|
Post by N.E. Brigand on Oct 25, 2019 10:47:08 GMT -6
Apropos of no group in particular: I absolutely despise prerecorded narration in marching band and drum corps, and if I made the rules, groups would be penalized a point for every second they used it. I'm going to add singing to this, so long as we're being all grumpy. I have no problem with live singing (unlike a lot of what we got in DCI this year), particularly when it's not amplified -- except if it takes away significant time from the instrumentalists.
|
|
|
Post by N.E. Brigand on Oct 25, 2019 10:49:03 GMT -6
Here in Ohio, I never hear the Dublin Coffman band called the "Dublin Coffman Rocks". But they're called that regularly when announced in BOA. Just an odd little quirk. Anyway, Coffman's show sounded rougher in the closer than they did when I heard them last Saturday. It is short for "Shamrocks" and commonly confuses everyone outside of Dublin, Ohio Yeah, but even at the Dublin (Jerome) show last week, where Dublin Coffman was considered one of the three host bands (and thus not in contention for awards), they weren't announced that way. It's not like OMEA is unwilling to announce a band's nickname either.
|
|
|
Post by Jake W. on Oct 25, 2019 10:52:14 GMT -6
Is Dublin Coffman not significantly smaller than usual? Just came to ask the same question. I had to count it because I thought I was seeing things. Just under 130 members (84 winds, 27 percussion, 14 guard, 3 DM). Not only that, but their design as a whole seemed much less progressive than I'm used to seeing from them. They made GN Semis a few years back (2013?) and I remember that show decently well (oceans), and they always bring other nice shows to GN even when they don't advance. This seemed...dated & safe, to say the least.
|
|
|
Post by N.E. Brigand on Oct 25, 2019 11:01:03 GMT -6
Just came to ask the same question. I had to count it because I thought I was seeing things. Just under 130 members (84 winds, 27 percussion, 14 guard, 3 DM). Not only that, but their design as a whole seemed much less progressive than I'm used to seeing from them. They made GN Semis a few years back (2013?) and I remember that show decently well (oceans), and they always bring other nice shows to GN even when they don't advance. This seemed...dated & safe, to say the least. Since that show you remember fondly is now at least five years old, doesn't it seem dated compared to the typical show of 2019?
|
|
|
Post by N.E. Brigand on Oct 25, 2019 11:03:13 GMT -6
Hey, it's that Muse song that opened Beavercreek's show in 2017.
(The title is "Supremacy.")
|
|
|
Post by srv1084 on Oct 25, 2019 11:10:37 GMT -6
Apropos of no group in particular: I absolutely despise prerecorded narration in marching band and drum corps, and if I made the rules, groups would be penalized a point for every second they used it. I'm going to add singing to this, so long as we're being all grumpy. I feel the same way about singing. Singing in the marching arts has always been a bit cringe-worthy to me. It never, ever comes across on a football field the way it would in a stage/concert venue (and, if I'm being critical, is almost always subpar). Voice-overs I don't care about as much.
|
|
|
Post by N.E. Brigand on Oct 25, 2019 11:12:43 GMT -6
I'm going to add singing to this, so long as we're being all grumpy. I feel the same way about singing. Singing in the marching arts has always been a bit cringe-worthy to me. It never, ever comes across on a football field the way it would in a stage/concert venue (and, if I'm being critical, is almost always subpar). Voice-overs I don't care about as much. My position is based on the idea that voice, whether sung or spoken, is performance, and performance should be live.
