Rome, NY Review

[Geneva]

I made a snap decision to shoot up to Rome to take in the DCI show

there Thursday the 4th, especially to see Phantom Regiment. It turns

out it was a good spur of the moment decision. So here is a quick review:

I left directly from work at 3:30 and made fairly good time arriving

around 6:30 with showtime at 7:00. This is the 27th year for the

"Drums Along the Mohawk" show and I really didn't expect to be able to

get a very good seat at the last minute like that, but I was wrong.

The show was well-attended with in the neighborhood of 5,000 people,

but there just happened to be a single seat available on the 30 yard

line of the A side about 1/3 way up!

First on were East Coast Jazz from Malden, MA. I had never seem them

before. They are ranked #1 in Division II this season so this was a

good opportunity to see what a top D II corps is like...good size, 36

horns around 7 snares and 4 multi-toms plus a full pit. Very good

musically. These are not beginners, just a smaller corps than D I.

They played a lot of nice big band arrangements with good solo work. I

really liked their treatment of "Body and Soul". They march a drill

very reminiscent of the DI corps, just a little more limited with

respect to field coverage because of their smaller size.

Next on was Pioneer of Milwaukee. This corps has been around forever

through many incarnations so they must have some good management

and/or a very receptive community. I think when we marched they were

known as St. Patrick's Imperials. They are a good-sized corps with 50

horns (though they did not sound it...very controlled). They have a

sharp on-field appearance with green, black, and white uniforms with

the retro-look of band hats instead of shakos and a hint of Scottish

flair with a plaid shoulder drape. They did a creditable job, though I

liked Jazz better. One neat thing they did was to play some signature

Irish-type music to the stands from a torso-twist as the trooped the

stands after their performance. Very classy and stylized.

Next were the Troopers of Casper, Wyoming. A good corps, though

certainly not their father's Troopers. An indelible drum corps memory

which I have is seeing them perform at a show in New York City in 1966

when they were the drum corps' drum corps of marching...marching gods.

Fast forward to 2005 and you have a dance troupe guard sans the female

cavalry toughness of old. For me it was culture/generation shock.

Combine that with very odd "hoe-down" style arrangements in a minor

key and they really had me confused and thirsting for a good tonic

chord. On the positive side, their 35 G bugles had a good sound (blew

away Pioneers' 50 ?B flat horns) and they had a couple good screamers

which at least made them sound like a drum corps.

Next were Magic of Orlano, Florida. I liked this corps. They had a

beautiful full sound (64 horns) with excellent tone matching. Though I

did not recognize one piece which they played, it was compelling music

with a nice pulsing drive which sounded like a drum corps. Visually

they cover the field well and are pleasing to watch.

After intermission was Capital Regiment of Columbus, Ohio. This corps

was good-sized and talented, but for some reason just did not do much

for me. Maybe it was just their performance position after intermission.

Next was Seattle, Washington Cascades. They were "artsy", a little

esoteric for my tastes. For example, they had narration and performed

a program based on an earth, water, and sky themes. They carried

around these geometric frames with which they symbolized the tone poem

which the musicians were trying to sell. For the most part, I wasn't

buying!

Now the "real" show began with the Boston Crusaders (currently ranked

8th). I just love simply looking at them with their sharp red and

black cadet-style uniforms, which make them look so tall, set off by

the pink color of the guard uniforms. Definitely a superior musical

performance, though a little on the controlled side. Their 68 horns

interpreted well music like Candide (though nowhere near as daring as

Santa Clara's arrangement from years back), Jesu Joy of Man's

Desiring, and Sing, Sang, Sung. Some truely beautiful music. I enjoyed

the contrast provided by the swinging sounds of "Sing, Sang,

Sung" which really got the crowd going.

And finally, Phantom Regiment (currently ranked third). One

word...Wow!! I think this is a championship caliber show. Though they

are definitely a dark-horse, it should be interesting to see them

going toe to toe with Cadets and Cavaliers. I don't see Blue Devils

beating this show. The show is based on Gershwin's "An American in

Paris" and they perform the h*** out of it! Right off the line they

hit you in the face with some electric double tongued figures by the

entire soprano section...bravo! The guard is working overtime

throughout the entire show with several costume and equipment changes.

