George Dixon Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 (edited) I predict Crown will be the crowd favorite (again), the brass staff will return to an amazing hornline, the percussion staff will continue to develop a possibly elite drumline (I always thought The People's Front Ensemble was smokin' hot) and of course the color guard will assert their dominance over the field. As for the show? I have not a clue. They swept me off my feet with Inferno and fielded my favorite piece of music ever, Symphony No. 9. Maybe next year they can field my favorite band piece, Lincolnshire Posy. If anyone should do it, it is them. Scores be ######, this corps is the true People's Champ. I agree on all this. My people's champ was actually Bluecoats - but we all have our favs and certainly Crown had more than others I just hope they do something that doesn't feel so Star knock off - I'd love to see them get their own identity. I know others don't see it this way but they (still) for me have way too much from the 92/93 Star program in their shows. When they venture away from that a bit - say the rock show - it hasn't been as successful. Last year felt like a blending of Star & Regiment - which was interesting - but the drill really left me wanting more. I'm hoping the percussion line will reach the elite status and we'll have five or six groups in that category. Brass was surprisingly weak this year - and for a while I thought they were being over scored based on reputation but that worked itself out in the end The guard was downright STUNNING. I'm hoping they can build on that greatness and win a guard trophy, certainly their program is deserving I'm hoping they play something modern and more percussive driven - and return to a more aggressive drill. Doesn't have to be cray cray like 2012 but something more the "grass is always greener" realm. Tough. Makes that brass sound all the more impressive Edited to add - I also want to see them open the drill back up and really use the whole field. The past 2 seasons the first restricted the drill with the props and this past year 90% of it was between the 30s in front half. Just some thoughts I believe with improved percussion - assuming all are retained - they have a great shot at once again finishing top 3 Edited September 16, 2015 by George Dixon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jurassic Lancer Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 (edited) Brass was surprisingly weak this year - and for a while I thought they were being over scored based on reputation but that worked itself out in the end The guard was downright STUNNING. I'm hoping they can build on that greatness and win a guard trophy, certainly their program is deserving I'm hoping the play something modern and more percussive driven - and return to a more aggressive drill. Doesn't have to be cray cray like 2012 but something more the "grass is always greener" realm. Tough. Makes that brass sound all the more impressive Just some thoughts I believe with improved percussion - assuming all are retained - they have a great shot at once again finishing top 3 Well, a down year for Crown's brass is an up year for just about everyone else. Still, at the start of the year, four 1st trumpets were used in the opening statement. They almost always fracked. By the end of the season, it was cut to only one first trumpet. He was pretty solid, but I heard him frack once too.As for the guard, they were truly magnificent. I couldn't agree with you more on that point. I think percussion is on their way up. 2016 could be very kind to Crown. I remember someone suggesting a Hindemith show ... How about Mathis der Maler? Edited September 15, 2015 by Jurassic Lancer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Dixon Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Well, a down year for Crown's brass is an up year for just about everyone else. Still, at the start of the year, four 1st trumpets were used in the opening statement. They almost always fracked. By the end of the season, it was cut to only one first trumpet. He was pretty solid, but I heard him frack once too. As for the guard, they were truly magnificent. I couldn't agree with you more on that point. I think percussion is on their way up. 2016 could be very kind to Crown. I remember someone suggesting a Hindemith show ... How about Mathis der Maler? Sounds cool to me. Something even more "out there' would fit the bill. Something few of us have every heard of before. Maybe some contemporary American symphonic stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallace Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Their percussion was greatly improved this year. Be patient. It's going to take two or three seasons to get it just right especially when the competition is so stiff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tesmusic Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Their percussion was greatly improved this year. Be patient. It's going to take two or three seasons to get it just right especially when the competition is so stiff. Greatly? Improved, yes, but I wouldn't say it was a major step forward by any stretch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snare_guy_83 Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Their percussion was greatly improved this year. Be patient. It's going to take two or three seasons to get it just right especially when the competition is so stiff. Their percussion feature was quiet dirty all the way through the season. I really thought they'd end up behind BK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xandandl Posted September 16, 2015 Share Posted September 16, 2015 Their percussion was greatly improved this year. Be patient. It's going to take two or three seasons to get it just right especially when the competition is so stiff. Beyond Jack Fay returning to age out as a vet Crownie, most others seemed noobies or folks purloined from other successful corps programs. Did Crown improve the levels of the Crownies? To further George Dixon's presumption into a question, in fact were any of the previous vets retained and made better? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wallace Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 LOL! Compared to 2013, they were way ahead of the curve in 2015. Now, that was dirty! #shortmemories Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corpsband Posted September 17, 2015 Share Posted September 17, 2015 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Dixon Posted September 20, 2015 Share Posted September 20, 2015 (edited) Going out on a limb here - most will probably hate the idea Even if you do - at least have a listen to the 2 major components: Ballad: https://youtu.be/dK1rDUJSF-8 Battle Theme: https://youtu.be/RQqMYzhu2Q8?t=3m30s Mad Max movie Fury Road has a very interesting soundtrack and thematic material including despair, hope, love, sadness and battle Music by Tom Holkenborg aka XL Junkie Staging for the show - corps marches 80 brass with 16 contra, but that expands to 32 tubas during sections of the soundtrack - including opening prelude. Guard in rags, masks, scaffold structures around the field to climb, run and perform on. Two squads, good and evil... or say Mutant & Human, distinguished by their costumes and actions. Percussion with large "war drums" straight down the 50. Pit to rear of field on the scaffolding in 3 or 4 sections - metallics, woods and electronics (including a very prominent electric guitar) mic with speakers up front. Cabling run down sides of field and to front. Opens up entire front of field for guard, drums and brass. Corps proper in dirty/muddy version of current design uniform - aged and ripped up. Allows Crown to really drive thru a dynamic range of sounds and emotions. Big/fast drill moments along with compact and tender ones... Preshow - "Survive" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41wF7ei98Rc&list=PLVXXtkqpldpHIGXVcFTezwhKc2FzsDF1G Opening sound from "as the world fell" highlighted at the start of this https://youtu.be/yKAHGwCyamc Introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQg3DtVOBME&list=PLVXXtkqpldpHIGXVcFTezwhKc2FzsDF1G&index=6 (brass back on regular instrumentation, heavy electric parts including guitar, and war drums with monkey arms) 1 min 30 secs or so... Into the Canyon/Brothers in Arm Production - featuring 32 contra in a section, drum features, "battle scene" - major 5 minute (total) production with a lot of interplay between sections comprised from: 1. intro drawn from "into the canyon" https://youtu.be/IytNYKwZdM8?t=31s 2. main "battle" drawn from "brothers in arm" https://youtu.be/RQqMYzhu2Q8?t=1m58s 3. climax drawn from: https://youtu.be/HfNY1m4UAUE (humans triumph, or so it seems) Ballad - "Mary Jo" https://youtu.be/dK1rDUJSF-8 2 minutes 30 Finale - Mad Max Fury Road - the battle continues... a mutant survives... drawn from "Doof" - includes electric guitar https://youtu.be/0AsFCkqHTP4 2 minutes 30 total... Resolution to conflict - thematically. Drawn from "Let them Up" https://youtu.be/2gMUQfuFa6Y?t=37s Crown - corps proper - would end the show back in cream. The rags removed. In other words, a suggestion for something completely different! Makes use of their massive sound, improving percussion and great strength at weaving melodies together and stages the guard thematically central to the production. I personally think it's a program only Crown could deliver. Edited September 21, 2015 by George Dixon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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