Drum Corps

[Jeff Tanyard]

I played sax, so I was never eligible for Drum Corps.  I liked watching, though, and I still say the 1992 season was the best ever.  I don't even really like the song When a Man Loves a Woman--I don't dislike it, either; it's just sort of meh for me--but I absolutely loved the Blue Devils' version.  Sultry, sultry stuff on a Saturday night!   

Here's the last minute from different camera angles so you can see the action on the field better.

Also from 1992, this is the last minute from SCV's Fiddler on the Roof show.  I love the guard's line during the bottle dance.  Awesome moment in DCI history.

Neither of those shows won.  The Blue Devils came in fourth.  Santa Clara Vanguard came in seventh.  The 1992 champs were the Cavaliers.  Here's the winning show:

I haven't kept up with DCI for many years, so I'm not familiar with recent shows.  I've heard, though, that they've made a lot of changes for the worse (like no more G bugles).  Maybe the old Drum Corps is dead and gone and is never coming back.  I don't know.  But at least we've still got those old shows.   

[Maggie Ann]

Oh, my, it's been decades since I've gone to a drum corps competition. My friends in FL were involved with the Miami Vanguards way before they became the Florida Vanguards.

I used to spend my summers in NJ and my Dad and I went to as many competitions as we could. Sentimental favorite at that time were the Garfield Cadets. They're still out there somewhere but under a different sponsorship. I really loved them all.

I just watched yesterday to a drumline face off between the Blue Devils and a Swedish corps in an airplane hangar. Fabulous. Now I'm going to watch the vids you posted.

Goosebumps just thinking about it.

[Maggie Ann]

Okay, got a little choked up. Having the videos is great, but there is absolutely nothing like being there.

My friend's mother traveled with the corps every summer for three years. You really had to be dedicated. The parents made the uniforms, they cooked the kids meals on portable stoves, the kids slept on the floor in school gyms and auditoriums, then being out in the hot sun putting on a show. In those days, you could get ticked for opening your mouth to breathe so you wouldn't faint.

Heading over to youtube to see if I can find some of my old favorites. I really should be getting ready for the day, but you got me started.

[Maggie Ann]

My favorite was always the rifle line.

[Jeff Tanyard]

Okay, got a little choked up. Having the videos is great, but there is absolutely nothing like being there.

I agree.  I went to a show once at Tara Stadium in Jonesboro.  My memory is failing me at the moment, but I think Carolina Crown and Spirit of Atlanta were there, as well as a few other corps I'd never heard of.

When you're used to high school marching bands and the volume ordinary high school kids kids can put out, as I was at the time, hearing a drum corps performance in person is like a night-and-day difference.  The sheer volume of sound will knock you off your feet.  It's almost an otherworldy experience.

I'd kill to be able to go back in time and see the DCI finals in person at Camp Randall Stadium in 1992. 

[Maggie Ann]

Never got to a finals, but we did see maybe a dozen different shows. We followed the Cadets around. I think after Garfield they were the Cadets of Bergen County and now I think they are out of Pennsy.

I wish I could remember what corps I actually watched perform besides the Cadets, and, of course, the Miami Vanguards back in the day. But, we're going back sixty <gulp> years or so when my Dad and I were Drum Corps Junkies.

PBS used to show the finals a few months after the actual event, but it was hard to catch it when it was on. They never seemed to advertise and after a while, I just gave up.

You might be able to get a DVD at least of 1992 from DCI. Maybe it's been digitally remastered and is better quality than what you get on youtube.

[Maggie Ann]

The Phantom Regiment 1994 Their rendition of Clare de Lune will tug at your heart.

I'm still looking for my favorite of theirs. Respighi's The Pines of Rome

[Maggie Ann]

Here's a great collection. The Scouts Malaguena. Lordy, I remember that one. That horn solo was unbelievable. Then their tribute to the fallen of 9-11. Music of the Night at the end, so beautifully done, brought tears to my eyes.

Gosh, you've opened the floodgates of my memories. I'd better stop now.

