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MCL_Contra

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Posts posted by MCL_Contra

    Missing Corps

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    This one hits me harder since I was really impressed with the growth of this corps and after watching their show in 2009 I thought they would really become a corps to be reckoned with. It is very difficult to maintain an Open Class corps.

    Yes it is as Music City Legend found out after 2009. We do still hope to be back soon though. In the mean time Mini-Corps will have to pave the way.

    2012 DCA Rules Congress - Baltimore, MD

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    I feel like the people who call all of these changes "progress" need to take a hard look at what made the Drum Corps activity what it is (or was). It was never meant to be "Marching Band". It was very different from "Marching Band" in many ways. Yes they were similar activities but the differences in instrumentation and performance styles are what made "Drum Corps" special. It used to be that "Marching Bands" wanted to be more like "Drum Corps", not the other way around. I will agree that some changes have been for the better (i.e. number of valves on a horn, maybe....maybe instrument keys, Asymmetrical drill) but trying to make "Drum Corps" more like "Marching Band" has, IMHO, reduced the "draw" of the activity to new members. There is nothing special about the activity anymore.

    For everyones information I never marched DCI. Never had the opportunity. But I've marched DCA for almost 10 years. I have seen interest in the "Drum Corps" activity steadily decline in those 10 years. I'm sure it started long before then. I think we should be trying to generate uniqueness in the activity and try to sell that to today's youth (as well as some of us "old farts").

    • Like 4

    Fugitives Mini-Corps

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted · Edited by MCL_Contra

    We are excited to announce the return of Music City Legend Mini-Corps with a twist. We are now Fugitives Mini-Corps under the direction of Mr. Vinnie Ciesielski with musical arranging by Mr. Joe Murphy.

    Check out our page on Facebook here: Fugitives Mini-Corps

    Here's the Official announcement from Mr. Ciesielski:

    I am proud and happy to announce that I will be heading up the Fugitives Mini Corps as Creative Director and Brass caption head. I will also be a featured soloist with the group. I have invited my good friend and a fantastic drummer Edward Freytag to be the time keeper for this ensemble. He is in! We are all super excited about performing great music at a very high level and bringing a wonderful part of the Drum Corp experience to anyone who wants to be a part of this exciting ensemble. We have the horns or you can bring your own. We will have a mixed line so G horns or Bb horns are welcome. We need Brass players including Trumpet/Soprano, Mellophone, Baritone (translates well from Trombone) and Tuba/Contra. Mini Corps focuses on the musical performance with visual and marching elements being secondary (translates into not a lot of high velocity marching) We prefer to call what we do visually "staging". Awesome for folks who love to "park and blow". This year we are rehearsing at Grace Church of the Nazarene in Donelson, TN and concentrating on making this experience Family friendly and a positive and motivating atmosphere. If you play or played and have a child or spouse who plays this is a wonderful musical bonding opportunity for you and them.

    Joe Murphy will be arranging the show and stand still music again for the Corps. His distinctive style and brilliance is one of the major contributors to our success in the past. We will also be working with other very accomplished local composers and arrangers on additional music for the Fugitives! We plan on revisiting ALL of our past Mini Corps arrangements (including the tunes that helped us win a second place at DCA International Championships in 2009 as Music City Legend mini Corps) and a ton of new material. We will welcome all players of all ages and abilities for our public performances which we hope will include several indoor guard and winter drum line exhibitions and several DCA and DCI shows including DCA International Championships over Labor day. Your dues will include transportation to Annapolis, MD for that competition.

    Did mention I am super stoked about this group?

