#966694 - 07/11/01 01:24 PM
Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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fet
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Registered: 01/04/01
Posts: 145
Loc: ,,UNITED STATES
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Saw a drum-and-bugle corps show last night: "Drum Beauty 2001" in Stillwater MN. The precision and power of the drumming, marching, dancing and brass playing is almost beyond belief - this is a fantastic art form, all the greater for being off-the-radar for most national media - although the stands were packed.
The Cavaliers, of Rosemont IL, were particularly great - picture 100-or-so brass players, 50 drummers, 2 dozen flag-waving acrobats, all uniformed, marching/dancing/playing an advanced jazz/classical piece in an odd time signature, while moving around a large field in tightly planned, constantly changing formations.
Highly recommended, especially to those who would put down young people for lack of character.
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#966695 - 07/11/01 01:56 PM
Re: Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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gchild@pblutah.com_dup1
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Registered: 08/11/00
Posts: 38
Loc: ,UT,UNITED STATES
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I agree it's quite a spectacle. The only time I see this here (in Utah) where I live is on our secondary educational channel. Not even our mainstream PBS channel will touch this stuff. They've got a Broadway version of drum corps called "Blast"(??), which they did show on PBS which tries to flash up the form but I think it cheapened it a little. Kind of the way Nashville messes up good country music.
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#966696 - 07/11/01 03:44 PM
Re: Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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Special_K
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Registered: 06/12/01
Posts: 21
Loc: Alexandria,VA,UNITED STATES
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I'm a trombone player and always liked marching bands. Back in my high school days I went to All Star March Band (state of FL). We marched in a pre-season game between Tampa Bay Bucs and St. Louis Cardinals. That was a blast!
It always annoys me that the TV networks don't show the halftime marching band shows. Maybe we should start a letter writing/Email campaign or something...
I have also seen a drum and fife show in Washington, DC including the Army drill team. The precision is spectacular.
Dave
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#966697 - 07/11/01 03:57 PM
Re: Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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Nika
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 03/22/01
Posts: 2938
Loc: Ft Wayne,IN,UNITED STATES
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OK guys, I TOTALLY agree, but it's one of the hardest things to convince someone else of. They are indeed SPECTACULAR shows. I marched with the Seattle Cascades before they folded several years ago, but competed at the national level and still go to shows every time they're in town. They are truly splendors, and if you're keen to the sound of good brass, there's nothing like a 85 person brass quintet playing at full blast! Not to mention the percussionists - spectacular in their field. Many of them are percussion majors at high level universities that traverse the country for the summer as part of the show.
"BLAST!" is a drum and bugle corps that was VERY good and won national titles called "Star of Indiana". They lost a competetion one year so bailed on the whole idea and instead decided to start a small form "brass theater". It's really fun to watch, and they're very good. They put "STOMP!" to shame. It isn't the same size and spectacle, however, of the 127 person complete corps.
I highly recommend it in real life, if it can be arranged. The television broadcasts are way too compressed. Half of the spectacle is the 115db sound emanating from the stadium.
BTW, I just have to throw out that one of my favorite movies is JFK. I was immediately turned on when, in the assasination sequence, John Williams scored the part for drum corps high tension snares. It makes me shudder upon hearing that. You NEVER really hear that sound anywhere else, but it is the most amazing snare sound - now imagine 6 of those.
Nika.
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#966698 - 07/11/01 07:11 PM
Re: Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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Curve Dominant
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 10/29/00
Posts: 4223
Loc: Philadelphia USA
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There were some absolutely tremendous marching bands at the 4th of July parade here in Philly last week. The Camden Fife & Drum corps played some really beautiful stuff. It must be the most underrated form of music there is.
You know, the Philadelphia Mummers may look rediculous on TV, but they sound great live and are loads of fun to dance to, especially if ya got a few drinks in ya!
Eric Vincent
Curve Dominant Sound&Vision
Philadelphia USA
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#966699 - 07/11/01 07:27 PM
Re: Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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ricknbokker
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Registered: 12/10/00
Posts: 570
Loc: Telford,PA,UNITED STATES
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Hear, hear, Curve...
The whole 'anti-mummer' thing that seems to be going on around town really sucks.
After Rumours, I knew there was gonna be a big letdown regarding the next Fleetwood Mac album.
Everybody got down on Tusk big time, but I always loved the title track because of the 'marching band' thing going on.
Excellent stuff, IMHO. I would have thought that if anyone could put this type of music in the forefront, it would be the most popular, radio-friendly act of it's time, but it was not to be...
Steve
(sis boom bah!)
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#966700 - 07/11/01 08:08 PM
Re: Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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Nika
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 03/22/01
Posts: 2938
Loc: Ft Wayne,IN,UNITED STATES
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Eric,
Hate to tell you, but fife and drum bands, and the Murmers are really not what we're talking about. It's like saying that a Ford Escort is a fast car because they go up to SIXTY FIVE miles an hour!!!
Fife and drum bands are certainly entertaining, and there are some good ones out there, but drum and bugle corps are like.......umm........like the brass section of tower of power, but 80 people strong and just as tight, and with a strong rhythm section. It's kind of like listening to a 100 person orchestra play HUGE symphonic music, but everyone plays brass. If you haven't heard one it's just way to hard to describe. It's a complete knock you on your ass sound....... way too hard to describe.
If I see it on TV I'll let you know. Perhaps I'll run across a video. If I do I'll throw a copy in the mail for you. For someone big into composition it'll blow you away..........there's an amazing amount of money it, and everything is meticulously arranged. The budgets of a corps for the course of a summer can run into millions of dollars - they can afford the best arrangements, and thus the biggest sound.
Anyway....
Nika.
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#966701 - 07/11/01 09:58 PM
Re: Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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Curve Dominant
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Registered: 10/29/00
Posts: 4223
Loc: Philadelphia USA
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Nika,
The Camden corps really is a drum & bugle corps, it's just got the "fife" in the name left over from the old days when that's what it was. But I hear ya, bro. I can really only appreciate that music live, but thanks for the generous offer. I'll keep my ears peeled for the next competition in this area.
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#966702 - 07/12/01 02:40 AM
Re: Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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Bobro
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Registered: 01/06/01
Posts: 1467
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Yeah! One of my brothers was in a Drum+Bugle Corps, the Sacramento Freelancers.
Drum and Bugle corps are great to see and hear- the sound is PHYSICAL. I saw "Blast!" on TV when I was visiting last year, it's impressive but like you guys say- you gotta be there. Sudden changes in dynamics are fantastic.
I don't know what tunes are hip for corps these days, but I remember Pictures at an Exhibition being big in the '80s and the arrangements really showcased the powers of the corps and served the music well.
-CB
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#966703 - 07/12/01 08:55 AM
Re: Drum-and-bugle: awesome stuff
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DC
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Registered: 01/17/01
Posts: 2706
Loc: here to eternity...
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Oh Man, that's entertainment! I used to see them all the time altho I haven't seen one in years. TV just doesn't work, you can't translate all those folks marching away from you and then suddenly turning directly toward you and blasting. Cold chills.
It's a shame no one has filmed a good show for theaters. The wide screen and sound system would translate the experience quite well. How about an IMAX Drum and Bugle Corp show?
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