ScarletKnight Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 OK, I got off track AGAIN. The idea was to do this day for day... oh well. TUESDAY AUGUST 8, 1989 We stayed at Conroe HS where two of our members, Trent and Andy went to school, and where MArk Waymier instructs. We did a clinic for the band members at the school. After the clinic we were informed that Sherry had been found. The band gave us free cokes and cookies. The show was at Rice University and we saw more ex members at the show. The show was a little slow but still good. We heard tonight's scores from other parts of the country - Cavaliers 92.9, star 91.6, CBC 93.8 (!), Madison 91.2. We knew we were right up there! (comment - Sherry never returned to the corps. We had two alternates in the guard, and one was able to fill her spot for the remaining shows. Sadly, I have forgotten her name.) HOUSTON, TX PHANTOM REGIMENT: 93.8 BLUE DEVILS: 92.9 SPIRIT OF ATLANTA: 81.8 TROOPERS: 72.9 COLTS: 72.3 BLACK GOLD: 58.9 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2009 Practice day - Conroe, TX We woke up and practiced all day. For dinner we had BBQ on a ranch, complements of the school band boosters (ed. comment - - it was great!). We came back and practiced, then started to clean up to leave. After a short time we were informed we would be spending another night in Conroe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarletKnight Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1989 First thing this morning we travelled to Dallas on our newly repaired buses. After a quick lunch we hit the practice field for warm up and another clinic. We experienced more southern holpitaility with a dinner of home cooked dishes from the lake highlands band boosters. By this time, we had adopted the name "The Texas Regiment." Tonight's show was an excellent one, with all elements coming together. PHANTOM REGIMENT: 95.4 BLUE DEVILS: 94.7 SPIRIT OF ATLANTA: 83.7 BLUE KNIGHTS: 78.4 TROOPERS: 76.1 COLTS: 72.7 BLACK GOLD: 60.1 FRIDAY AUGUST 11, 1989 We woke up and walked across the street for practice. At dinner, the band boosters brought us Coke. At the show, we had to make a rappelling trip to get to the contest field. The pit had a grand old time getting the equipment to the field level. Good bye, Texas. WICHITA FALLS, TX PHANTOM REGIMENT 95.8 BLUE DEVILS 95.0 SPIRIT OF ATLANTA 82.9 BLUE KNIGHTS: 76.0 TROOPERS: 74.6 COLTS 74.6 BLACK GOLD: 61.6 SATURDAY AUGUST 12, 1989 PHANTOM REGIMENT 94.1 BLUE DEVILS 94.0 SPIRIT OF ATLANTA 86.2 BLUE KNIGHTS 80.1 TROOPERS 78.5 COLTS 74.8 BLACK GOLD 64.8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarletKnight Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 FINALS WEEK! SUNDAY AUGUST 13, 1989 Arrived in Kansas City late in the morning and slept for a while. We practiced for a few hours, then did our laundry. When laundry was done we left for our corps banquet at Gold's Buffet. The entertainment was the brass ensemble and a few speeches. (comment - we were housed at the same school as in 1988. I remembered for some weird reason that there was a soda vending machine next door, and I really wanted a cherry 7up bad - so when we arrived that was the first thing I did. Why I remember that 20 years later I have no idea). MONDAY AUGUST 14, 1989 In the morning we had a good practice at the middle school field. After lunch, the horn line went to practice with the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra while the guard and drums went to a secluded area for practice. That night, the orchestra played Peter T's Romeo and Juliet because we had played it the year before. Then, the horns came on. The orchestra started Elsa's and built it up to the horn entrance when they came in on a unison tone before splitting into more complex chords (comment: the horn line was actually playing the part normally sung by the opera just as Elsa enters the Cathedral, admiring her beauty, etc. I have not heard Phantom Regiment do this particular arrangement since), constantly building in volume up to the point when the hornline just explodes with sound, filling the concert hall and then some. (comment - o.k. The brass players in the orchestra liked us, and the percussionist was like a kid in a candy store. He followed drum corps and really liked us. We were told throughout the rehearsal to keep it down just as much as possible. Otherwise, we would bury the orchestra. Well that is what we did in rehearsal, and through most of the performance. But the baritones had other ideas in the performance, because with once voice they brought out strongly the theme at the end - - and then I don't know what happened. Collectively, the entire hornline opened up at maximum outdoor volume for the big hit until the end. It was fantastic; the drum corps fans in the audience were throwing babies, and I think we wowed the other half of the audience, KC symphony ticketholders.) At this point some of the string players put down their instruments because they couldn't hear themselves. After the concert, the Regiment played the show for everyone, including judges and the orchestra members at the park across the street. (comment - all I can say was this was an amazing moment I will never forget). