Euphscott Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 I took a newbie to a show this summer and Bluecoats were at the show. This newbie is a choral person so gets some of what we do, but was blown away (they usually are..) by the Bluecoats take on Hymn of Acxiom. She also is very familiar with the source music so after hearing a recording of the Finals product she made a statement that I found interesting. She said "they made it sound so much like her voice in her recording." This then led to discussion and wonder if that was intended or just a healthy coincidence that a really well balanced hornline can sound a lot like an autotuned and processed voice. So, any Bluecoats or those close to the brass program this summer - did the design and staff go for sounding like the recording or is that just a nice coincidence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ranintothedoor Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Not really a coincidence; any homogeneous group of instruments (voice choir, brass choir, saxophone choir) with great intonation will have that really cool "one-ness" to the sound. The vocorder/autotuned voice is perfectly in tune so you can hear all the intervals interacting with the exact correct "beats" as each note's frequencies collide or accentuate the others'. The closer a live ensemble gets to that, the more apparent that affect becomes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumcorpsfever Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) I took a newbie to a show this summer and Bluecoats were at the show. This newbie is a choral person so gets some of what we do, but was blown away (they usually are..) by the Bluecoats take on Hymn of Acxiom. She also is very familiar with the source music so after hearing a recording of the Finals product she made a statement that I found interesting. She said "they made it sound so much like her voice in her recording." This then led to discussion and wonder if that was intended or just a healthy coincidence that a really well balanced hornline can sound a lot like an autotuned and processed voice. So, any Bluecoats or those close to the brass program this summer - did the design and staff go for sounding like the recording or is that just a nice coincidence? The Bluecoats, as usual for them, have some of the best musicians in the activity and are extremely well trained. Add to that a terrific team of designers, arrangers, and clinicians, and we're treated to fabulous sounds from this corps. "Hymn of Acxiom" can viewed in a couple of clips below that exemplify the passionate interpretation of the music: First, the corps' singing of "Hymn" at the Massillon Show - talk about goosebumps, and then by the judge's expression of excellence in the 2nd clip. The connection of the performers and the performance is incredible. Bluecoats singing "Hymn of Acxiom" at Massillon: http://youtu.be/FOgnYlGMGX8 Judge's tape: http://youtu.be/_MlLQviJsYs "Holy Cow, Absolutely Spectacular, Masterful, Trained, Expressiveness, Simply Beautiful, Craftsmanship, Bluecoats all the way, Signature" - Judge Gary Markham. I love hearing Mr. Markham's critique! Edited October 30, 2014 by drumcorpsfever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyremovingit Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 A lot of that "processed" sound might actually be coming from synth patches in the pit. However, the fact that the hornline consists of basically the same instrument just at different pitch ranges, the sound they make when playing a chorale like tune like Hymn of Acxiom sounds very similar to the sonority of a choir, with tightly woven voices moving together in harmony. Whoever is arranging for Coats is doing a gold standard job at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumcorpsfever Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Whoever is arranging for Coats is doing a gold standard job at it. You're right about that. Doug Thrower (Brass) and Tom Rarick (Percussion) are at the top of the charts! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cappybara Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 The Bluecoats, as usual for them, have some of the best musicians in the activity and are extremely well trained. Add to that a terrific team of designers, arrangers, and clinicians, and we're treated to fabulous sounds from this corps. "Hymn of Acxiom" can viewed in a couple of clips below that exemplify the passionate interpretation of the music: First, the corps' singing of "Hymn" at the Massillon Show - talk about goosebumps, and then by the judge's expression of excellence in the 2nd clip. The connection of the performers and the performance is incredible. Bluecoats singing "Hymn of Acxiom" at Massillon: http://youtu.be/FOgnYlGMGX8 Judge's tape: http://youtu.be/_MlLQviJsYs "Holy Cow, Absolutely Spectacular, Masterful, Trained, Expressiveness, Simply Beautiful, Craftsmanship, Bluecoats all the way, Signature" - Judge Gary Markham. I love hearing Mr. Markham's critique! I agree that the Bluecoats sound is signature. There really is something special about it that differentiates them from Crown, BD, and Cadets. Not necessarily in a better or worse way, but it's different Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
actucker Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 Yeah, I agree. The way that they write is different. But also, when I first heard that tune I felt like it had Bluecoats written all over it to start with. Their source choices are different to start with, which definitely contributes to their sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbandguy Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 The Rarick/Thrower team is indeed one of DCI's best...ever. Along with their fantastic arrangement of this beautiful work is the fact that the Coats musicians pulled it off in a full field antiphonal setting for much of it. The "pitch bend" on the closer was an awesome special effect and certainly well deserving of the crowd reaction (and was Doug Thrower's idea), but for many 2014 will best be represented by Bluecoat's "Hymn of Acxiom." (Thank you Vienna Teng) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv4corps Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) A lot of that "processed" sound might actually be coming from synth patches in the pit. Yes, this. This whole show was an example of artful use of electronics as an enhancement IMO, up to and including the perfectly placed pitch bend, which technically was likely nothing more than the manipulation of a wheel but musically and theatrically - was STUNNING. OC chose a different path with Hymn - to weave Barber's Nocturne opus 33 into it. Two very different takes. Edited October 30, 2014 by luv4corps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drumcorpsfever Posted October 30, 2014 Share Posted October 30, 2014 (edited) OC chose a different path with Hymn - to weave Barber's Nocturne opus 33 into it. Two very different takes. I agree. I enjoyed OC's version as well. Another point about Bluecoats and "Hymn" is the music presented what sounded like a full composition and represented the source music well. There was a beginning, a middle, and an end to the song. No choppiness to it at all. Just plain beautiful. It's an arrangement that the original artist, Vienna Teng, could be proud of. In fact, Ms. Teng gives credit to the Bluecoats on her website: From the Vienna Teng Website (http://viennateng.com/) Numerous requests to adapt "The Hymn of Acxiom" for different formats, including an arrangement in the works by renowned choral composer Eric Whitacre, a performance by Vocal Art Ensemble of Sweden, inquiries in Brian (Hoot) Gibson’s arrangement for Coastal Sound Youth Choir, and included in this year’s program for The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. Edited October 30, 2014 by drumcorpsfever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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