MadisonBandMan1

I’ve been so incredibly busy the last week or so but a couple days ago I wanted to say that I have a feeling why they haven’t added ANYTHING other than the uniform change yet is because the rest of this closer must be so incredibly hard they just absolutely have to make sure it’s clean enough to put on the field in the first place. Knowing Mackey, that’s exactly what I’d expect.

Correct. It may not have originated from a historical story, but it was turned into one. And a very effective and clear one at that. Still makes it a story show, unless you explicitly mean a historical story turned into a show like Spartacus or Camelot etc.

I don’t know the exact story it was based on, but it was a cut and clear love story. Every movement made sense and fit with the intense and abstract feelings you have when you fall in love. The first movement is when you see someone you admire and you marvel at them endlessly. The second movement is the butterflies in the stomach when you interact with them and grow closer, beginning the fall. The ballad is when you fall in love and they become your entire world. This is when marriage comes. And on and on. It’s the perspective I take when I watch the show.

Funny enough back in middle school I was in an organization that I forget the name of, but we did a punch of philanthropy and volunteer work. One year we poop scooped for the Fiesta Flambeaux Parade during San Antonio’s famous Fiesta festival and man the roars we got from the crowd as we moved through the parade were like a drug to me. I ate it up. (Not the horse poop, of course 😂. I’d imagine it’s not that tasty 😂).

Crown 2013, actually. That was indeed a story based show.

I watched last nights show but passed out right after because I was exhausted. Watched again this morning. Frankly, as much as I don’t want to admit this, the high brass is struggling right now - particularly the trumpets. Tone, attacks, clarity, intonation, and “heros” are all problems that I heard and have been hearing from them all season. I really really hope they can clean that up in the next few weeks before finals. I think Harloff needs to spend a lot of time with them as a section the next few weeks. The new additions were cool though. I’d love to see them add more for San Antonio, but I’m not sure they are ready. Maybe Atlanta.

You could say it will be a very Promethean night, and crown will bring an Inferno to town down in Oklahoma. Good luck tonight Crown!

Still one of my all time favorite ballads in drum corps. That descending line by the tubas into the Fmaj chord at the end with the gliss entrance by the trombones before hand never fails to give me chills.

Such an incredible ensemble sound from the group, with amazing dynamic control (when on the move in the show too).

I am going to comment on the trombone usage because I myself am a trombone player. I agree that corps are using the instrument in a very gimmicky way - but mostly because it gets the crowd going, especially those who aren't quite as musically inclined (or rather "band" inclined) as we are. The trombone is such a versatile instrument that can be used in so many other ways that would provide so much more to a show than a glissy solo and whatnot. The texture that the trombone adds to an ensemble sound is just incredible when used correctly. Though there was a whole movement in the show filled with the gimmicky trombone stuff, I still always think back to Crown '18 when I think of trombones being used the right way in their ballad. The texture of that sound was just so glorious and hit all of the goosebumps and feels. Contrary to what older generation MMs say, there is a very realistic utility for trombones when it comes to marching. So many different ways to add visual substance to a show with trombones, and you'd think with the talent and experience these marchers have, the spacing problems really wouldn't be as major as some point out (and those can be easily worked around with some care and attention). Of course I am biased, but I would really love to see corps explore what is possible with adding trombones to the field without the gimmicks. Ps. I also really loved what Crossmen did in '19 with the Wagner piece and the bass trombone ensemble. That worked really really well in the context of the show and wasn't all glissy and gimmicky.

I can't wait to see what these four rehearsal days does for the ensemble and just how much they can clean this show. Wonder if they make a major addition by this weekend or if they wait until next weekend to do it.

Take THAT BD and Bloo honks! (just kidding I know that you can’t compare scores across competitions)

Just saw the video from the community performance last night and MAN has their brass line improved tenfold in the last two weeks. They increased tempos in the opener and the 2nd and 3rd movements leading into the ballad and it REALLY made them pop on top of being much, much cleaner audibly. Already getting close to the baby throwing vibes from those sections alone for me! Then the ballad was so much more crisp and dynamic. Ugh I can’t wait to see this show evolve the final week of the season. Also I have to say this again, but THOSE FREAKING CONTRAS MAN! Best section in drum corps this year *easily*

Anyone go and see the free show tonight?

I was getting ready to say this show is going to be completely different by the time we get to see it again at this rate since they won’t have given us an actual field performance in two weeks after last night was cancelled but there you go.