Drum Corps - A definition

[faramirtook]

Drum Corps - A Definition

The activity we know today at Drum and Bugle Corps comes from a militaristic tradition of buglers and drummers on battlefields, directing troops. These drummers and buglers desired to continue to play once their service ended; thus, they banded together, learned some simple, usually patriotic tunes, and marched in parades. To make a long and intricate story short, this activity moved to football fields, added marching drill design, and modified the bugles to be able to play more and more pitches, resulting in the modern 3- and 4-valve horns that the activity uses today. Also, more kinds of drums were added to the traditional snare and bass drums, namely tenor drums; furthermore, keyboard percussion and other kinds of drums and percussion instruments were added. Those who guarded the American flag, the colorguard, began to spin and toss their weapons and flags while marching; and eventually, they turned to dance as opposed to marching.

One may argue that this activity has progressed from patriotic entertainment to a full-blown art form; and he or she may be correct in some regard. However, the idea of entertainment has always pervaded the activity; also, a spirit of education has been one of the key elements in the development of the activity. Anyone who desires to be a member of a corps must simply express enough interest and drive to work, and there will be someone to teach him or her, somewhere.

Thus, I propose a definition of this activity, as it is now, that is broad enough to encompass both the artistic, educational, and entertaining qualities of the activity, but tight enough to discern it from being simply a “marching band.” All input is welcome, as this is but a first draft.

Drum and Bugle Corps is an activity, sometimes competitive and thus bound by the rules of the circuit, in which an ensemble of uniformed musicians perform a set repertoire of music while moving, usually by marching, to a set choreography. These musicians play bell-front, three or four valved brass instruments, or marching percussion instruments, typically the snare drum, the bass drum, the tenor drum, and the cymbals. These marching musicians are accompanied by an ensemble of keyboard, auxiliary, and any and all other types of percussion instruments. These instruments may be amplified depending on the circuit's rules. Also, the musical ensemble is complimented by a choreographed ensemble of dancers who very frequently make use of flags of various shapes, sizes, and colors, replica sabers and rifles designed for spinning and tossing, and other objects of various shapes and sizes and colors, such as balls or poles. These performances take place on a standard American football field and last from between 10-12 minutes for a more competitive ensemble: they may go under or over this limit depending on the nature of the specific ensemble. Generally, the program is designed to entertain and excite the audience who is observing it; however, artistic values may be infused to enhance the audience's experience of the program. Furthermore, the performers themselves are often not only participating to entertain or to win, but also to find an educational experience.

Thoughts? This popped to mind about 15 minutes ago and I sat down and started to type. Please, this is a general definition that does not delve into the controversies of the key of an instrument or the nature of rehearsal and things of that nature.

Edit 11:27 PM: Formatting

Edited November 27, 2007 by faramirtook

[drumcat]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_and_bugle_corps

[juice]

Just go with this

"Drum Corps,

For those who know,

no explanation is needed,

for those who don't know,

no explanation is possible"

Edited November 27, 2007 by juice