by George Diorio | Apr, 2021
In Part ONE, we covered brass.
In Part TWO, we covered electronics.
Next, we look at the evolution of Repertoire:
Part THREE – Repertoire
Back in the day, drum corps played complete songs. Remember that? It was common for a corps to play a march or martial-type song ‘off the line’, a Spanish Jazz piece for concert, and a ballad for their ‘exit’ with a production number in a completely different idiom. Back then, it did not matter if those songs were related in any way. This meant you could get a variety of musical styles in a single corps’ performance. With a few exceptions, programs did not have a ‘common thread’ or theme. Take, for example, the Madison Scouts 1975 Championship program: ‘Slaughter on 10th Avenue’ (Broadway show tune), ‘MacArthur Park ‘(pop), ‘Rhapsody in Blue’ (classical with jazz influence), ‘Dueling Banjos’ (bluegrass), and ‘The Way We Were’ (ballad). This type of mixed idiom program was the standard up through the mid 1980s.
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by Jim Wedge | Apr, 2021
Chick joined the St. Rose Scarlet Lancers in the Fall of 1956, and left to take a job with his father and uncle at a dance club in Hyannis during the mid-1959 season. He marched the entire 1957 class B season, 1958 class A season, and part of the 1959 season.
Two things that stand out with me about Chick were his incredible sense of humor and his love of the Drum Corp activity.
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by Rick Connor | Apr, 2021
As I sit here trying to keep my literary genius in at least moderate form, I have been reminded by my webmaster and my associate editor to keep this brief. They must have their reasons. I just do as I’m told.
We’re trying something different with the spring issue of MMA. We will publish new articles each week for the next several weeks.
This week, Brooklyn Mario pays tribute to Salvatore “Sonny” Calvagna and Our Lady of Loretto Knights in “Once Upon a Time… (A Preface)”.
Chuck Wilson prepares for the return of drum corps in “Let’s Get Ready”.
And Tad Faccini reflects on the difficulties of the past year in “Ramblings in the Age of Covid”.
Subscribers, watch your Saturday morning email for information on new articles – and thank you for reading Masters of the Marching Arts!
Sincerely,
Rick Connor
by Brooklyn Mario | Apr, 2021
It was a simpler time in New York City. Corps directors had jobs in the real world. Instructors had no assistants— they taught what they created. Corps members were from the neighborhood, and “outsiders” were from a relatively short subway stop or bus ride away. An entire corps could fit on one bus, with all equipment stored in the undercarriage. Our ad-hoc staff was volunteer fathers, uncles, cousins, and former corps members.
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by Chuck Wilson | Apr, 2021
Calling all drum corps members: drummers, guard members, and horn players alike. If you have been out of practice, it is high time to get back in shape! This season is going to materialize before you know it and you had better be ready. The first few times out on the stage, field or street this season will give us all a tremendous psychological boost. Will you be ready?
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by Tad Faccini | Apr, 2021
I hate Covid-19. I hate it more than most. I think I had it in January ’20 – that weekend I sounded exactly like Barry White. As of this writing, Ohio – as well as most of the planet – has been mired in shut downs. Covid has been deemed a worldwide pandemic of epic panicking proportions. I don’t hate the virus as much as the reaction to it. I do have dear friends who are scared for their lives, and I respect their decisions to stay quarantined even after Ohio reopened restaurants. Remember the scene in “E.T.” when the government people raided Elliot’s house in those scarifying sterile getups? I’m pretty sure one of them was my server the other day.
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by George Diorio | Mar, 2021
Part TWO – Electronics
In Part ONE of ‘Innovation and Evolution’ we discussed brass instrumentation. Next, we consider another significant innovation; the use of electronics.
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by George Diorio | Feb, 2021
Drum corps enthusiasts who have followed the competitive activity for decades have witnessed a significant evolution. Gone are the days of the ’starting line,’ playing ‘concert’ at a standstill, inspections (ended in the early ’70s), color presentations, the ‘tick’ system (early ’80s), and uniforms that appear, well…….uniform. What corps play, how they look, and what is allowed on the field is dramatically different now than in DCI’s inaugural season. Changes that have transpired over the past two decades have been especially significant, as the visual and musical landscapes of the activity have morphed away from their traditional roots.
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by Guest Contributors | Dec, 2020
by Jim Hager
In order to talk about the meteoric rise of the 27th Lancers in 1975, first we must step back and look at the 1974 season.
At the end of the 1973 season, the corps had graduated many members and the last of the true “original members” from 1968. Along with the age-outs and their experience, the departure of staff members Richard “Ike” Ianessa (RIP) in M&M and Jim Buckley in percussion left gaping holes. Veteran brass arranger Jim Wedge would be kept and he would be the glue to help solidify the new staff members. The corps would bring in two experienced drum corps people, both with a long history with 27th, but neither had written at the DCI level
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by Guest Contributors | Nov, 2020
Francis G. Noonan
23 November 1958 – 24 September 2020
29 September 2020
St. Raphael Church, Medford, Massachusetts
By John Oppedisano
Lorrie, Sean, Sammy. Michael, Patty, and Judy, other members of Jerry’s family, colleagues, friends and acquaintances:
Thank you all for coming, and as is the norm today, for watching. Your presence here today reminds us of the scripture’s counsel, “…that those who mourn are blessed for they shall be comforted;” and we are comforted by the knowledge that, somewhere up above, God is getting an earful of trumpet solos and double C’s.
How do you honor a legend? Let’s start with the basics.
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