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Best hornline in DCI


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What are some of the best hornlines we have ever heard in DCI. Pretty much, who had the best sound?

My votes would go to Star 91, Crown 04-09, Crown 13, Star 93, Bluecoats 07, and Phantom 06.

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For quality of sound, I think '07-'09 Crown and 2000s Phantom. I love the writing from SCV and think their brass line consistently gets a great book.

Favorite hornlines would probably be '91-93 Star and Crown over the past 4 years (I think they've sacrificed tone a bit, but I've loved their books so much in recent years).

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Great brass lines can be defined by so many things. Hardest book, most lyical and most artistic performance, best sound and balance, most technique, best solos, and on and on.

For those of you looking to hear some serious demand that compares favorably to today's Carolina Crown, listen to:

1. Star 1990, 91, 92, and 93

2. Blue Devils 1982, 84, 86, 88, and 94

3. Garfield Cadets (The Cadets) 1984, 85, 87, 93, 97, 2001, 2007

- by the way, for sheer notes, go listen to Cadets 1997. WOW, that book and their 1993 book compare in demand to Crown last year.

4. Madison Scouts 1988 - that was a tough book, and the ranges were very demanding

5. Phantom Regiment 1993 (that is a wicked book) and 2003 (another wicked hard book).

6. Carolina Crown 2009, 2012, 2013

And my award for most demanding books I've ever heard: (in order)

1. Star of Indiana 1991 (best combination of technique, tone, lyricism, balance, and power)

2. Carolina Crown 2013

3. The Cadets 1997

4. The Cadets 1993

5. Blue Devils 1988 (smooth but much harder than people think, and the best overall soloists of all time)

For tonal blend and melodic shaping listen to:

- Star of Indiana 1990 - 1993

- BD 1992, 1993 (a fab line), 1997, 2010 (amazing blend)

- Cadets 2001 & 2005

- SCV 1981, 84, 85, 87, 88, 89 (those 80s lines of Vanguard were so well balanced)

- Bluecoats 2005, 2007, 20010, 2012, 2013

- Cavaliers 1991, 92, 2000, 2002 (2002 won high brass and 1992 is a wonderful sounding line)

- Phantom Regiment 1987, 89, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2008

- Carolina Crown 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013

My most musical, lyrical, and best blended hornlines of all time:

1. Star of Indiana 1991

2. Blue Devils 2010

3. Star of Indiana 1990/Carolina Crown 2013

4. Cavaliers 1992/2002

5. SCV 1985

Edited by jwillis35
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jwillis,

Thank you for bringing up Star 1990. I've always felt that they, especially for a 3rd place finalist, never quite got "their due."

In watching the videos, I always get a charge out of watching the staff/support staff reaction along the sidelines. Which brings me to this question (for someone who might know):

In the following video of the Star '90 Finals performance, the staff is on the sideline on either side and slightly behind the drum major's podium. To the left of the podium (at about the 45-yard line)...is that Zingali? If it is, his exuberance certainly comes through. And if that is him, it is no wonder why he was loved as much as I've always heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYVaHmgrLr8

Edited by HornTeacher
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jwillis,

Thank you for bringing up Star 1990. I've always felt that they, especially for a 3rd place finalist, never quite got "their due."

In watching the videos, I always get a charge out of watching the staff/support staff reaction along the sidelines. Which brings me to this question (for someone who might know):

In the following video of the Star '90 Finals performance, the staff is on the sideline on either side and slightly behind the drum major's podium. To the left of the podium (at about the 45-yard line)...is that Zingali? If it is, his exuberance certainly comes through. And if that is him, it is no wonder why he was loved as much as I've always heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYVaHmgrLr8

Great question. This is maybe my favorite all time show. I have no idea. Just, thanks for posting the little clip.

I may buy the DCI Essentials Volume 3 for this show, and the show I marched.

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I have a hard time listening to shows with g bugles because the shows are so top heavy (except for phantom) and the pitch just sounds weird to me.

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