Ode to Real Drum Corps

[Martybucs]

I got this in an email and maybe a lot of you have already read it. I found it amusing, although I don't totally agree with the sentiment.

ODE TO REAL DRUM CORPS

I think that I shall never see,

A drum corps as it used to be.

Where fun and spirit filled the stands,

Instead of DCI marching bands.

When lines were straightened by design,

Else you found a foot in your behind.

And symmetry revealed the skill.

Of poor kids with naught but will.

When heads and bodies marched as one

Instead of playing on the run.

When competition wouldn't yield,

You kicked their ##### OFF the field.

We had practice; they "rehearse";

We got better; they get worse.

Country & flag: not to despise;

Close order drill, NOT jazzercise.

Flamaques and pada-flafla's

Military bearing; not tights with no bras.

Bugles in the key of G

Not saxophones nor calliope.

Not semi-vans, just an old bread truck -

And we could tell our foes, "YOU SUCK!"

When judges ticked to seal your fate,

Not conductors who "adjudicate."

American flag, and proper guards!

Not sidelines looking like junk yards.

Drums rest on legs, like times of old.

And drum majors didn't need a scaffold.

A little effort to raise the knee

Was worth the crowds that came to see

and shout and holler with a beer -

But now, "Be quiet, so we can hear!"

Stadiums are not symphony halls,

And "forte" notes do not have balls!

B-flat major? Gimme a break!

"Blow in plumbing, music make!"

Start on the left; end on the right -

Blow your brains out with all your might!

Athletic "sport?" - no freakin' way -

That's why baseball's here to stay.

And so, my friend, you understand

Why drum corps are nothing more than bands

That take the best and then corrupt it.

So join an alumni corps and just say "f____ it."

Author Unknown

[bugleboy1048]

I got this in an email and maybe a lot of you have already read it. I found it amusing, although I don't totally agree with the sentiment.

ODE TO REAL DRUM CORPS

I think that I shall never see,

A drum corps as it used to be.

Where fun and spirit filled the stands,

Instead of DCI marching bands.

When lines were straightened by design,

Else you found a foot in your behind.

And symmetry revealed the skill.

Of poor kids with naught but will.

When heads and bodies marched as one

Instead of playing on the run.

When competition wouldn't yield,

You kicked their ##### OFF the field.

We had practice; they "rehearse";

We got better; they get worse.

Country & flag: not to despise;

Close order drill, NOT jazzercise.

Flamaques and pada-flafla's

Military bearing; not tights with no bras.

Bugles in the key of G

Not saxophones nor calliope.

Not semi-vans, just an old bread truck -

And we could tell our foes, "YOU SUCK!"

When judges ticked to seal your fate,

Not conductors who "adjudicate."

American flag, and proper guards!

Not sidelines looking like junk yards.

Drums rest on legs, like times of old.

And drum majors didn't need a scaffold.

A little effort to raise the knee

Was worth the crowds that came to see

and shout and holler with a beer -

But now, "Be quiet, so we can hear!"

Stadiums are not symphony halls,

And "forte" notes do not have balls!

B-flat major? Gimme a break!

"Blow in plumbing, music make!"

Start on the left; end on the right -

Blow your brains out with all your might!

Athletic "sport?" - no freakin' way -

That's why baseball's here to stay.

And so, my friend, you understand

Why drum corps are nothing more than bands

That take the best and then corrupt it.

So join an alumni corps and just say "f____ it."

Author Unknown

I love a drum corps, I always will. Because a drum corps gives me such a thrill. When I was only a little child, the f#@king drum corps drove me wild.(always remember the ole daze) ^0^

[YR-Rudi]

I love a drum corps, I always will. Because a drum corps gives me such a thrill. When I was only a little child, the f#@king drum corps drove me wild.(always remember the ole daze) ^0^

I LOVE IT!

[Scarlet Knight]

I got this in an email and maybe a lot of you have already read it. I found it amusing, although I don't totally agree with the sentiment.

And so, my friend, you understand

Why drum corps are nothing more than bands

That take the best and then corrupt it.

So join an alumni corps and just say "f____ it."

Ah...the days when the kid off the street didn't need two degrees in order to be part of a corps. Where he was accepted JUST BECAUSE HE /SHE wanted to be there. We were taught what we needed to know and nurtured into a tight performing group of "friends". We didn't drive off 3 hours into the sunset, but hung around and went for pizza together. We learned about respect for other cultures, about respect for ourselves. We learned about discipline. We learned about respect for our parents as they hauled us all over the place and supported us with their sitting in the stands at EVERY show we played at. It was a time of Family & Friends. We have carried this respect and attitude with us all our lives. This is NOT to say that some of these qualities are not in todays corps, but something has been lost in the transition. The corps from the late 50's-60's made the transition to the next level without losing the central values of the corps from the late 40's to mid 50's. By the late 80's, the transition seemed complete. Bands are now like Drum Corps, and Drum Corps are almost like bands. At least my B-flat Bagpipes are now in tune with with most drum corps today.

