Percussion integration

[musicteacher]

I agree with Arabica on all counts. Part of the vertical nature of the brass writing is trend du jour -- multiple tonguing features. The new(ish) compulsory.

[mingusmonk]

3 hours ago, musicteacher said:

I agree with Arabica on all counts. Part of the vertical nature of the brass writing is trend du jour -- multiple tonguing features. The new(ish) compulsory.

The corps that dominated brass in the 2010's+ made this a thing. Fortunately they have learned to more thoroughly develop their designing beyond that and I appreciate it. Will others follow suit?

 

Another group's recent run of color guard victories has really tapped this out for me as well. 

[lowend]

13 hours ago, wolfgang said:

I understand why percussion features are not like back in the day, but for example, Black Market Juggler felt like a complete musical thought in and of itself. It didn't need to be augmented by the brass.

Bonus points if you can name the corps and year(s).

1982 Bridgemen....

But let's not forget that a lot of shows from back then were really disjointed.  That show was:

Shaft * Sophisticated Lady * It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing * Black Market Juggler * On Broadway * Lullaby of Broadway (from 42nd Street) * New York, New York (from New York New York)  

I guess it could be a New York theme, but not really.

[Jeff Ream]

14 hours ago, wolfgang said:

I understand why percussion features are not like back in the day, but for example, Black Market Juggler felt like a complete musical thought in and of itself. It didn't need to be augmented by the brass.

Bonus points if you can name the corps and year(s).

Bayonne 82 and 83

[Jeff Ream]

18 hours ago, Sh0uldN0t said:

Is the percussion any different from the rest of modern design? While I agree that the drum "breaks" really do sometimes feel like a break in the show, so does so much of the brass program. Maybe even guard. I'd rather have a less choppy show, for sure. I don't think it's just a percussion issue. 

 

it isn't, but it's more noticiable with percussion based on the instrumentation involved.

[OldCorpsGuy]

6 hours ago, lowend said:

1982 Bridgemen....

But let's not forget that a lot of shows from back then were really disjointed.  That show was:

Shaft * Sophisticated Lady * It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing * Black Market Juggler * On Broadway * Lullaby of Broadway (from 42nd Street) * New York, New York (from New York New York)  

I guess it could be a New York theme, but not really.

There was nothing “disjointed” about that show or other from that era. It was called “variety” and made shows much more enjoyable. Theme not required or needed. 

Edited February 4 by OldCorpsGuy

[Jeff Ream]

1 hour ago, OldCorpsGuy said:

There was nothing “disjointed” about that show or other from that era. It was called “variety” and made shows much more enjoyable. Theme not required or needed. 

yet that show was very NYC themed. and also that year some show about Spartacus

[OldCorpsGuy]

1 hour ago, Jeff Ream said:

yet that show was very NYC themed. and also that year some show about Spartacus

And BD played jazz and SCV played classical….but different styles of each in the same show. I don’t count that as “disjointed”. 

[Jeff Ream]

when you think percussion integration and not just rudiments for the sake of rudiments, really, Sanford at SCV took the tidbits others did and brought it to the forefront. others followed, and then come the mid 80's Hannum and Cadets took it to the next level, but of course SCV has pretty much been in that conversation the whole time. Bloo built up to where they're in there annually too, and other continue to follow their lead. IMO, to me, BD is the one that never seems to fit in like the others, yet it works for them. modern show design does to lead to making it feel choppy at times because full musical thoughts aren't often allowed to develop....in many cases because of visual design needs. we have seen that trend shifting a little, so we'll see.

 

I remember years ago on the ESPN feed Cavies discussing having to add musical counts because of a visual idea....and that there is a reason why music design in general doesn't always flow like it used to.

[lowend]

16 hours ago, Jeff Ream said:

yet that show was very NYC themed. and also that year some show about Spartacus

That's why I said "a lot" and not "all."  🤷‍♂️