[Dixielandjazz] Drum Corps from hell
JimDBB@aol.com
JimDBB@aol.com
Mon, 6 Jan 2003 23:39:55 EST
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In a message dated 1/6/03 10:02:46 PM Central Standard Time, JimDBB writes:
> In a message dated 1/6/03 1:52:16 PM Central Standard Time,
> paul.edgerton@eds.com writes:
>
>
> >> There are DCI corps all over North America, and I presume elsewhere. They
>> consist of teenagers playing assorted sizes of "bugles" and drums. These
>> bugles are nearly always two-valve instruments capable of playing a
>> chromatic scale over the majority of the range of standard three-valve
>> brasses. The drums can include nearly any conceivable percussion
>> instrument.
>> Back in MY day, they were mostly actual marching drums, with an occasional
>> xylophone. Nowadays, they include many semi-mobile contrivances, but I
>> digress...
>>
>> The first thing to note is that these kids dedicate a portion of their
>> lives
>> to the pursuit of excellence. They live on road, train relentlessly and
>> compete with other corps. The event I attended (let's call it DAR from now
>> on) happens late in the season and brings the top 20 corps together in one
>> big competition. These kids are ambitious and highly focused on what they
>> are doing.
>>
>> Now, each corps has a different theme and style. Most are derived from
>> military music. Even the ones that rebel against the military model still
>> value precise execution. Getting dozens of teenagers to work together is
>> an
>> enormous challenge, but it can produce astonishing results. Many of the
>> kids
>> who "age-out" of DCI never go on to any other musical endeavor. For some
>> of
>> them this is the biggest thing they will ever do.
>>
>> And it is a big thing. I had just graduated from a five years of college
>> as
>> a music major. I was pretty sure I knew what a marching band was all
>> about.
>> Marching, right? Yep, lot's of it -- like I had never seen before, but
>> that's not what I came away with.
>>
>> I was blown away by the MUSIC. I'm talking goosebumpy, hairs on the back
>> of
>> your neck standing up emotional IMPACT. The dynamic range was ferocious,
>> ranging from a single, soft horn to dozens of strong youth putting out
>> everything they had. There was an broad range of emotion expressed in many
>> tempi, textures and styles. I've never seen so impressive a show, and by
>> kids at that... most of them on their summer break.
>>
>> All I can say is, If you ever get a chance to attend one of these shows,
>> do
>> it! It matters not if you like marching band music, go and see -- and hear
>> -- what can be done with a few dozen kids and a hell of lot of work and
>> discipline.
>>
>> Paul Edgerton, who is still smiling after that "Concert on the Run"
>
> Paul, I respect you and so I dislike throwing barbs at your fondness for
> these 'Drum Corps.' There is no question that it can be a positive outlet
> and worhwhile endeavor for kids. What I have trouble with is that these
> outfits are run by the same crowd that runs the jazz band programs in high
> schools and 99 percent of them come out of the Maynard Ferguson school of
> musical excess. Every overblown musical excess that you find in these HS
> jazz groups you will find in these Drum Corps.
>
> The bugles are not bugles but some deadful brass concoctions put together
> by music companies to sell to these outfits. They even have these
> ludicrous 'tuba' bugles. The drums are a weird compilation right out of
> the Baja marimba band. They are all tuned too tight and sound like toys.
> Their arrangements are...well, think of America the Beautiful arranged by
> Maynard Ferguson
>
> Everything with these outfits is geared around competitions. Typical over
> the top american competitiveness pervades this scene and they are always
> having to win a competition. This can get very grim. I was a judge at a
> high school jazz band contest and the competitive grimness was surreal. I
> finally said to each group...'for gods sake sit back and relax...your are
> suppossed to be enjoying this. Music is to be enjoyed whether your are
> playing it or listening to it.'
>
> This competitive desparation to me almost overrides anything positive
> gained from these groups by young people.
>
> but I have said enough on this and I end off on it.
