Checking in a decade later

[drumcat]

 

Running the dinosaur risk

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So I honestly didn't think I'd ever come back here and write this. I've had some unique experiences in being fully away from drum corps for a full decade, and when I was reminded it was approaching the 50th, I nosed myself back into it a little. What I've found is something I felt I should share, even if there's a risk of sounding a bit like a dinosaur.

I've been out of the US for 7 years now. I've been out of DCI since the 40th in 2012. I first marched in 1992 for the 20th, aged out half-of-DCI ago in 1997, and was involved with touring from 2000 for a few years. I was actually hired into work for DCI full time for the 35th, and volunteered for almost a decade. For a while, it was my life. It was the music for me; I was never a visual person. Just audio & music. Still true today, really, and I married a guard girl. Go figure.

Anyhow, the point of this post is that I thought I'd share my perspective in how and why music has changed so much over the 50 years of drum corps. Spoiler: it's the judging. However, it might not be what it seems at first glance. Drum Corps the league has always held tight to the "do what the winner did" attitude. But that's not exactly what corps at the top have done -- they're far more advanced than simply following the leader. Maybe that happened some in the 20th century, but not so much after.

So what is it then? There are a few things that have conspired to change music in DCI. But what is that change? It's my opinion that drum corps shows have moved from themed music to musical themes. Songs to stings. Shows to cinematic effects. I know I'm not alone in this opinion, but it is where it's moved. To me, DCI shows are the marching equivalent to listening to a movie soundtrack. Whether you consider that good, bad, or indifferent, it's fact.

So what has happened in order to make these changes? In no particular order:

• Music licensing
• Two-score judging sheets
• Sampling

Let's start with music licensing. It's hard. It's complex. DCI has a lot to deal with in the area, and probably always will now. Unless there's a solid legal carve-out for marching arts (which I think is actually achievable) the reality is that you must secure rights and licensing for more than just mechanicals. You can't just pick songs you want to play, and call them a show... or at least not as easily as you once could.

Then there's sampling. This rule has always been the rule that broke the soul of drum corps in my opinion. Rawr. 🦖 I've never had a problem with reinforcing instruments that need amplifying, but press-a-button sounds was always one too far for me. I prefer my music made by the performers.

And if you've read this far, this is the good part. You might be saying to yourself that you don't find a problem with the music being played by corps. Maybe 15 years ago I might have agreed with you; I was very "in" the activity, and I didn't see a problem. And maybe there is no problem. Cinematic/effects music might be what you want, and think that's the future of the activity. For you, you're in a good spot.

However as I came back to see where drum corps is today, my old dino rawr is that there are no "songs". No easily identifiable theming, though I know theming is explained to judges. I'm talking first-read. Ticket buyer reads. And if you think it would be nice to hear 4-5 songs, and maybe even something you've heard before, it will not happen under the judging scheme. I'll let others fill in details about how the left-right works, but in short the right side "execution" score is always a tiny adjustment of the left score. That's what gets you to effect. 19 out of 20 points end up in the left side of the sheet if the right side is based on the left.

But even if the judging can't be split with some humans judging effect and others just execution on the night, it's the sheets that ask the wrong questions (in my opinion). Instead of being "effective", the question should be whether the corps conveyed a musical or visual concept of the original work through the idiom.

Let's break that down. Instead of "was the music effective", ask "was the musical idea conveyed". This gives credit to original intent, whatever that intent is. If you play songs that convey the idea of the song, you get credit. This differs from now where the original intent seems to require some manipulation in order to get credit.

There are many smart people in the activity that can chew over this idea for years, but the reality is that the activity simply isn't as approachable as it once was. This is in spite of the performers and staffs being the best they ever have been. A niche activity indeed. This is no problem at all if everyone is happy with the way things are, but if there is a desire to move the bar to a wider audience, the way it happens is by changing what gets rewarded.

Personally, I'd like to come back in a few years and see drum corps playing charts that are identifiable to the average human. It worked well in the 20th century. And if you're not sure, imagine for just a moment some of those shows in the late 70's through the 90's but played by corps today. That's not a dinosaur rawr. That's simply good content needing a modern touch, and the accompanying acceptance from the judging community to let it exist.

Happy 50th, and maybe I'll stop by in 2032. Cheers.