They use the entire color spectrum with with multi-hued umbrellas and

a male tap dancer ala Gene Kelly doing a "back and forth" with the

drum line. You really have to see this show to truely appreciate it. I

can't wait to see it again next week in Boston! This is a different

look for Phantom...very "show-biz" yet they also retain their regal

command at the same time! This is an awesome 70 person horn line.

Simply one of the best treatments of this piece which I have ever

witnessed.

Well, that is it for now. I welcome your input.

"On the Sidelines"

I had a brief, but pleasant conversation with Lanah Kopplin, euphonium player with Phantom. "This year's show is really different. Two years ago we came out of the box a little, but went back in last year. This year we really have come out." She seemed thrilled with their performance, "It felt really good."

Lanah and all of Phantom, I will be pulling for you at Foxboro. Knock them dead!

DIVISION I

1 Phantom Regiment 93.650

2 Boston Crusaders 87.200

3 Capital Regiment 80.850

3 Seattle Cascades 80.850

5 The Magic 78.000

6 Troopers 74.700

7 Pioneer 72.350

DIVISION II

1 East Coast Jazz 92.000

[Junior]

Thanks for the review. It was good!!! It appears the one word that consistently comes up with the Phantom Regiment's show this year is "WOW!!" Boy, I must agree. Go get them Phantom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[arno0940]

Great review....I agree with your comments on Troopers Hornline....For only 35 musicians, they can pack some punch!

[melritz]

I had a brief, but pleasant conversation with Lanah Kopplin, euphonium player with Phantom. "This year's show is really different. Two years ago we came out of the box a little, but went back in last year. This year we really have come out." She seemed thrilled with their performance, "It felt really good."

Lanah and all of Phantom, I will be pulling for you at Foxboro. Knock them dead!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would love to meet that young lady just to give her a high five. I really enjoyed reading her column on dci.org during the off season. Good luck Lanah and all of Regiment. Can't wait to see you again in Boston!!

[Geneva]

I would love to meet that young lady just to give her a high five.  I really enjoyed reading her column on dci.org during the off season.  Good luck Lanah and all of Regiment.  Can't wait to see you again in Boston!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My sentiments as well. I so enjoyed her columns that I wanted to meet her. She is a charming young lady with a wonderful appreciation for the activity.

[PeeJay]

(blew

away Pioneers' 50 ?B flat horns)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Pioneer has G !

[Donny Drum Corps]

People are still hung up on G versus Bb and they cant tell the difference. So Pioneers 50 G horns werent as loud as Troopers 35 G horns. I am telling you that you cannot tell the difference, so bag it up Geoff.

Were either one of as loud as the real div. 1 corps? NO.

DA

[Geneva]

People are still hung up on G versus Bb and they cant tell the difference. So Pioneers 50 G horns werent as loud as Troopers 35 G horns. I am telling you that you cannot tell the difference, so bag it up Geoff.

Were either one of as loud as the real div. 1 corps? NO.

DA

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Donny,

The only reason I said B flat was that I know that is what most of the corps are using these days and was curious if this might have been a factor in the obvious volume differences. So they are both G and the difference must be in playing technique and arrangement styles, and possibly player maturity.

I probably do have some prejudices against B flat and it stems from the obvious response differences I notice between my own Olds valve/rotor G and my Getzen Eterna trumpet. Having said that, I agree that the key is not the most important contributor to volume differences. I have always felt that it is a combination of much softer playing by today's baritone lines with the soprano and alto voices tone matching for balance resulting in a full sound with less sound intensity. Donny I am curious, do you really think that the old G bugles respond the same as B flat trumpets? Peace, man! :P

Oh and by the way, I agree that neither corps was as loud as Boston or Phantom, but they had 20-35 less horns!

[PeeJay]

So they are both G and the difference must be in playing technique and arrangement styles, and possibly player maturity.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Or it is simply a choice to not kill your own sound by toning it down a bit ?

Maybe Pioneer put control before loudness.....if only more corps did that....

[Geneva]

Or it is simply a choice to not kill your own sound by toning it down a bit ?

Maybe Pioneer put control before loudness.....if only more corps did that....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

True, it is always preferable to maintain quality and intonation by not playing beyond the individual's ability to maintain control, but playing well with volume in the ff passages is part of an accomplished drum corps' repertoire of techniques.