The Best Hornline...

[jake_the_hydra]

I think when deciding the best hornline, and jared kind of hinted at this, but I'd like to see the difference between design in music arrangement, visual design (performer simultaneous demands), and its influence and lack of influence on hornline execution.

simultaneous demand is a huge part of it . . .

loud in the arc is one thing . . . how good do you sound moving at a 5 to 5 at 196 bpm for 2 and a half minutes? that's a whole different issue.

[corpsismylife]

the one wearing the whitest uniform

[Vanguard07]

Out of the choices listed: Quality, hands down. I could care less if a corps plays FF or PP the whole show as long as the the focus is that of a quality standpoint. However, I also agree with what Jared said completely. Attention to detail is what sets a corps apart in my mind.

[MikeD]

None of the above. Attention to detail. Plenty of hornlines can put a good ensemble sound out there, or have some outstanding individual sections that have a lot of talent/cleaned the #### out of their shows, but attention to detail is the one thing that a lot of the better hornlines in DCI lack. It's not completely fair to judge on the basis of a good sound, simply because different hornlines go for different sounds. Listen to BD at their best, and Phantom at their best. Not even remotely similar. Find me a hornline that ISN'T AFRAID TO TAKE THEIR MUSIC, SPECIFICALLY LONG TONES, TO A SPECIFIC, UNIFIED RELEASE POINT, that can attack as one, has nuance in their music (subtle crescendoes and decrescendoes), impressive articulation, DOESN'T SPLAT WHEN THEY PLAY ACCENTS, have equal contribution through all the parts in a section (Phantom most definitely was a serious offender of this one; their lower trumpets overblew horribly at louder dynamics this season), and has a challenging book in the categories of technicality, exposure (not hiding difficult passages behind other parts or the drumline), stylistic difficulty (extra credit goes to corps who correctly use jazz articulations and accent patterns).....then I'm impressed.

Actually, no, I'm not really impressed until I watch the corps PLAY ON THE MOVE, demonstrate musical control at larger step sizes, actually have a difficult show to execute visually while still performing at a consistant level as a brassline, and not give up by the end of their program. Honestly, I'm a sucker for difficulty, recently. Play a detailed, extensive, nuanced yet blatantly challenging book with some success and I'll honestly be at least somewhat impressed and willing to give credit. Get my ears to ring during the same show, and I'll consider standing up for it, haha.

Intonation, volume, cool music.....those things should hopefully be a given, really.

Sorry if I'm a tough critic. :)

That pretty much sums up what I would consider 'quality'...which was my own answer....

:)

Good post!

[jake_the_hydra]

let's not forget ensemble maturity

(though we so often do)

[Western Burger]

I like Overtones! :)

It's all about whether the hornline can play loud and soft, with outstanding tuning and quality in all parts of the ensemble.

[thePerfectbuzz]

The best hornline to me just plays as loud as possible with no regards to intonation and balance. and has blatty low brass stick outs and tubas that sound like mud.... I think I just described the all white team...((runs and hides))

[Malambo13]

The best hornline to me just plays as loud as possible with no regards to intonation and balance. and has blatty low brass stick outs and tubas that sound like mud.... I think I just described the all white team...((runs and hides))

Yep.

[corpsnewbie]

The best hornline to me just plays as loud as possible with no regards to intonation and balance. and has blatty low brass stick outs and tubas that sound like mud.... I think I just described the all white team...((runs and hides))

:o

I wouldn't say NO regards to intonation and balance, but surprisingly, ill actually agree with the low brass descriptions :sshh:

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username outdated, marched top 5 in 06

[corpsismylife]

The best hornline to me just plays as loud as possible with no regards to intonation and balance. and has blatty low brass stick outs and tubas that sound like mud.... I think I just described the all white team...((runs and hides))

oh good, i thought you were talking about phantom for a while, but they have black baldrics (or is it silver??) :P

I love the excitement and the fact that they arent afraid to take risks (which by the end of the season i didnt hear stick outs or that) and unparalleled emotion that comes out of that hornline.

crown also has a whitish uniform, which is interesting because i think their hornline is amazing as well.......therefor i stick with my previous post....who has the whitest uniform. If phantom goes to black their hornline is going to SUCK! :P

I decide which hornline is the best by which one i am moved by the most, afterall thats what music is all about.