    The program for this year will be called "Introductions". The musical selections will be the Intros and hooks from songs that will include artists such as Stevie Wonder, Tower of Power, Bill Chase, Maynard Ferguson, Arturo Sandoval as well as some "Old School" Drum Corps favorites. We will do around 30-60 seconds of each tune with a drum and mallet interlude but we will also own the full arrangements of each of the tunes. We can play the full arrangements featuring the horn line, sections and soloists at our public performances. My goal is to expose everyone to at least 90 minutes worth of music this year instead of the normal 10-15 minutes. This will give everyone a challenging amount of music to learn and memorize. As the season gets closer to finals we will zero in on the show and use music and stands for our stand still opportunities (don't be scared)

    Our Open House in December will be free to all who attend. Once we start our monthly rehearsals there will be a $10 "camp fee". This will apply to your annual dues. There is some limited financial "help" for folks who qualify. Below is our schedule till March. We will do our best to keep you informed of rehearsal and performance dates well in advance.

    MINI-CORPS REHEARSAL DATES

    Dec. 9, 2012 / Open House

    Jan. 20, 2013

    Feb. 10, 2013

    Mar. 17, 2013

    Go be awesome!

    Vinnie Ciesielski

    • Like 1

    Crunchy Frog 2012

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Oh man....you should've seen some of the postings from people upset that the Frog was going to destroy the "sanctity" of drum corps.

    I don't know about the rest of you, but I had a blast being part of the 04 edition!

    Me too. It was a blast and I made some great friends as well. Mouthpiece shots didn't hurt!

    Music city Legend

    in DCA - All-Age Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Tuesday, Februaury 21st, 2012 marks a new dawn for Music City Legend. Despite the quietness, the remaining Board of Directors have been buzzing with a renewed interest to bring MCL back. On this date the 2012 plan was set in motion by electing new Corps Officers.

    We welcome newcomer Brian Belcher to the role of Executive Director, who comes to us with fresh ideas and unmatched enthusiam. Joining Brian is one of the corps' founding directors, Jim Reed as the new Assistant Executive Director. Both Laurie Ford and Tim Williams stay on as Treasurer and Secretary, respectively.

    Former Executive Director, Stephan Anderman remains on the board as well as long-time director, Dr. Willard Johnson. After five years of service, Scott McCoy steps down from the board but remains the corps' webmaster.

    Stay tuned for developments and please contact us if you want to help bring Music City Legend back in 2012!

    • Like 1

    What the fans want...2011

    in DCI World Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    Listen, I'm seriously not playing devils advocate. Decibels only measure the quantity of sound, not the quality. I don't see adding in 50 50 woodwinds brass as a viable option, but if it did, I think it would force DCI hornlines to stop playing so out of control and out of balance and start thinking of themselves as a musical ensemble, which I don't hear a whole lot of right now. Is it fun and entertaining? Sure. It could also be a whole lot better to as a whole. There are certain hornlines who do achieve what I am talking about, but not nearly enough.

    I'm afraid I must disagree here. Yes Decibels measure the quantity of sound. However the quality DOES have a tremendous effect on the overall quantity of sound. If you take two equal groups of musicians each playing the same piece of music with the same level of intensity, but one of the groups plays perfectly in tune and one plays slightly out of tune I can guarantee you the "in tune" group will be louder on a decibel meter.

    Corps Moving back to "G" Horns

    in DCI Open Class Corps Discussions

    Posted

    So you don't have to listen or tune if you're on Bb?? That would certainly explain the awful tonality out of Cadets going into their company front in 2000....on Bb horns.

    Ok, so not exactly what I meant. I mean that a high school or college student that normally plays a Bb horn DOES have to adjust to a G horn. It's not that hard but you have to do it.

    You can hardly blame instrument makers for wanting to increase their sales, tho...I'm in business myself...I need every sale I can get. And you can't deny that the sudden increase of corps in the Sr ranks was possible largely because of the glut of used Gs on the market as the Jrs switched over.

    I don't blame them at all for doing so. I just think it's a shame they have to force an activity with tons of history to change just to exist.

    I could see that...but I don't see that switch happening unless a G market opens up far larger than drum corps.

    Unfortunately I have to agree with you. Sad.

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