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarletKnight Posted August 24, 2009 Author Share Posted August 24, 2009 TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AUGUST 15 AND 16, 1989 These were some very intense practice days. The corps accomplished and retained everything we were supposed to. We were able to practice all through the day except when the rain came, then we had to wait. On Wednesday everning we did a full run through in uniform while the (lunar) eclipse was going on. (I don't know where this was exactly but it was a secluded football field surrounded by trees in a hilly area. To do full uniform run throughs in this location while you're seeing a blood red moon in the sky was surreal. After the orchestra, it made you feel like you were leading up to something ... ). We did very well in the individuals competition, winning baritone (James Hosmer), soprano (Mike Margraf) and brass ensemble (James, Alvin, Spam and Amanda.) Congratulations! THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2009 We woke up a little late this day because we needed our energy. There was much excitement all through the day because we wanted and needed to win so badly. We were the last big corps on that night, and the show was very exciting. We won the show with a 96.9, beating the Santa Clara Vanguard by .1 . We were all very excited. When we got back to the school, the staff told us that SCV had had a .2 penalty removed, and that they were in first place and would go on last tomorrow night. We were still very excited, though, because were were only .1 behind Santa Clara, and that is the closest we had all year. (comment: I forgot what the .2 penalty was for. Anyone? It's interesting to speculate what effect, if any, keeping that penalty in place would have had. The next night we had a flat show; we didn't really have momentum going into finals. Also, a word on conspiracy theories: We had all heard about SCV's two overage members earlier. We all had to provide a certified birth certificate to the staff before the season - the '77 Bridgemen was a warning of what could happen if the organization let overage members in. Maybe someone from SCV that marched then can clarify the story, but I think the difference was that those two overage members tricked the SCV staff with some forged documents. And then, there was the Gail Royer retirement theory that was circulating. 4 2nd places, '88 was an accident, so let him go out with a win. I don't have a lot of time for these theories, because they require me to believe the judges were corrupt, which I don't believe. And, I think it does disservice to the SCV members. Very often the difference between first, second and third is someone's subjective opinion; different judges, different night, different results. It's all part of the game. What I AM glad about is being a part of one of the finest groups to ever hit the the drum corps field - one that people still remember two decades later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarletKnight Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1989 We woke up a little bit late again but we hit the practice field hard. We worked very hard all day so we could win tonight. We were on second to last, so we had plenty of time to get ready before the show. The show was flat, boring, slow - we had some problems getting on the field. We placed second with the same score as the night before, amazingly. Again, Santa Clara won, continuing their streak from early in the season. DCI SEMIFINALS SCV: 98.2 PHANTOM REGIMENT: 96.9 CAVALIERS: 94.8 BLUE DEVILS: 94.6 CADETS OF BERGEN COUNTY: 94.6 STAR OF INDIANA: 93.3 MADISION SCOUTS: 92.9 BLUE COATS: 90.3 SUNCOAST SOUND: 90.2 FLEELANCERS: 87.4 VK: 86.3 CROSSMEN: 85.8 DUTCH BOY: 85.5 SKY RYDERS: 82.2 BLUE KNIGHTS: 81.6 BOSTON CRUSADERS: 78.8 __________________________ FINALS SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1989 This day was truly amazing. Everyone thought the corps would be down because of the night before, but there was so much energy and excitement in the corps. It had not been like this before. The drumline was playing awesome. the hornline was snapping and moving like never before while marching. The guard was perfect. We paused briefly to hear a pep speech from the head of the DCM judges, then went back to practice. The show was the best ever, by any corps. Everything clicked; it was like a perfect machine, just flowing. We finished in second place with at 98.4, the highest score ever for the Phantom Regiment. Santa Clara won with a 98.8. Regiment won the M&M and high brass captions, along with best drum major for Mark. We were not disappointed - well, maybe - but we knew we were the best and no one could take that away from us. After the show the hornline played "Elsa's" and "Goin' Home" one last time. Then the exchanging of phone numbers and signing of drum heads, goodbyes and tears came. IT WAS A GREAT YEAR! