If this narration-laden marching band show were in DCI...

[Hrothgar15]

While the vocal portion of the show (i.e. singing) was nice, it really isn't "marching band" in that the persons singing are neither marching, nor playing an instrument. I think that the same is the case in Drum Corps. I also understand the need to push the activity and the art form of drum corps in new ways. But I am just concerned that this type of use of vocals is neither helpful nor beneficial to growth of the activity. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovation, but seriously, is knocking off BOA shows really the way to go?

And the narration on this was possibly the most insipid I've ever heard! I mean seriously: "When you were born, you were a pure individual. The light came from within." Huh?? It reminded me a lot of BAC's color show, which I have to say I actually really liked SO MUCH BETTER when I saw it in Orlando when they had no microphones.

I just think that everything that the unit tried to convey can be (and has been) done in a "pure" drum corps idiom. For example, the bit about trying to fit in and .... well, don't you think that the ballad from Cadets' 1991 show conveyed this idea pretty well without the use of narration? And as far as the innocence of youth and the various apects of the growth of the individual, Suncoast '88 and Cadets '00 come to mind.

The key to understanding a show should not be listening to a story or providing audio cues for the audience. I've always felt that Drum Corps is akin to the ballet in that respect. The story is told through movement, color, choreoraphy and music. To the extent that the human voice acts as an instrument and falls within the "music" category, I think I can accept it. But the narration (of the type in this clip) simply has no place in drum corps -- IMHO.

Best. Post. Ever.

[liebot]

agreed.

[Morgoth Bauglir]

I concur.

[bawker]

The key to understanding a show should not be listening to a story or providing audio cues for the audience. I've always felt that Drum Corps is akin to the ballet in that respect. The story is told through movement, color, choreoraphy and music. To the extent that the human voice acts as an instrument and falls within the "music" category, I think I can accept it. But the narration (of the type in this clip) simply has no place in drum corps -- IMHO.

Bolded for emphasis for those designers and directors who pass through here (and never post) to read.

Excellent post.

[Minimaster]

Ok... I really didn't have that much of a problem with it what they are trying to do.

BUT FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, LEARN HOW TO RUN SOUND.

The band is very good... the soloist and naration make the production "sound" bad. I was like the music is cool (Sleep is great) but dang, if you can't do it right (FOH sound) don't do it.

Oh please, how much better do you what the sound? The singers sounded pretty dang good to me, so did the sax soloist.

[Jeff Ream]

While the vocal portion of the show (i.e. singing) was nice, it really isn't "marching band" in that the persons singing are neither marching, nor playing an instrument. I think that the same is the case in Drum Corps. I also understand the need to push the activity and the art form of drum corps in new ways. But I am just concerned that this type of use of vocals is neither helpful nor beneficial to growth of the activity. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovation, but seriously, is knocking off BOA shows really the way to go?

And the narration on this was possibly the most insipid I've ever heard! I mean seriously: "When you were born, you were a pure individual. The light came from within." Huh?? It reminded me a lot of BAC's color show, which I have to say I actually really liked SO MUCH BETTER when I saw it in Orlando when they had no microphones.

I just think that everything that the unit tried to convey can be (and has been) done in a "pure" drum corps idiom. For example, the bit about trying to fit in and .... well, don't you think that the ballad from Cadets' 1991 show conveyed this idea pretty well without the use of narration? And as far as the innocence of youth and the various apects of the growth of the individual, Suncoast '88 and Cadets '00 come to mind.

The key to understanding a show should not be listening to a story or providing audio cues for the audience. I've always felt that Drum Corps is akin to the ballet in that respect. The story is told through movement, color, choreoraphy and music. To the extent that the human voice acts as an instrument and falls within the "music" category, I think I can accept it. But the narration (of the type in this clip) simply has no place in drum corps -- IMHO.

bravo

[davidp]

Here's my take:

Music: Beautiful! I thought it could stand on its own

Narration/singing: If this were an inside concert, I could see it. But not in a marching band contest (my HS band got beat at the 1980 MBA Finals by a band with a girl singing "New York, New York," while standing on a bass guitar amp <**> We had a girl in our band who would have made her sound like Minnie Pearl if we'd had a number with singing in it.).

Overall: No way would I want this to be the DCI of the future. The music was wonderful, but everything else made it cheap. The music, drill, and color guard work should be what sells the show, not the periphery.

[Sideways]

give it time...that may be considered pyrotechnics :P

I am all for pyrotechnics.

[tubacurt]

I thought the music was entertaining, and I think the singing in Sleep was pretty cool, if Drum Corps is going to use voice like that, I'm for it, cuase it sounded good to me. I thought the naration was cheesy though. Now, some of the ideas they were trying to convey may have needed something more than the music to convey, but not the way they did it. If that is the way Drum Corps is going to use voice, I say #### no.

[bssop97]

Oh please, how much better do you what the sound? The singers sounded pretty dang good to me, so did the sax soloist.

It's called a mix... and it was bad.

Edited February 11, 2006 by bssop97