[MGCpimpOtimp]

Yeah, no more "songs", the corps that won played Moon river, corps that got second "What a wonderful world", and the corps that got 3rd played one of the most popular songs of the last decade. I much prefer corps to expose me to NEW music, rather than be marching band karaoke of the same old songs. Do we REALLY need another marching band cover of "sounds of silence"? I actually think corps are playing more "current"' music than anytime since about the 70s, but it's maybe music the older folks aren't familiar with. Heck, Madison is playing some tunes made popular by tick tock.

Edited July 25, 2022 by MGCpimpOtimp

[BlueStainGlass]

3 minutes ago, MGCpimpOtimp said:

Yeah, no more "songs", the corps that won played Moon river, corps that got second "What a wonderful world", and the corps that got 3rd played one of the most popular songs of the last decade. I much prefer corps to expose me to NEW music, rather than be marching band karaoke of the same old songs. Do we REALLY need another marching band cover of "sounds of silence"? I actually think corps are playing more "current"' music than anytime since about the 70s, but it's maybe music the older folks aren't familiar with. Heck, Madison is playing some tunes made popular by tick tock.

and SCV is totally NOT playing any Nirvana music in their Nirvana show

 

[BlueStainGlass]

Mandarins totally not playing any Pink Floyd

[Lance]

My issue isn't so much repertoires as the uneven weighting of music and visual for scoring and the things that currently get rewarded in the music captions. Just the way DCI is and will likely continue to lean more into.  No right or wrong here, just personal preference.  

[C.Holland]

3 minutes ago, Lance said:

My issue isn't so much repertoires as the uneven weighting of music and visual for scoring and the things that currently get rewarded in the music captions. Just the way DCI is and will likely continue to lean more into.  No right or wrong here, just personal preference.  

Remember. 60% of the score is earned at the design desk in October. 20 more figuring things out and choreography during move in, 10 more is what’s added in fluff and changes over the season, and the last ten, is what the performers do.  They’re just a medium for what came out of the designers laptop. 
 

Think of it this way. a 20 in “achievement” will never be given for a show deemed to be content of 15.  But it’s all fancy jargon to disguise that it’s not about what the members actually do. Only what they are the cog of. 

[CAtenhut]

1 hour ago, BlueStainGlass said:

Mandarins totally not playing any Pink Floyd

Blue Knights totally not playing any Bruno Mars.

[dureau]

 Cavaliers not playing Harry Styles! 

[Ashontheinternet]

Bluecoats not playing... uh.... uhm... FORQ?

[Fred Windish]

drumcat -

Welcome back!  I remember reading your opinions years ago.

I am absolutely an older vintage participant and fan. It’s a condition we both can’t control. Your views on the ‘marketability” of contemporary drum corps performance mirror my own in several ways.  I am particularly grateful to read such a thoughtful, well-structured contribution for us to consider.

Truth be told, I think drum corps at the elite level has changed too much, and changed too quickly. There is no doubt the performer talent level has never been higher. Today’s performers are tasked with so much more to do out there, and they’ve met the challenge impressively. Yes, the lack of melodic flow troubles me, too. More work needed there, for sure.

In the near future, I believe, the pressure to expand the product into even more levels of sensory influence for the audience will result in the whole experience being moved into a large “arena act “  of sorts. Maybe, two touring companies for some organizations, just one for others. The possibilities are endless for designers. What with stage spotlighting moments, video screens, laser beams, smoke, simulated rain, etc., Best of all, two performances per day under no weather threats to mess up the whole thing.

I’m still trying to wrap my mind around this season’s Bluecoats performance. I find Bluecoats to be the year’s most intriguing corps. They hold my attention in a vastly different, but good way. I don’t think they will make their way into First Place for 2022, but do see Bluecoats as some kind of precursor to what’s ahead for audiences.  Maybe, that’s it.  A watershed moment taking place.

To me, if my indoor arena prediction ever comes true, the show’s performances will most resemble what Bluecoats offer now, but with all the “bells and whistles” their budget allows going forward. In other words, DCI will move even further away from the brass and percussion and other traditions I once expected.

This is a different world in many ways. I get that. My curiosity of where it leads drum corps during my remaining years will never end. I’m certain I’ll still find much to like about all this. I’m just not sure what it will be. That’s for others to decide . . .  as it should be.

 

Edited July 25, 2022 by Fred Windish