brichtimp Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 Last year I was excited about the music but of course all the narration and a patriotic theme was worrisome. It was probably a 4th place show that they performed the s$&t out of. Honestly, I went to a few shows and thought their marching was phenomenal. Throw in extreme competence in all captions, and there's your medalist. I think the past two years have produced beautifully executed and substantive musical arrangements, requiring a high level of musicianship, technical control and individual stamina. It can be more challenging to play sustained notes than a blizzard of machine gun phrases (although the latter hypes the excitement for sure). Something cool for this year is that, among other things, half of last year's snare line is back this season along with excellent new kids, so it is no surprise that they are well positioned to crank again this year. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I heard lots of vets in all sections. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xandandl Posted February 4, 2015 Share Posted February 4, 2015 I hear the same. Besides kudos to the admin. and instructional faculty, Kendall and her section leaders built a great network which drew vets to re-up. A number of returnees who had taken a season off to pay off debt, fulfill school requirements and internships, etc. have increased the depth of the 2015 line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000Cadet Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Maybe a drummer can help me with this question. I've noticed many times that Cadets tenors tend to use regular drum sticks in the openers of their shows (well more to the point, the faster sections) instead of those regular mallets. It happened when I marched and they are using the same this year. Is there a reason for this? Is it because those are lighter or something? I'm not a drummer so I'm curious about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeN Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Easier to move hands, and the sound is fairly similar. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actucker Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Maybe a drummer can help me with this question. I've noticed many times that Cadets tenors tend to use regular drum sticks in the openers of their shows (well more to the point, the faster sections) instead of those regular mallets. It happened when I marched and they are using the same this year. Is there a reason for this? Is it because those are lighter or something? I'm not a drummer so I'm curious about it. Its a timbre difference. Sticks get a brighter sound and often cut a little better depending on the writing. They are also a little lighter, making quicker passages a little easier. They come with disadvantages as well. Sticks are usually longer, forcing some adjustments for correct playing zones, and they can make for more difficult balance due to their brighter sound. There are quad lines who only use sticks for the most part (Bluecoats come to mind). It started to become a common choice back in the late 90's and early 2000s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000Cadet Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 (edited) Its a timbre difference. Sticks get a brighter sound and often cut a little better depending on the writing. They are also a little lighter, making quicker passages a little easier. They come with disadvantages as well. Sticks are usually longer, forcing some adjustments for correct playing zones, and they can make for more difficult balance due to their brighter sound. There are quad lines who only use sticks for the most part (Bluecoats come to mind). It started to become a common choice back in the late 90's and early 2000s. Thanks for the info. Sounds more like science than anything else, and it makes a lot of sense now. Edited February 5, 2015 by 2000Cadet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garfield Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Its a timbre difference. Sticks get a brighter sound and often cut a little better depending on the writing. They are also a little lighter, making quicker passages a little easier. They come with disadvantages as well. Sticks are usually longer, forcing some adjustments for correct playing zones, and they can make for more difficult balance due to their brighter sound. There are quad lines who only use sticks for the most part (Bluecoats come to mind). It started to become a common choice back in the late 90's and early 2000s. Doesn't it also fulfill "simultaneous demand"? Or would that be one mallet and one stick at the same time? The sheets are a bit confusing on this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeN Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Or would that be one mallet and one stick at the same time? They're way ahead of you... http://www.steveweissmusic.com/product/vic-firth-ralph-hardimon-tenor-swizzle/marching-multi-use-sticks Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000Cadet Posted February 6, 2015 Share Posted February 6, 2015 OK, Heh, here ya' go... Count sixteenth notes (one, ee, and, aah) in 180 time. Now split every other note so that half the line (or every other player) is only playing the "one" and the "and" and the opposite players are only playing the "ee" and the "aah" of each beat in the measure (a "split"). Now imagine doing it while alternating your sticks (a double-handed split). Suffice it to say that keeping 10 players in time splitting rhythms is incredibly difficult and they do it not once, but 4 times in that 3 1/2 minutes, at 180bpm, They did it twice for four counts, one for 3 counts and at least one double-handed. It's kind of like how the bass drums "Split" five-sixteenth notes between them - I know you've heard it - but with snares and only two splits parts (instead of five as in basses). Ok so I just watched the drumlins (carefully this time) again and saw exactly what you were talking about. So I counted 4 times they did that. Pretty cool. I don't know how they count so fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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