinion] due to popularity, and or peer pressure."

    99.99% here in the DCI Community have favs, and yet we love watching and supporting all these wonderful organizations.

    1.  "...unremarkable,"

    2. "...ugly costumes..."

    3. "...Ugh..."

    ... your opinions... your kool-aid.

     

    Why SCV should win DCI 2017

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by Bachstrad

    7 hours ago, dans said:

    Whatever your incredibly vapant disingenuous statement means. I stand by my original statement...SCV is way overrated this season. I'm not drinking the Kool-Aid.

    I'm sorry I thought this was an intelligent conversation... let me put it into the vernacular for you...  you're a self-indulgent buffoon if you make and drink your own Kool-Aid. I would say of the top five drum corps, all 5 have remarkable brass ensembles; and not one of them would I say have ugly costumes. 

    • Like 3

    Why SCV should win DCI 2017

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    13 hours ago, dans said:

    OK...I give up. I honestly can't think of one reason why SCV should win. Until the ending, their show is boring and very unremarkable. And those costumes...worse costumes of the year. Visually horrible from the stands...ugh! Blue Devils and Crown are the best of the field this season...not even close.

    An incredibly vapant disingenuous statement; leaving no room for discussion or response except to disentangle and disengage. 

    • Like 5

    DCI Scoring methodology

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    1 hour ago, BRASSO said:

     Everything has changed. At one time every marcher marched in the show, and was scored on their marching. Then we put half the Percussion sections out front, and the FE were not judged on their marching. Now we have ( for just one example ) 9 member choirs that are out front that " park and bark ". Not for a segment of a song. But for the entire show. Rather than " park and bark " in brass however as in years gone by but, its now done in Voice, not Brass. The essential difference however is that this rather large Corps section are not subjected to Visual demand, nor visual scrutiny as the Brass " park and bark " performers once were in their other marching requirements in their performance.. They are not even part of the Guard. They are a  standalone section. Figuratively, but also... literally. They stand and perform in place the entire show. If such Corps utilizing such are rewarded in high marks in GE Visual and other Visual scores, we can expect future Corps to adopt other similar type of stand in place and perform sections in their future show designs as well. Thats just logical and natural evolution taking place here it seems to me. It is easier to generate points with a talented choir that need only demonstrate the skill of voice, than to find musicians ( or guard ) that have to demonstrate multiplicity of skills of ( for example ) not only voice or brass playing but also have to march/ dance/  around an entire field for 12 minutes of high demand drill. What judges reward ( and do not reward ) clearly will have a future impact on what show designs Corps put out in future years regarding content, achievement, visual demands on performers, GE visuals GE Music, etc and so forth. Same as it ever was, actually, in this respect.

    One only need observe the sudden lack of headgear in 2017 to validate said theorem exercise listed above. 

    • Like 1
×
×
  • Create New...