[Jeff Tanyard]

PBS used to show the finals a few months after the actual event, but it was hard to catch it when it was on. They never seemed to advertise and after a while, I just gave up.

Yeah, I had to keep in mind that it would be broadcast in August, and then I'd just look through the tv guide until I found it.  But they certainly didn't make it easy.

You might be able to get a DVD at least of 1992 from DCI. Maybe it's been digitally remastered and is better quality than what you get on youtube.

Maybe, but I wouldn't bet on it.  I doubt they filmed that stuff back then in HD.  The organization is notoriously stingy about some things.  And there's at least one YouTuber who upscaled the frame rate before posting the videos, so the stuff on YT might actually be better than the official versions.

Here's a great collection. The Scouts Malaguena. Lordy, I remember that one. That horn solo was unbelievable.

I'd forgot about that one until I watched the video, but now I remember.  It was indeed awesome.  They were the Madison Scouts back then, not just "Scouts."  I hate the way these corps are always changing their names.  Spirit of Atlanta became just Spirit, and now it's Spirit of Atlanta again.  So annoying.   

I had thought Star of Indiana won in 1994 with their Belshezzar's Feast show, but it turns out that show was in 1990.  My memory ain't so good, I guess.   

I'm still looking for my favorite of theirs. Respighi's The Pines of Rome

You sure it was Phantom?  According to my quick googling, Star of Indiana won with that piece in 1991, so that might be the one you're thinking of.

Speaking of Phantom, though, I just discovered they did the Ring Cycle back in '97.     I have to find it now.

[Jeff Tanyard]

All right... just found it and watched it.

My thoughts:

Intro was weak.  The first piece is Hagen's Call to the Clan, and I think that's a mistake.  In fact, the musical selection is sort of befuddling.  No Forging scene?  Come on, man.  No Ride of the Valkyries?  No Siegfried's Funeral Music?     If I was designing the show, I probably would have opened with Siegfried's Horn Call.

Magic Fire Music was a good choice.  A transition from Siegfried's Horn Call to Magic Fire Music would have been awesome, but, alas...

The last minute or so of the show was good, though the guard should have been doing more "tragic" stuff in line with the fact that Valhalla had just been destroyed, Siegfried was dead, Brunnhilde was immolated, etc.  They had the "dead" girl, who I guess was Brunnhilde, but it was all just a little too cheery for me.  And the guard should have been dressed either as Rhinemaidens or valkyries.  Missed opportunity there.

Tempo was too fast most of the time.  This music is supposed to be epic and powerful, and raising the tempo sucks some of the power out of it.  Then again, I say that as a big fan of the symphonic versions of the music, and I want any DCI arrangements to be as close to those versions as is practicable.  Maybe the correct tempo wasn't practical for whatever reason.

To sum up, the performance was good; the show simply wasn't designed the way I would have liked.

End of rant.   

[Maggie Ann]

Dinner's ready so I'll have to listen to The Ring Cycle vid later.

No, it was definitely Phantom that played Respighi.

https://www.dci.org/news/spotlight-of-the-week-1998-phantom-regiment

[Maggie Ann]

I'm not as familiar with the Ring Cycle as you are, but I have to agree that it was light. Wagner should not be light. and it doesn't make sense not to include Ride of the Valkyries which is the one piece that most people would recognize.

Still, Phantom's usual excellent performance.

[Jeff Tanyard]

Still, Phantom's usual excellent performance.

I agree.  The kids did fine.  As is usually the case with these shows, the major flaws were baked in before the first rehearsal started.  I did marching band for long enough to know how it works, and there were plenty of times when I hated what we were doing.  I did it anyway, of course, and I did it as well as I could, but there was still lots of grumbling and venting about it.

[Maggie Ann]

On to the Cadets! But I'll save them for tomorrow. Really need to get a few things done. 

Can we possibly be the only Drum Corps aficianados on this Board? Maybe we can convert one or two.

[Jeff Tanyard]

On to the Cadets! But I'll save them for tomorrow. Really need to get a few things done. 

Can we possibly be the only Drum Corps aficianados on this Board? Maybe we can convert one or two.

