Since 2016, which corps has had the most challenging brass book and why?

[waliman4444]

Being a former brass player, I love the complexity I hear from modern drum corps horn lines...They do things my rotary horn in G could hardly imagine..So I ask: Who's had the most challenging,difficult brass arrangement in the last decade?..Please highlight your observation..thank you...peace

[Mad Mello]

I don't necessarily think it was the most challenging, but before others chime in with pretty much every Crown book of the decade I'm going to give an honorable mention to 2025 SCV. That was really hard (and great) stuff on a lot of levels.

[Old Corps Guy]

every Crown book of the decade

[OldSnareDrummer]

From a mostly, but not completely un-brass-educated I'd say Crown by a nose over Bloo. 

 

[keystone3ply]

"Those who wear the Crown" 👑💜

[frachel]

I'll probably get hate for this, but if you watch some headcam videos or transcriptions and you'll find that a lot of the brass books aren't as challenging as you think they are. Great and clever arranging makes a lot of things sound challenging that for the individual player really aren't.

[cixelsyd]

Since 2016, the two corps who make that impression on me every year are Carolina Crown and Boston Crusaders. 

Naturally, there are other standouts (Bluecoats 2023 and Blue Stars 2024 are two that come to mind at the moment), but Crown and Cru have made it an annual practice.

[perc2100]

Challenging how: just notes on the page, like playing the solo part of Flight of the Bumblebee?  Or challenging to play while executing crazy visual designs?  Or maybe from an insider's perspective, "challenging book because it was performed by a less-experienced group of members who ended up nailing it by Finals."  

[waliman4444]

14 hours ago, perc2100 said:

Challenging how: just notes on the page, like playing the solo part of Flight of the Bumblebee?  Or challenging to play while executing crazy visual designs?  Or maybe from an insider's perspective, "challenging book because it was performed by a less-experienced group of members who ended up nailing it by Finals."  

However you decide to interpret the inquiry..your expertise is welcome..peace

[Old Corps Guy]

Let's be honest, the quote/unquote "challenging DCI brass arrangements" over the past couple decades are simply "who can do the most Arban's studies and mix them into known music."  

Percussionists and guardies read here:  

Arban's Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet by Jean-Baptiste Arban is a foundational and comprehensive trumpet instruction book, often called the "Trumpeter's Bible," that has been a standard for over 150 years, covering everything from basic technique (articulation, tonguing, slurs) to advanced studies, scales, and famous solos like "Carnival in Venice". Modern editions, like the Carl Fischer Authentic Edition, update the layout and sometimes include digital resources like audio tracks, while preserving Arban's original system, making it essential for serious brass players. 

Edited February 4 by Old Corps Guy