Hrothgar15 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Well, to be fair, the Blue Devils have been doing this sort of thing since at least 1991 (trumpet feature) and 1995 (full brass including contras). Cadets even started show one year with the whole line doing some great runs (1997). It's really not a recent thing. Can't forget Cadets 1993, really set the standard for the idea with the runs at the end of the opener and the end of the show (thanks Jay Bocook). Always loved this encore video of the second half of that show, before parts were watered down and all of the backfield stuff front and center. For years I had no idea what some of those notes were supposed to be. https://youtu.be/BeEs2L6gGCY?t=4m12s 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shempy Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 All corps *try*. The number that actually achieve? Far, far less. If it's appropriate to the arrangement and it's musical, there's nothing wrong with it. Definitely agree. It works when it's appropriate (see Crown '13 or BD '14). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perc2100 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Well, to be fair, the Blue Devils have been doing this sort of thing since at least 1991 (trumpet feature) and 1995 (full brass including contras). Cadets even started show one year with the whole line doing some great runs (1997). It's really not a recent thing. Not only that, but Cadets were doing brass runs as a "regular" feature going back to at least 1992. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perc2100 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 I think the flashy brass work is a symptom of "have to hit all points of the sheets" design mentality. In order to "prove" to judges that a unit excels in ALL areas of the sheet I think there are plenty of 'compulsory' type design bits that often, IMO, fail to feel organic to the actual show and feel more shoehorned. There are so many body movement "flourishes" that feel like they exist ONLY for a judge to check off a box in their head; granted, this was a LOT more egregious years ago (and residual effect from Star 92 and 93 shows which felt MUCH more organic than many of the 'copiers'). The runs don't bother me too much, as it is still technically effective to me personally when the players achieve it; but I can see where others would be "over" the effect. Like all things, if designed well & achieved by the members we get a cool moment, but when desired mediocre or performed below standards the effect falls flat. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Thunder Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 When I first saw this thread title I thought it concerned some sort of intestinal bug afflicting horn players. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HornTeacher Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 (edited) I'll only admit that brass runs are overused when a corps manages to pull this baby off! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLHj-eekdNU Just to show that it has at least been attempted (at least the 2 opening runs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSgcUU9Rxw (2:08 -- 2:21) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH7hx52833k (0:14 -- 0:26) Edited March 15, 2016 by HornTeacher 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tobias Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Some of the great current brass lines (Cadets, Crown) even move while playing these runs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrumManTx Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 In terms of what impresses me about a brass line, fast runs are pretty close to the bottom. Personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfrontz Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 Just to show that it has at least been attempted (at least the 2 opening runs): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpSgcUU9Rxw (2:08 -- 2:21) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH7hx52833k (0:14 -- 0:26) That Suncoast Sound one was done on one valve bugles with pistons, no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfrontz Posted March 16, 2016 Share Posted March 16, 2016 I agree with those who say that it has become as much a 'compulsory' of drum corps as anything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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