DCI Cadets in town

[Grumpikins]

Cadets came to my local berg for the memorial day parade. Our marching band got to watch them warm up and prep. Awesome. Nothing like hearing a ton of horns play big chords in tune. Ive missed drum corps.

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[DonO.]

Did you see the in Jamestown, NY or Girard, PA?

[Grumpikins]

Jamestown.

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[DonO.]

Being from Meadville, PA, I am not too far from you, although Jamestown is a pretty good drive. A couple of hours maybe? I noted with interest when the news broke that the Cadets had decided to make Erie their new home base. From my drum corps days I remember them being from Garfield NJ. Why pick Erie, I wondered? Seems like it would be easier to find members in NJ. But I suppose these days young people are willing to spend the summer with whatever corp they want to be in.

I used to love drum corps when I was young. But I am a curmudgeon of sorts about all the changes that have taken place over the years, in the name of “entertainment”. Back in my day we couldn’t put any percussion equipment on the ground, now they have the whole “front ensemble”. We were required to have a Color Presentation to respect the Flag; this is no longer the case. And don’t get me started on the instruments, which have evolved into “not really bugles”. So, while I still respect what they do and accomplish, it just isn’t the same for me. Seems like back when there were a lot of limitations on what we could do, it made what we accomplished that much more amazing.

I marched two seasons with the Pittsburgh Rockets. They were a senior corps. That’s another thing that changed. It’s all about the juniors now, and while that’s maybe how it should be, it’s too bad there’s not much for someone who “ages out”.

[Grumpikins]

I havent kept up with events in dci. So learning that they moved to pa is a nice surprise.

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[Grumpikins]

I somewhat agree.

I think the front ensamble does add a nice layer to the music. However, it has become ridiculously out of hand. I think it should be restricted to specific instruments and quantity of them.

The corps should also return to the G bugles. The Bb conversion was pushed by manufacturers for ease of production (shared components with school instruments) and profit greed.

Theatrics have taken presidence over everything, at least from what ive seen in u toob videos of the last decade. Theyre cool, but im there for the horns and drums! Not broadway....

Thats just my opinion........

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[Richard III]

I used to love drum corps when I was young. But I am a curmudgeon of sorts about all the changes that have taken place over the years, in the name of “entertainment”. Back in my day we couldn’t put any percussion equipment on the ground, now they have the whole “front ensemble”.

I'm with you. I loved drum corps in the old days. If you couldn't carry it, it wouldn't be on the field.

[rollo]

Why pick Erie, I wondered?

Likely has something to do with their parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts, being HQ'd in Allentown. That, and getting away from George Hopkins' sphere of influence...

it’s too bad there’s not much for someone who “ages out”.

DCA all age corps are still going, although not as strong as they used to be. Most of the corps are closer to the other edge of PA, but if you are ever interested in picking it back up Rogues Hollow is just a couple hours away in Doylestown, Ohio!

The corps should also return to the G bugles. The Bb conversion was pushed by manufacturers for ease of production (shared components with school instruments) and profit greed.

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i don't know that they did it out of greed, it was just a losing proposition. As more corps folded/consolidated through the 80's & 90's, their market for those horns got smaller and smaller. I imagine that producing an entire line of horns for a shrinking client base that desperately tries to keep those instruments working as long as possible due to shoestring budgets results in an operating loss. As much I do enjoy that sound, I don't know that anyone would expect a business to operate an entire product line that only loses money.

There is a special sparkle to that G sound that just can't be replicated and hearing 50 or 70 G's is absolutely something to behold.

[TubātōTubŏtō]

Theatrics have taken presidence over everything, at least from what ive seen in u toob videos of the last decade. Theyre cool, but im there for the horns and drums! Not broadway....

Thats just my opinion........

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As someone who LOVES theatre, I completely agree that drum and bugle corp should be for drums and bugles.

[bort2.0]

Regarding the production of G bugles, I also think it lost money for the manufacturers, because there's zero market outside of old school drum corps. It's not like a college band or any other kind of musician, anywhere, really wanted a G instrument. And even if they did want something in that key, they probably wouldn't want something with that timber of sound.

At least with the Bb instruments, there's some hope that college or well off high School marching bands would buy and use some of these instruments. Well, besides the tubas.

I would also like to know what the difference is in weight between the G and B flat instruments. The only contra bugles that I had used for a while were in ancient piston / rotor, and later a two piston version. I understand that the later modern three valve contra in G was pretty darn heavy. I also think that the marching euphonium is such a ridiculously unbalanced and front heavy instrument even in B flat, but I can't imagine what it was like in G. I guess I'm not top-heavy muscles tough guy, but every marching euphonium or baritone I've tried was no fun to hold. The kind of just never felt like humans were intended to carry that much weight that far in front of your body.

Although intonation is a large part of the drum corps sound, and why there's such an impressive wall of sound effect, I think it's just as much because these people are playing constantly, working their bodies hard with good cardiovascular fitness, spending a lot of time focusing on breathing, and frankly, just being good enough to be there and wanting to participate. One result of this that every part is covered and performed to its potential. All those inner parts like third trumpet, or second horn, or whatever, they all make a difference. Although it's big and loud and garish and intentionally over the top, it is performed the way that the composer or at least the arranger had in mind.

I can't tell you how many bands I've been in the that had extremely talented players alongside people who just didn't give a damn in any way. There's always a sense of what might have been, or how things could sound if all of the parts were played equally as well. The second and third parts, and the wide variety of voices and timbers, especially in the tenors / Alto range makes an incredible amount of difference. Tuba plus melody is fun are those two people only.

[Grumpikins]

I found this catalogue in my stash of crap from college.

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