Editorial Notes:
The reviews we post are from amateur writers (for the most
part) who are just fans of drumcorps, as we are and you are. They
are just opinions. They are the opinions of the writers and not
of sCORPSboard.
Most reviews are positive for most corps.
However, strong opinions are the purvue of most individual fans, especially those who take the time to write reviews.
We thank our readers for their responses. We do edit for foul language. We do reject or edit reviews that have ad hominem attacks.
This response was submitted by Dave Moser
I'd like to respond to Chuck Walsh's comments about the current state of this activity.
First off, I'm all for bringing first-timers to Drum Corps events and trying to build the fan base, but it seems to defeat the purpose if both host and guests are going to the show to hear "nothing but crowd favorites". If you want to hear the same music over and over, just buy videotapes of your two favorite finals shows and stay home. There's a lot to like about Drum Corps that doesn't rely on familiarity with every melody, and part of introducing new fans to the activity is teaching them how to appreciate it. What makes one horn line more difficult to play than another? How does the guard convey the story or theme of the show? What makes a great percussion feature, and how do different corps vary in their use of pit vs. battery? What about costumes, equipment, and props. Are they effective or distracting? Some people don't care about the competitive aspects at all, but if your guests do, teach them about how shows are judged and encourage them to try keeping score t! theirselves and comparing their results with the officials.
As for skipping the "junior" corps and showing up only to see the Division I units, that probably does more harm to the future of Drum Corps than any ego-tripping director. Drum Corps will last as long as kids want to be in it, and what better way to do that than to give the youngest ones a chance to perform in front of full stands? Especially when the fans in those stands reward them with cheers and applause in the measure of their *effort* and accomplishment, not just their scores.
I hope Chuck is not representative of most DCI fans. I want to be attending DCI shows for another 25 years too, but not if every show consists of Broadway show tunes, John Philip Sousa, and Beatles ballads.
This response was submitted by John White
I think Chuck is right for the most part. However, there are always exceptions. Since modern drum corps shows are more of an art, it does present some esoteric music. The exceptions to this would be Santa Clara Vanguard and Phantom Regiment. These corps always play some classical or show music that is known to the classical or show music fan. The Blue Devils show last season, Casablanca is a classic film. Of course with the staff there being creative and adding the Blue Devil style to the show, there were embellishments. I think most everyone would recognize "As Time Goes By" even if they didn't see the movie. A show that needed no recognizable music was Madison Scouts pirate review. The only pirate song I know is the one played in the Disney ride, "Pirate's Life for Me". If you remember the croud response to that show, it is safe to say everyone enjoyed it and hardly anyone went home humming any songs from that show.
As far as the majority of the field of corps, it is hit and miss if there are songs you can actually "sing-a-long" with, except Magic playing "Lil' Liza Jane" maybe. In comclusion, I agree that the corps should create a show that someone from outside our own little drum corps world could enjoy. We need some new members, and above all, some new fans to support, especially financially, the drum corps activity or it will surely fade as some of the great names in drum corps past. So go out and get some new fans...tell them the stories of the good old 27th Lancers.
This response was submitted by Daryl Foote
This was in response to Chuck's Review of the show. I could not send him this directly, so I was passing this on for anyone to read or foeward this to him.
Chuck,
I had a chance to read your review of the Warner Robins Drum Corps show. Well first, that was NOT a review and you did not give any descriptions or details of the shows. Personnel opinions of each corps show is fine but you went into to a totally different subject. Oh, I agree I may not recognize the music alot of the corps play. But, I appreciate the many styles and repetiore that they choose to play. I do not know what you are wanting to hear? Are you wanting the corps to play Top 40 and go with main stream music that everyone want to hear? What Drum Corps does for both the performer and viewer is expand and expose them to all the different styles and many , many songs that have been written. If you can not look past what they played and look at how they played the tune and presented it as a package then you are watching drum corps for selfish reasons of not wanting to expose yourself to something new. I hope that you tried to show your guest all the other positive aspects of what happened on the feild that night. The drill, gaurd, visual and all the hard work and sweat that went into putting a show on for them. Drum Corps is a educational experience like no other. And at the sametime can provide everyone with a since of learning something new and enjoyment of the show.
I hope I was able to clarify myself about your review and hope you can use the next experiecne to educate your friends what this organization is really about.
Editorial Notes:
The reviews we post are from amateur writers (for the most
part) who are just fans of drumcorps, as we are and you are. They
are just opinions. They are the opinions of the writers and not
of sCORPSboard.
Most reviews are positive for most corps.
However, strong opinions are the purvue of most individual fans, especially those who take the time to write reviews.
We thank our readers for their responses. We do edit for foul language. We do reject or edit reviews that have ad hominem attacks.
This response was submitted by Bob Craig
Review of the Reviewer from Runnemede,NJ
I am just a little confused why, the reviewer spent so much time on whether, Kips Bay's staff was so obnoxious, when this might have been a side comment. It seems to me that a review of the show would have been more in line.
In fact, I'm not sure why, there were any negative comments made on the only two a) NYC Corps who by the way are b) minority corps.
Nothing wrong with observations of the music and drill as it relates to the show; but it seems to me that the negative comments were to the total exclusion of what the corps were doing.
I happen to be sitting in the stands immediatel to the left of the Reviewer and while I think that the Quest Corps presentation of all of their music was ok, I believe that drill or simpler music would have aided them (Quest) in achieving a more polished look. As far as Kips Bay is concnerned, they obviously have a very viable corps with very "City Oriented" music and which I thought with more work will probably place them in the top 3 of Div III in Orlando. In fact, I noticed that their drumline was probably more excellent then even the top scoring line, but that thier Pit maybe holding them from top spot at that show. Looking at the recaps showed them a very close 4th and 4tenths from the top.
I have always believed that "Reviewers" while giving an opinion of a show should strive to be as fair and objective the same way judges are supposed to be.
So, simply saying that certain kinds of music or someones staff was to obnoxious because they cheered their corps in this case, almost comes across as, Racist.
I hope that this reviewer, comments objectively on all corps equally.
Seattle Web Factory
CyberCorps Web Page Designers.
CyberWebMistress Caryn Roberts
Web and Page design ©1995-1998 Seattle Web Factory