gottalovit Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that the staging of the switching of the horns is to be subtle about it, and where it does get lost, seems to me it was deliberately designed that way. It seems like they are going for an audio effect, and not going for any visual effect. I seem to remember that when one of the high school bands did an instrument switch last year, they had the colorguard go to the sideline, pick up the brass instruments, take them out to the line of woodwinds, and handed them the horns and took the woodwinds from the players and brought them back to the sideline. Then after the little drill during that segment, the guard kind of escorted the switched players back to the front, and the guard switched flags as the horns picked their woodwinds back up. That was really effective I thought. It does seem like Phantom is trying to be a little more subtle about the switch. As far as visual, I think Cavies have a lock on visual this year, with Cadets and SCV right behind. Phantom, BD, Crown and Bluecoats are all right below that in my opinion. Musically they have one of the best opening 30 seconds this year. Unfortunately they are not nailing the attacks of those power notes. Having seen the show live 3 times, and 2 times on the webcast, and having all 3 of the apds from their show, those attacks are just not solid. I was really excited this year when I heard they were doing Ave Maria for their ballad, unfortunately it turned out not to be the Ave Maria that I loved so well. Nice ballad, though, and nice arrangement. The closer is very nice. The drill appears to be building nicely, up until the last 40 seconds, and then it just kind of dies. It just lets me down. In my opinion, they really need to punch up the drill there, and then maybe add the leg kick wedge. If they clean up these issues, I could see them in 3rd place come finals week, although my gut feeling tells me Cadets will pass them by then. But I have to say overall musically, this is my favorite Phantom show since 96 and 93. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdaddy Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Any other ideas? I have a feeling that many in the crowd don't really gather what is going on in that section... A guard member with a British accent in red lingerie announcing that the trumpets have picked up baritones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tsar Posted August 1, 2006 Author Share Posted August 1, 2006 Can get Tim Gray to come in and show them how to chuck a horn for distance :P Heh heh... Just to clarify...although Waldo bet him he wouldn't do it...I was the one who goaded him into throwing it (I was right next to him in the final set...all afternoon during run-throughs I was needling him about it). ^0^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tsar Posted August 1, 2006 Author Share Posted August 1, 2006 If they clean up these issues, I could see them in 3rd place come finals week, although my gut feeling tells me Cadets will pass them by then. But I have to say overall musically, this is my favorite Phantom show since 96 and 93. I just don't see the Cadets beating Regiment this year, though of course, we've all seen scenarios like this before where the underdog corps comes out of nowhere. Your gut feeling tells you what it does, and mine tells me that Cadets will maybe squeak by Bluecoats, but not Regiment. We'll see who has the smarter gut. :P (Though after this lunch I just ate, my gut isn't feeling so smart) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCfan48060 Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I agree also it could be staged better. At the beginning of the season I remember someone on here saying that a judge completely missed the horn switch and I was thinking, "How dumb can you be to miss something like that?" Then I went to the Battle Creek show...and I completely missed the horn switch. I guess I answered my own question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
year1buick Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 (edited) When I saw the show, the switch out was so subtle, it made me wonder if they were intentionally trying to be inconspicuous about it. ("Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!") It seemed that the reveal was to be the "aha" moment-- whether accomplished either visually or sonically. However, neither facet seemed to be emphasized particularly much. How about staging them front and center, as part of a single unit (or line) so that, when they do bring those horns up, forty (or however many it is) euphoniums are staring you (and the microphones) in the face. (I only got one read of this but, from what I recall, they were not in a single formation at the time of the switch out/reveal). When they bring the horns up, maybe use a slow count to make it more dramatic and obvious. And, most importantly, cut em loose a little--let them put out the SOUND of forty, freakin euphoniums. (woo hoo!) Edited August 1, 2006 by year1buick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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