Jim Ormiston :ramd: :mmm: :mmm:

Scarlet Knights, Snare Line................................1961-1964

Golden Bucaneers.............................................1965

USMC D&B, Snare, Tenor, Soprano,Mellophone...1965-1969

Pyramid Pipes & Drums, Drum Sgt& Lead Snare 1983-2007

Park City Pride, Nasty/Evil Snare line..................2004-2007

[DCIHasBeen]

[pepsi7280]

I got this in an email and maybe a lot of you have already read it. I found it amusing, although I don't totally agree with the sentiment.

ODE TO REAL DRUM CORPS

I think that I shall never see,

A drum corps as it used to be.

Where fun and spirit filled the stands,

Instead of DCI marching bands.

When lines were straightened by design,

Else you found a foot in your behind.

And symmetry revealed the skill.

Of poor kids with naught but will.

When heads and bodies marched as one

Instead of playing on the run.

When competition wouldn't yield,

You kicked their ##### OFF the field.

We had practice; they "rehearse";

We got better; they get worse.

Country & flag: not to despise;

Close order drill, NOT jazzercise.

Flamaques and pada-flafla's

Military bearing; not tights with no bras.

Bugles in the key of G

Not saxophones nor calliope.

Not semi-vans, just an old bread truck -

And we could tell our foes, "YOU SUCK!"

When judges ticked to seal your fate,

Not conductors who "adjudicate."

American flag, and proper guards!

Not sidelines looking like junk yards.

Drums rest on legs, like times of old.

And drum majors didn't need a scaffold.

A little effort to raise the knee

Was worth the crowds that came to see

and shout and holler with a beer -

But now, "Be quiet, so we can hear!"

Stadiums are not symphony halls,

And "forte" notes do not have balls!

B-flat major? Gimme a break!

"Blow in plumbing, music make!"

Start on the left; end on the right -

Blow your brains out with all your might!

Athletic "sport?" - no freakin' way -

That's why baseball's here to stay.

And so, my friend, you understand

Why drum corps are nothing more than bands

That take the best and then corrupt it.

So join an alumni corps and just say "f____ it."

Author Unknown

I can truly say that I agree with the quote and author. I marched from 1975-1986. When I joined the 27th Lancers in 1980, it was all about precision, ticks and everything had to be just perfect. We practiced for hours and hours on painted dots. As the years went on it became more of a show (less perfection and more of a color guard spectacular. It really seems that after 1981 when Zingali went to the Cadets, Drum Corps as we knew it really changed. Instead of the perfection all we got were fast moving segments and not that all out power. As I am now in my 40s, I go to maybe 1 show every 4 years. It is not the same; it almost doesn't seem that a real drum corp. Maybe we should give them a different name? What do you think?

[cire]

its called marching band

[Martybucs]

Personally, I miss the old style drum corps. I wish it would come back. It won't.

I like and respect what they do on the field; not every show or every corps, every year.

It's not what we called drum corps, "back in the day", but it's what they call drum corps now and if people didn't want to watch it or do it...it wouldn't happen.

When I look back to the days when I marched, (a long time from 1964-1981 on the field), and I look at today's show it kinda feels like my favorite TV show was cancelled or the fact that I need glasses now to read normal size print.

I sure do miss those days and those shows!

To the members marching the shows today I say, it's different - not my drum corps, but I dig it just the same.

Now blow my socks off and I don't care if it's on Bb horns!

[LegalEagle50]

i've got a serious question and i ask it because i wasn't involved with drum corps at the time to perceive the reactions of the fans in the stands.

when corps began doing asymetric drills was there a big argument over it? same for when guards began using dance and body as part of their guard work?

or is this more of a hindsight is 20/20 type of perception? as in well once we let the cat out of the bag there was no getting it back in again.

[JimF-LowBari]

when corps began doing asymetric drills was there a big argument over it? same for when guards began using dance and body as part of their guard work?

or is this more of a hindsight is 20/20 type of perception? as in well once we let the cat out of the bag there was no getting it back in again.

Wasn't around for the guard changing but remember the asymetric drill startng in DCI. The PBS broadcast kinda of presented it as "ain't that different" without making that big of a deal about it.

Wondering how drill changing from military style block formation to free flow type was accepted too. History of DC book had a line about a 40s/50s Sr corps who did a scatter drill to the amazement of the crowd (and judges).

Of course we didn't have the Internet to flame the crap outta either...... ^0^

Edited May 11, 2007 by JimF-3rdBari