Crown's 2013 show "E=mc2"

[perc2100]

In response to people who don't want to do research for a show, BD encouraged me to research DaDaism last year. And drum corps since I was a kid has encouraged me to learn more about music and art. For instance, I learned about Shostakovich's music after falling in love with mid 80's SCV. Curious to know why an anti-intellectual stance is considered a positive trait when it comes to being a critic of drum corps. Research and expanding knowledge whatever the reason is always good. In fact, I don't know much about Einstein on the Beach and now, I'll go research it. Thanks Carolina Crown.

EXACTLY! Drum corps, for me, has never been about disposable entertainment. It's always been something I WANT to learn more about; something I want to delve into, learn as much about shows I like (or even don't like - at least then I'll know what I'm disliking), etc. There has been, and continues to be, a LOT of great literature that drum corps has turned me on to. When I didn't know Garfield Cadets from Garfield the cat, and saw a video of their famous Z-fold, I knew that it looked pretty cool, and I knew that the fans were obviously going nuts for it. See, even something as seemingly simplistic as a drill move has at least a little bit of 'back story' behind it. The dissolving/reforming company front in Garfield 87 is brilliant to watch; hearing the story behind it (or a similar story regarding Star 91's crosses), makes it even cooler.

I leaned about Les Mis from Garfield 89: knew nothing about what was going on, only vague ideas of war and such. After doing a little research after seeing Cadets' show, I fell in love with Les Mis.

I can go on and on about stuff that I learned with drum corps being the stepping stone: it's like DCI = the gateway to deeper learning!

[kickhaltsforlife]

Now I don't mind researching something to understand a show better. But I do still believe that a show needs to be entertaining without having to do the research. And that is what differs between BD and Crown for me. I don't want to have to listen to the originals first. I had to in 2010 to start to see what they did with the arrangements that was neat. But I jut never got into the show in general. But it did cause me to find that Stan Kenton album.. that was an interesting listen that I enjoyed listening to. Didn't do any favors for me liking BDs show.. but I will thnak them for getting me interested in the source material.. not that I wasn't a Kenton fan already.. just never really dove into him that much.

But Crown.. they have shows I can be real into on the first viewing. They have the powerful brass, accessible drill, awesome music that I'm always singing or humming well after I view the show. BD... all I see and hear from their shows is clutter. Musical and visual clutter. There is nothing I can latch on to. Cadets... they are playing Barber... not the most pleasant music to the ear. Interesting none the less. They have everything Crown offers also. I can sing back the melody to their opener right now. Yeah.. I can sing back the opening melody of rite of spring... but they shove it down your throat... and they work off that one motif for too long. Do a full melody. Develop a phrase. I love the in your face brass moments, but there is usually nothing musical about it. Nothing I can latch on to emotionally.

I don't know if I am being articulate enough. But does anyone understand what I'm trying to say? Challenge me to think.. but I still want you to blow my face off.

[lindap]

It's the love of science and music imo. Have a great summer! Hugs : )

[acolli17]

Robert Wilson, one of the Einstein on the Beach's directors, once sat down next to Arthur Miller, who was attending one of the performances of Einstein. Miller, not realizing who had just sat down next to him, leaned over and quietly whispered, "I don't get it." Wilson leaned back and said in response, "that's ok, neither do I."

When I saw Einstein a year and a half ago, it was the first time in my life that I understood Art for Art's Sake.

[cixelsyd]

Probably most of them, except those who had done their homework. But people have some notion of opera, symphony, etc even if they'd never been before, and only those inspired enough will go back a second, third, fourth time to hear the same piece again, or by another performer, several times in order that each becomes more clear. Much the same reason that I order DVDs to watch them over and over again knowing that shows "mature" on me over time.

But, the vast majority of people don't have any idea what drum corps IS, let alone what goes on. Not only is it new and unknown, it's a significant contribution of time and money to attend. Especially for a family. To ask them to continue to attend after they didn't enjoy the entertainment, or didn't get the point of the competition, or - whatever - is asking a lot. Drum corps has two strikes against it where-as most of the other arts do have, at least, familiarity.

I question whether drum corps can afford to follow the symphonic model that says "It may take a long time before you get it" when, in itself, that model is failing symphonies around the world. I rather think that it would be more likely a better approach to make each show fulfilling even without having to read a libretto and study the source music in order to get the point.

You know, I never really believed that the retreat from historic peak audience size was due to the nature of the shows drum corps are putting out there. But this makes me reconsider. With profound themes being "required" these days, and so many people saying we must research the shows to enjoy them, could we be turning off some people to the point where they decide not to go to shows in the first place?