>
> musical content "Has anybody seen my kitty?" Buglin' Sam with
>
> Sharkey Bonano
>
> Jim Beebe
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<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3>In a message dated 1/6/03 10:02:46 PM Central Standard Time, JimDBB writes:<BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">In a message dated 1/6/03 1:52:16 PM Central Standard Time, paul.edgerton@eds.com writes:<BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">There are DCI corps all over North America, and I presume elsewhere. They<BR>
consist of teenagers playing assorted sizes of "bugles" and drums. These<BR>
bugles are nearly always two-valve instruments capable of playing a<BR>
chromatic scale over the majority of the range of standard three-valve<BR>
brasses. The drums can include nearly any conceivable percussion instrument.<BR>
Back in MY day, they were mostly actual marching drums, with an occasional<BR>
xylophone. Nowadays, they include many semi-mobile contrivances, but I<BR>
digress...<BR>
<BR>
The first thing to note is that these kids dedicate a portion of their lives<BR>
to the pursuit of excellence. They live on road, train relentlessly and<BR>
compete with other corps. The event I attended (let's call it DAR from now<BR>
on) happens late in the season and brings the top 20 corps together in one<BR>
big competition. These kids are ambitious and highly focused on what they<BR>
are doing.<BR>
<BR>
Now, each corps has a different theme and style. Most are derived from<BR>
military music. Even the ones that rebel against the military model still<BR>
value precise execution. Getting dozens of teenagers to work together is an<BR>
enormous challenge, but it can produce astonishing results. Many of the kids<BR>
who "age-out" of DCI never go on to any other musical endeavor. For some of<BR>
them this is the biggest thing they will ever do.<BR>
<BR>
And it is a big thing. I had just graduated from a five years of college as<BR>
a music major. I was pretty sure I knew what a marching band was all about.<BR>
Marching, right? Yep, lot's of it -- like I had never seen before, but<BR>
that's not what I came away with.<BR>
<BR>
I was blown away by the MUSIC. I'm talking goosebumpy, hairs on the back of<BR>
your neck standing up emotional IMPACT. The dynamic range was ferocious,<BR>
ranging from a single, soft horn to dozens of strong youth putting out<BR>
everything they had. There was an broad range of emotion expressed in many<BR>
tempi, textures and styles. I've never seen so impressive a show, and by<BR>
kids at that... most of them on their summer break. <BR>
<BR>
All I can say is, If you ever get a chance to attend one of these shows, do<BR>
it! It matters not if you like marching band music, go and see -- and hear<BR>
-- what can be done with a few dozen kids and a hell of lot of work and<BR>
discipline.<BR>
<BR>
Paul Edgerton, who is still smiling after that "Concert on the Run"</BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
Paul, I respect you and so I dislike throwing barbs at your fondness for these 'Drum Corps.' There is no question that it can be a positive outlet and worhwhile endeavor for kids. What I have trouble with is that these outfits are run by the same crowd that runs the jazz band programs in high schools and 99 percent of them come out of the Maynard Ferguson school of musical excess. Every overblown musical excess that you find in these HS jazz groups you will find in these Drum Corps.<BR>
<BR>
The bugles are not bugles but some deadful brass concoctions put together by music companies to sell to these outfits. They even have these ludicrous 'tuba' bugles. The drums are a weird compilation right out of the Baja marimba band. They are all tuned too tight and sound like toys. Their arrangements are...well, think of America the Beautiful arranged by Maynard Ferguson<BR>
<BR>
Everything with these outfits is geared around competitions. Typical over the top american competitiveness pervades this scene and they are always having to win a competition. This can get very grim. I was a judge at a high school jazz band contest and the competitive grimness was surreal. I finally said to each group...'for gods sake sit back and relax...your are suppossed to be enjoying this. Music is to be enjoyed whether your are playing it or listening to it.' <BR>
<BR>
This competitive desparation to me almost overrides anything positive gained from these groups by young people. <BR>
<BR>
but I have said enough on this and I end off on it.<BR>
<BR>
musical content "Has anybody seen my kitty?" Buglin' Sam with <BR>
Sharkey Bonano<BR>
<BR>
Jim Beebe</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>
<BR>
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