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarletKnight Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 1989 DCI FINALS SCV 98.8 PHANTOM REGIMENT 98.4 CAVALIERS: 97.2 BLUE DEVILS: 95.5 CBC: 95.6 (uh, typo?) STAR: 95.3 MADISON: 93.6 BLUE COATS: 90.3 SUNCOAST: 88.0 FREELANCERS: 87.3 VK: 87.0 CROSSMEN: 84.0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarletKnight Posted August 25, 2009 Author Share Posted August 25, 2009 The Rewards By: David St. Angel, Director, 1989 Phantom Regiment On a Saturday night in August, 1989 a live audience of 35,000 and perhaps a television audience of 100,000 were privlidged to witness an extraordinary performance by the members of the Phantom Regiment. The performance was the culmination of the most incredible year in The Phantom Regiment's history. The absolute joy of the performers as they transcended all previous standards of performance was magically transmitted to the audience. None in the audience would feel that joy as intensely as those who made the 1989 corps a reality. - The Board of Directors and Booster club who struggled with budgets and finances, yet somehow managed to provide the funds to keep the corps alive. - The drivers and cooks, sewing ladies and bus moms who took us safely down the road, kept us well fed and healthy amd made the corps look beautiful form the bottom of their shoes to the top of their well trimmed hair. - The designers and instructors whose creative genius and technical skill gave to the corps the show to perform and the skills to perform it. - The tour directors whose tireless efforts got us to where we had to be and made the whole thing work. - The Alumni whose genuine love of this corps is always felt. The performance in Kansas City came from the heart of its members. It was the supreme performance of a brilliantly conceived program. We all received our reward that night in August from the emotions generated by OUR CORPS. The sense of pride that comes from being part of this corps is the ultimate REWARD. The 1989 season will be in the hearts and minds of all of us for many years to come. From this memory we will draw strength to meet the challenges of the future. Winning is the realization that you have far exceeded any expectation that you have set for yourself. It has absolutely nothing to do with the subjective perceptions of others. In that light there is none finer than: The Phantom Regiment. To the members and staff: Thank you for being the best in the world. To the Booster Club: Thank you for making it all possible. To the Board of Directors: Thank you for giving me the opportunity To the love of my life, my wife, Nancy: Thank you for giving me the strength to endure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BD 79-82 Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1989snip FINALS SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1989 This day was truly amazing. Everyone thought the corps would be down because of the night before, but there was so much energy and excitement in the corps. It had not been like this before. The drumline was playing awesome. the hornline was snapping and moving like never before while marching. The guard was perfect. We paused briefly to hear a pep speech from the head of the DCM judges, then went back to practice. The show was the best ever, by any corps. Everything clicked; it was like a perfect machine, just flowing Scarlet... Thank you for sharing these memories. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading them. The passages I highlighted above really struck me as being the ultimate reward of the drumcorps experience: Everyone pushing their personal performance envelope beyond which you thought possible & the synergy of the entire corps becoming much more than the sum of the parts. Memories of that feeling, of the magical performance energy of late season and finals week is something that I truly treasure. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScarletKnight Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 Happy to oblige. And I agree with your comments about the true lasting rewards; it's that feeling that I think all who have been in the activity can share no matter where or when they marched. Scarlet... Thank you for sharing these memories. I've thoroughly enjoyed reading them. The passages I highlighted above really struck me as being the ultimate reward of the drumcorps experience: Everyone pushing their personal performance envelope beyond which you thought possible & the synergy of the entire corps becoming much more than the sum of the parts. Memories of that feeling, of the magical performance energy of late season and finals week is something that I truly treasure. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex VK DM Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Thank you for sharing that. Even though I was with another team that year, it help me to re-live some memories that I will never forget. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.