[corpsband]

You know, I never really believed that the retreat from historic peak audience size was due to the nature of the shows drum corps are putting out there. But this makes me reconsider. With profound themes being "required" these days, and so many people saying we must research the shows to enjoy them, could we be turning off some people to the point where they decide not to go to shows in the first place?

I'll just go on the record again: I don't believe Crown's show needs any research to be enjoyed. It's quite accessible as "just plain good drum corps".

I *do* agree that knowing a little about EOTB increase *my* enjoyment of the show -- but ... I'm a nerd and like understanding every little nuance in a show.

[gladhatter]

1. The majority of the music is called Einstein on the Beach, an opera by Phillip Glass. Phillip has been nominated for 3 Golden Globes (won 1) and 3 Acadamy Awards (won 0) for Best Original Score.

Einstein was a scientist who discovered the formula E = mc². This formula means (per wikipedia):

"...the total internal energy E of a body at rest is equal to the product of its rest mass m and a suitable unit conversion factor which transforms units of mass to proportionate units of energy."

Naming the show E = mc² was merely sticking with the Einstein theme.

2. The opener is commonly known from the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey but is a more than 100 year old piece of music entitled 'Also sprach Zarathustra'. This piece was originally composed by Richard Strauss and was influenced by a Friedrich Nietzsch book called Thus Spoke Zarathustra. Again sticking with the psuedo-science/researcher concept.

3. The ballad is by Alan Silvestri who is a movie composer with a heck of a career (Back to the Future, The Abyss, Forrest Gump, Clan of the Cave Bear, Flight of the Navigator, Cast Away, Polar Express, and, of course, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot). This movie is a sci-fi story of aliens living in the bottom of the ocean. For those paying attention, this was originally in Crown's 1995 production but was cut due to show length.

All of these pieces of music and the show title echo the over arching science-y concept of the show. Perhaps people don't know who Einstein was or that the music is called Einstein on the Beach. I get not liking it or not thinking it works, but people not being able to put it together?! Other than the connection between Strauss and Nietzsch I knew all this 20 years ago when I graduated high school. Perhaps it's not a bad thing to have to research the show if you don't know most of this already.

Hey everyone, I'm new but I had to post because there are so many obvious things going on I had to share. Below are some less obvious, in no particular order:

Bern 1905 is the year a young Einstein first began to scribble out the theory of relativity. You can imagine the numbers dancing in his head, much like the show.

​

You can read cos in the opening segment then, the corps makes the cosine of a line. Hyperbolic geometry is the basis of einstein's theory used to explain black holes.

The theme of the stretched-out S shape (cos of a line) is throughout the show and reinforces the concept of Einstein in each instance.

​

The rolling bass drum serves as visual weight (gravity) that pulls the battery through the spread form on a 45. This idea comes back when Bass 5 serves as the gravitational force during the crazy brass runs.

​

Gravity, more specifically-a form of attraction, is explored in context of of two lovers whose love may prove boundless.

As we all know Einstein explored the idea that Mass (see: Gravity) may ever increase as we approach the speed of light, preventing us from ever reaching the speed of light. Impossible, you say?

The rotating prism is a fun hat tip to his use of a prism to show that light can be bent, and it should follow that space time can also be bent from the force of gravity.

​

The clock sounds after the first hit seem random and ethereal, but to say that misses Einstein's point. If Space time is "bendable" then it follows that time is NOT constant, but instead relative and multiple clocks/time may exist simultaneously. Think: clocks on clocks on clocks.

​

​Soloists sprint to the middle of the first form, being pulled by gravity.

​

There are numerous panning effects, musically and visually. Each is an instance of bending space time.

​

The other effects are just a great drum corps show!

[skywhopper]

Hey everyone, I'm new but I had to post because there are so many obvious things going on I had to share. Below are some less obvious, in no particular order:

Greatest first post in DCP history??

Looking forward to more thoughts from you, gladhatter!

[BozzlyB]

Also the hornline is G bugle loud and clear.

Hoping this becomes a trend.

[cixelsyd]

I'll just go on the record again: I don't believe Crown's show needs any research to be enjoyed.

Personally, I feel the same way. And my question is not meant to single out Crown, as many corps inject research-inducing content into their show design, some relying on it far more than Crown. The question still remains - does this practice of creating thematic scavenger hunts for diehard fans (and judges) backfire with the casual fan, to the degree of pushing them away from the ticket counter? Probably a question better left for the off-season (and fairer to be asked in a thread not linked to a specific corps).