thriving11 Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 (edited) Something important to consider before lighting the fire under everyone's butt: ALL THE CORPS use electronics. So saying "this corps uses too much electronics" or "people should use less electronics, like this corps" is a little irrational, because all the corps are using them. Even simply mic-ing the front ensemble is a "use of electronics", and all the corps have additional things like synthesizers and samplers and xylo-synths and electronic drum pads. Technology and music advance in correlation to each other, and so DCI utilizes technology because it is a musical event. The topic question is this: What will become of the electronics? In this past season, several corps only use electronics in the form of instrument microphone setup. Then there are corps (like Cavaliers or Blue Stars in their preshow) that play pre-recorded samples. Then there are corps (Like Crown and their two synth players) that use the electronics less as an effect and more as an actual musical instrument, having actual trained pianists playing well-written, musical parts. I like the effects that can be produced with electronic synthesized noise that couldn't be created before, but I also very much like the idea of using the electronic synths as musical parts that are just as important as, say, the xylo or the glock or the marimba. Prediction: This coming season will show many corps including a synthesizer as an actual musical instrument and not a background, chordal effect. Edited October 4, 2011 by thriving11 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Brace Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Something important to consider before lighting the fire under everyone's butt: ALL THE CORPS use electronics. So saying "this corps uses too much electronics" or "people should use less electronics, like this corps" is a little irrational, because all the corps are using them. Even simply mic-ing the front ensemble is a "use of electronics", and all the corps have additional things like synthesizers and samplers and xylo-synths and electronic drum pads. Technology and music advance in correlation to each other, and so DCI utilizes technology because it is a musical event. The topic question is this: What will become of the electronics? In this past season, several corps only use electronics in the form of instrument microphone setup. Then there are corps (like Cavaliers or Blue Stars in their preshow) that play pre-recorded samples. Then there are corps (Like Crown and their two synth players) that use the electronics less as an effect and more as an actual musical instrument, having actual trained pianists playing well-written, musical parts. I like the effects that can be produced with electronic synthesized noise that couldn't be created before, but I also very much like the idea of using the electronic synths as musical parts that are just as important as, say, the xylo or the glock or the marimba. Prediction: This coming season will show many corps including a synthesizer as an actual musical instrument and not a background, chordal effect. I think your prediction is based on corps being able to find..."trained pianists" who want to pay $3000 for a summer playing in front of a marching band. Especially with all those silly uniform things...and they would have to push around the synthsizer themselves? Really? And I have to practice all day outside? In the hot sun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamarag Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I think your prediction is based on corps being able to find..."trained pianists" who want to pay $3000 for a summer playing in front of a marching band. Especially with all those silly uniform things...and they would have to push around the synthsizer themselves? Really? And I have to practice all day outside? In the hot sun? That doesn't seem to have been much of a problem for many corps (Crown, Bluecoats, Phantom, Teal, Devils, Surf, etc). I think you're grasping at straws here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thriving11 Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 (edited) I think your prediction is based on corps being able to find..."trained pianists" who want to pay $3000 for a summer playing in front of a marching band. Especially with all those silly uniform things...and they would have to push around the synthsizer themselves? Really? And I have to practice all day outside? In the hot sun? Several corps were able to find trained pianists - Crown found two - and I'm saying that will happen even more in the coming season (in my personal prediction). And yes, trained pianists. I can only speak for Crown because they are the only ones I am sure of. Both are piano students in college. One goes to William and Mary, and the other goes to Berklee College of Music. Yes, trained pianists. Edited October 4, 2011 by thriving11 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glory Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 That doesn't seem to have been much of a problem for many corps (Crown, Bluecoats, Phantom, Teal, Devils, Surf, etc). I think you're grasping at straws here. Ditto. I was at one rehearsal last summer (can't remember which corps!) where the staff was showering praise on the synth player for the quality of her playing. I mention this because she wasn't just a synth specialists. She played several instruments in the pit in addition to that keyboard. I suspect there are others like her eager to play in next summer's pits. HH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noname Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Word is that corps are only using electronics next year. That's right. Nothing else. Personally, I think it's a step in the right direction. After all, we are a technologically developing nation. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thriving11 Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 Word is that corps are only using electronics next year. That's right. Nothing else. Personally, I think it's a step in the right direction. After all, we are a technologically developing nation. Word on the street, they're changing DCI to SI - Synthesizers International. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thriving11 Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 Oh also, another thing. A new rule that is probably going to be included this season. Apparently, each corps is now going to be allowed a certain number of brass instruments that can be mic-ed. Brass mic-ing was already happening, like Blue Devils mic-ing their soloists. But now there might be an official thing that says corps can mic this many brass instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeN Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 That seems kind of... silly really. Just let them mic them all if that's their inclination. Arrangers need the liberty to make 3rd trumpets heard just as well as 1st trumpets, and it seems like their designs will not get heard correctly if the fullness of the parts is only partly cutting through the accordion, oboe, cello and falling bass notes. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFZFAN Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 The real question is how many waffle irons can they use simultaneously in the pit during a performance? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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