(And we're about to see a band with a lot of live narration, as it happens. I don't actually care for the show that much. But I do appreciate the effort.)
|
|
|
Post by N.E. Brigand on Oct 25, 2019 11:23:42 GMT -6
Not only that, but their design as a whole seemed much less progressive than I'm used to seeing from them. They made GN Semis a few years back (2013?) and I remember that show decently well (oceans), and they always bring other nice shows to GN even when they don't advance. This seemed...dated & safe, to say the least. Since that show you remember fondly is now at least five years old, doesn't it seem dated compared to the typical show of 2019? Expanding on this point just a little for the moment (this comment is not aimed at you in particular, Jake!), I was struck by something a friend of mine, who works as a classical music critic in California, wrote on his blog today about a concert he lately attended:
"Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony. Played all over the US during WW2 as a symbol of Soviet-American wartime solidarity. Spent the next three decades unplayed and pointed at as proof that Shostakovich was a [lousy] composer. Since then it's reverted to proof that he's a great composer."
He then goes on to praise the performance at some length, but it was that opening remark about how artistic tastes change that caught my eye.
(And he's old enough to personally remember when Shostakovich's reputation was on the wane.)
|
|
|
Post by thor19 on Oct 25, 2019 11:30:06 GMT -6
Does Concord have any chance of advancing to the Finals?
|
|
|
Post by marimba11 on Oct 25, 2019 11:34:04 GMT -6
Since that show you remember fondly is now at least five years old, doesn't it seem dated compared to the typical show of 2019? Expanding on this point just a little for the moment (this comment is not aimed at you in particular, Jake!), I was struck by something a friend of mine, who works as a classical music critic in California, wrote on his blog today about a concert he lately attended:
"Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony. Played all over the US during WW2 as a symbol of Soviet-American wartime solidarity. Spent the next three decades unplayed and pointed at as proof that Shostakovich was a [lousy] composer. Since then it's reverted to proof that he's a great composer."
He then goes on to praise the performance at some length, but it was that opening remark about how artistic tastes change that caught my eye.
(And he's old enough to personally remember when Shostakovich's reputation was on the wane.)
Wouldn’t you say that the “artistic tastes” in this circumstance were more politically motivated??
|
|
|
Post by TeamIndiana on Oct 25, 2019 11:34:09 GMT -6
Does Concord have any chance of advancing to the Finals? The list of potential finalists (especially the bubble) is large. I would say that Concord definitely has a shot. Unfortunately, the earlier time slot did not help.
|
|
|
Post by srv1084 on Oct 25, 2019 11:46:33 GMT -6
I feel the same way about singing. Singing in the marching arts has always been a bit cringe-worthy to me. It never, ever comes across on a football field the way it would in a stage/concert venue (and, if I'm being critical, is almost always subpar). Voice-overs I don't care about as much. My position is based on the idea that voice, whether sung or spoken, is performance, and performance should be live.
(And we're about to see a band with a lot of live narration, as it happens. I don't actually care for the show that much. But I do appreciate the effort.)
I can totally understand your point, and it's a fair one. A lot of people share the same position, including myself until recent years. I started having a change of heart with the notion that it's an even playing field if all bands are able to do it. All I care about is entertainment, and if that means sacrificing live performance (yes, in an activity that is based on performance) for something that is done tastefully and enhances the performance, I'm all for it. That's why I'm not a huge fan of singing in this activity. It's simply not entertaining to me to hear live vocals through a cheap speaker on the 50 by a member that's out of breath and singing off key. There are very few exceptions for me, and Blue Springs from last year is one of them. In general, my opinion on live vs. pre-recorded vocals doesn't mean I necessarily want voice-overs/singing/over-the-top electronics in every show I watch, but I feel it has a time and place if done right.
|
|
|
Post by LeanderMomma on Oct 25, 2019 11:51:46 GMT -6
Apropos of no group in particular: I absolutely despise prerecorded narration in marching band and drum corps, and if I made the rules, groups would be penalized a point for every second they used it. Normally I agree, and you may (or might not!) hate Leander this year, but the quotes from Robert Oppenheimer (in his own spoken voice) about how he felt after the atomic bombs were set off are absolutely key to our RadioActive show. Fortunately it's just a few seconds here and there of narration, and usually I don't care for it, but I'm totally feeling it in this case. In fact I wish everyone would listen to and watch this very short clip of Oppenheimer's speech towards the end of his life. You can see and hear the absolute desolation in his demeanor and his voice for having been a part of inventing the atomic bomb. And once you familiarize yourself with that, try and watch Leander with new eyes. It's not only a great show, but it's a powerfully moving one as well.