There are two kinds of people: those who like Drum Corps, and those who don't know about it yet.  ;)

[Maggie Ann]

On to the Cadets! But I'll save them for tomorrow. Really need to get a few things done. 

Can we possibly be the only Drum Corps aficianados on this Board? Maybe we can convert one or two.

There are two kinds of people: those who like Drum Corps, and those who don't know about it yet.  ;)

 

[antares]

I always found the Phantom Regiment shy on volume. Always liked the Blue Devils and the Scouts.

Years and years ago, there was a small corps (from Colorado, I think) that dressed in cavalry uniforms with a rifle squad but no flags. Don't remember the name. Does anyone else recall that corps and its name?

All right... just found it and watched it.

My thoughts:

Intro was weak.  The first piece is Hagen's Call to the Clan, and I think that's a mistake.  In fact, the musical selection is sort of befuddling.  No Forging scene?  Come on, man.  No Ride of the Valkyries?  No Siegfried's Funeral Music?     If I was designing the show, I probably would have opened with Siegfried's Horn Call.

Magic Fire Music was a good choice.  A transition from Siegfried's Horn Call to Magic Fire Music would have been awesome, but, alas...

The last minute or so of the show was good, though the guard should have been doing more "tragic" stuff in line with the fact that Valhalla had just been destroyed, Siegfried was dead, Brunnhilde was immolated, etc.  They had the "dead" girl, who I guess was Brunnhilde, but it was all just a little too cheery for me.  And the guard should have been dressed either as Rhinemaidens or valkyries.  Missed opportunity there.

Tempo was too fast most of the time.  This music is supposed to be epic and powerful, and raising the tempo sucks some of the power out of it.  Then again, I say that as a big fan of the symphonic versions of the music, and I want any DCI arrangements to be as close to those versions as is practicable.  Maybe the correct tempo wasn't practical for whatever reason.

To sum up, the performance was good; the show simply wasn't designed the way I would have liked.

End of rant.   

[Jeff Tanyard]

Years and years ago, there was a small corps (from Colorado, I think) that dressed in cavalry uniforms with a rifle squad but no flags. Don't remember the name. Does anyone else recall that corps and its name?

Sorry, I don't.  Was it an all-male corps?

[Maggie Ann]

I always found the Phantom Regiment shy on volume. Always liked the Blue Devils and the Scouts.

Years and years ago, there was a small corps (from Colorado, I think) that dressed in cavalry uniforms with a rifle squad but no flags. Don't remember the name. Does anyone else recall that corps and its name?

I think the Blue Devils hold the record for most championships. Love the Scouts, too. But then I love them all.

Only 10 corps have ever won the title (including 3 ties):

    Blue Devils – 18 titles (2 ties)
    The Cadets – 10 titles (1 tie)
    The Cavaliers – 7 titles (1 tie)
    Santa Clara Vanguard – 7 titles (1 tie)
    Madison Scouts – 2 titles
    Phantom Regiment – 2 titles (1 tie)
    Anaheim Kingsmen – 1 title
    Star of Indiana – 1 title
    Carolina Crown – 1 title
    Bluecoats - 1 title

The Anaheim Kingsmen and Star of Indiana are no longer in active competition.

Didn't know that about Star of Indiana


The Blue Knights are from Colorado. Is that who you're thinking of?

I had no time to watch any videos today but I plan on watching tomorrow.

[Maggie Ann]

Couldn't wait until tomorrow. Like I said, I like the rifles and here we have rifles and swords!

[antares]

No, but IIRC the entire rifle squad was female. In knee-length skirts.  It was a small corps, only about 60 members including the rifle squad.

Years and years ago, there was a small corps (from Colorado, I think) that dressed in cavalry uniforms with a rifle squad but no flags. Don't remember the name. Does anyone else recall that corps and its name?

Sorry, I don't.  Was it an all-male corps?

[Maggie Ann]

Yes, I saw the knee-length skirts. Can't remember which corps it was so long ago, but not only did they wear the long skirts (I think it might have been all-female) but the priest marched along with them.