Triple Forte Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 (edited) Seems like the label of "dark" gets applied awful liberally these days. What makes a show dark, and as opposed to what? Sunshiny? I have probably used 'dark' to describe some of the music featured by DCI corps in the past. I like moderation....I want to hear light, dark and every thing in between. Unfortunately...I think dark and dissonant themes have run the table the last several seasons. I remember someone writing a show review not to long ago say he barely heard any major chords during the first hour or so of the show. I mean...how many light in to dark shows/themes or just straight dark shows have there been within the last 5 - 10 seasons ? Quite a few I think. I know there were quite a few from the Open Class corps in 2009. You add them all up (WGI, drumline, DCA, DCI and Marching band)....it's probably over a thousand. What probably troubles me more than dark is the overuse of dissonance (Lack of major chords). A good example of dissonance (IMO) is Bluecoats Asphalt Cocktail.... Edited January 11, 2011 by Triple Forte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie1223 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Dark Show probably has more to do with theme than simply having minor or dissonant music. I thought Cavies show last year was dark and clearly everyone would agree, but a lot of their musical selections weren't necessarily "dark". I mean "Smile" definitely had a dark undertone to it even though it was happy major chord music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Brace Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 Mr. Cesario once called it, "taking a bath in chocolate." I thought his use of imagery was weird and European. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruckner8 Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 In a drum corps context, dark has these definitions: 1) Any show where minor chords predominate 2) Any show lacking in major-only harmony 3) Hornlines based on "dead white guy" orchestral music 4) Any chop-n-bop show that isn't bee-bop (usually defs 1 and 2 are already met here) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 In a drum corps context, dark has these definitions: 1) Any show where minor chords predominate 2) Any show lacking in major-only harmony 3) Hornlines based on "dead white guy" orchestral music 4) Any chop-n-bop show that isn't bee-bop (usually defs 1 and 2 are already met here) What he said. ...also any music played that would fit as accompanying background music while you read a Stephen King Novel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfield Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 In a drum corps show, dark is when the stadium lights go out unexpectedly. Sorry, couldn't resist. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple Forte Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Mr. Cesario once called it, "taking a bath in chocolate." I thought his use of imagery was weird and European. No Tom......I believe Cesario was referring to the wonderfully warm dark sound of the Phantom Regiment hornline (1995).... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBSMYTH Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 These things go in cycles. There was a lot of dark, angry music in the mid-to-late 90's, IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BozzlyB Posted January 12, 2011 Author Share Posted January 12, 2011 These things go in cycles. There was a lot of dark, angry music in the mid-to-late 90's, IIRC. So does dark = angry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 In a drum corps show, dark is when the stadium lights go out unexpectedly. Sorry, couldn't resist. I see what you did there. You made light of the topic. (.. well played ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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