BoyWonder1911 Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 One of my favorite Cadets shows was 2001 Juxtaperformance. It wasn't really about anything in general, and that was almost the point. A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra * Moondance * Vide Cor Meum (from Hannibal) * Farandole (from L'Arlesienne) What an incredible repertoire. Not to mention an amazing visual program. Tied 97.6 with the Blue Devils for 2nd. Won percussion, 2nd in GE, and 3rd in all other sub-captions. Yet the show had no storyline, no central concept for everyone to ponder and try to understand. Shows like that can be successful. The problem is when you DO decide upon a general central theme, and nobody gets what it is that is supposed to be understood, or the point is not put across appropriately. The good thing is that there are enough points on the judging sheets to reward performance enough, rather than design, that a corps can still achieve relative success. Although I agree with Maneuvah, The Cadets aren't the only corps this season that's had problems with trying to get their point across, or even problems with the point of the show, period. The Blue Devils 2010-present, just like the Cavaliers from 2000-2003, have changed the game with innovative ideas. With the activity changing, design staffs have been experimenting with new ideas, and most of it is trial and error. See what works, what doesn't. Cadets are doing it with a dual-meaning theme, rotating on a triangle playing french horns where they could potentially fall off, Bluecoats with their usage of electronics, Vanguard and their Tesla coils, Blue Knights and their abstract theme. Crown and Phantom along with most of the rest of the top 15 seem to have pretty traditional programs. I would give an exception to the Blue Stars and the absolute strangeness of their show. It seems to be pretty daring. The judges have had their work cut out for them this season trying to make sense of what they're seeing and hearing and then trying to compare them with scoring. I think the next couple of seasons are going to blow the socks off of us all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRASSO Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 (edited) I do agree here with the TV Cable Man to the extent that some of the themes we watch on the field lack clarity, cohesion. Lets be honest, some are stupifyingly incoherent where at the end we wonder if somebody perhaps was consuming a rather exotic cocktail medley of pharmaceuticals when they put their Corps Theme/ Show Design to paper in the offseason.... while many others do in fact possess the requisite levels of sufficient clarity, cohesion, intelligence, and so forth. Edited August 4, 2015 by BRASSO 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark G Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 I read this thread earlier this morning and enjoyed the discussion however exercised! Me, I can understand the Cadets' staff's decision not to take on Stalin's genocidal purges in a drum corps show! -But Maneuvah, you clearly did get under Hoppy's skin: -what else could the completely black uniforms be but an acknowledgement of Shostakovich's inspiration/subject? And the Cadets are even risking their GE score and a chance to win in making this very eloquent gesture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channel3 Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 There is one last phase of development for this activity: Accountability for show concept. This is the final phase of the growth of drum corps from a marching band style pop tune showcase to a legitimate performing art with depth, thematic arguments, gravitas and balls to the walls corps style music. --MMs should have an active hand in helping designing shows. --Show coordinators need to be fully accountable for each design decision. --Shows must have meaning. Not words, not characters, not recorded voices, or dancers, or costumes or props or sets, but meaning. Meaning. --Show coordinators need to be held accountable for the authenticity of the music they're selecting and for the visual program that arises from it. --Show coordinators need to pitch and storyboard their concept to marching members, and tweak and revise accordingly, just like the legitimate professional arts. Without these developments, the activity suffers because designers and judges aren't held accountable and hide behind a wall of secrecy and capricious whim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channel3 Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 (edited) I can understand the Cadets' staff's decision not to take on Stalin's genocidal purges in a drum corps show! It's common sense. If the music is historically tainted, select something else. Easy. Some music just doesn't translate well to a visual medium. Now that we've seen the pain that the selection of Shostakovich's 10th caused, here are some others that we should probably stay away from: Blackface Minstrel Music Oh, Calcutta! The nude musical. California, Uber Allis by the Dead Kennedys Fish Heads by Dr. Demento The Devil in Miss Jones, porn film soundtrack The Music Collection of Mr. John Wayne Gacy You don't just say," I love the music from Oh Calcutta, we'll put a new spin on it." No. That's just dumb. Edited August 5, 2015 by Channel3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 you sound like a dilettante Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Channel3 Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 you sound like a dilettante The focus of the conversation is obvious gaffs in music selection for the drum corps medium, a non-profit youth activity. What music content would you recommend corps stay away from? Do you have any experience with theatre production, film production, arts management, artistic direction, editing or promotions? Or do you work for the Cadets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lance Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Eye of the beholder. would be a great theme Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troon8 Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 ...You don't just say, I love the music from Oh Calcutta, we'll put a new spin on it. No. That's just dumb. Challenge. Accepted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUARDLING Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 It's common sense. If the music is historically tainted, do something else. Easy. Some music just doesn't translate well to a visual medium. Now that we've seen the pain that the selection of Shostakovich's 10th caused, here are some others that we should probably stay away from: Blackface Minstrel Music Oh, Calcutta! The nude musical. California, Uber Allis by the Dead Kennedys Fish Heads by Dr. Demento The Devil in Miss Jones, porn film soundtrack The Music Collection of Mr. John Wayne Gacy You don't just say, I love the music from Oh Calcutta, we'll put a new spin on it. No. That's just dumb. Thats funny dont movies do it all the time. I've heard movies with the same background music often. or are you gonna tell them now what they are doing wrong. You are either really funny or quite sad.....lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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