|
|
|
Post by ignoreme on Oct 25, 2019 11:57:57 GMT -6
Expanding on this point just a little for the moment (this comment is not aimed at you in particular, Jake!), I was struck by something a friend of mine, who works as a classical music critic in California, wrote on his blog today about a concert he lately attended:
"Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony. Played all over the US during WW2 as a symbol of Soviet-American wartime solidarity. Spent the next three decades unplayed and pointed at as proof that Shostakovich was a [lousy] composer. Since then it's reverted to proof that he's a great composer."
He then goes on to praise the performance at some length, but it was that opening remark about how artistic tastes change that caught my eye.
(And he's old enough to personally remember when Shostakovich's reputation was on the wane.)
Wouldn’t you say that the “artistic tastes” in this circumstance were more politically motivated?? Definitely so. There's a really good book about this called "Symphony for the city of the dead" that talks about Shastokovich getting blackballed for his politics. If you like that sort of thing, I highly recommend reading it.
|
|
|
Post by marimba11 on Oct 25, 2019 12:13:08 GMT -6
Wouldn’t you say that the “artistic tastes” in this circumstance were more politically motivated?? Definitely so. There's a really good book about this called "Symphony for the city of the dead" that talks about Shastokovich getting blackballed for his politics. If you like that sort of thing, I highly recommend reading it. Ok cool yeah I’d love to. Shastokovich is probably my favorite classical composer. Thanks!
|
|
|
Post by thewho on Oct 25, 2019 12:14:57 GMT -6
Does Concord have any chance of advancing to the Finals? The list of potential finalists (especially the bubble) is large. I would say that Concord definitely has a shot. Unfortunately, the earlier time slot did not help. I'd actually argue the other way and say if Concord stood out in the block, that's a massive boon them. Being a surprising finalist in a bit of an expected lackluster block is big.
|
|
|
Post by TeamIndiana on Oct 25, 2019 12:17:28 GMT -6
Electronic problems for Homestead? I’m not hearing a pre show that they had at Fishers.
|
|
|
Post by hewhowaits on Oct 25, 2019 12:18:03 GMT -6
Do judges notice warm-up music? If a warm up has musical issues, does it at least prime the judges to be on the lookout for certain kinds of flaws in the performance? Do they notice? If we as fans notice it, certainly trained music professionals will notice as well.
Does it trigger the judges to expect certain types of flaws? Officially it does not as the judging has not yet begun, but no matter how well trained and professional the judges may be they are still human and flawed warm-ups may create a preconception of what they are about to hear. This is not unlike the now-common pre-show, which is designed to set the mood and get full attention to the whole (officially) judged show.
|
|
|
Post by N.E. Brigand on Oct 25, 2019 12:18:19 GMT -6
Expanding on this point just a little for the moment (this comment is not aimed at you in particular, Jake!), I was struck by something a friend of mine, who works as a classical music critic in California, wrote on his blog today about a concert he lately attended:
"Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony. Played all over the US during WW2 as a symbol of Soviet-American wartime solidarity. Spent the next three decades unplayed and pointed at as proof that Shostakovich was a [lousy] composer. Since then it's reverted to proof that he's a great composer."
He then goes on to praise the performance at some length, but it was that opening remark about how artistic tastes change that caught my eye.
(And he's old enough to personally remember when Shostakovich's reputation was on the wane.)
Wouldn’t you say that the “artistic tastes” in this circumstance were more politically motivated?? I think that oversimplifies matters. Yes, Shostakovich's reputation also waxed and waned based on the whims of Soviet leadership and the political inclinations of those in the west reacting to Soviet statements, culminating in the whole controversy around Testimony in 1979 and after. But what my friend the critic has discussed before extends beyond that: Shostakovich and a number of other composers, not just from the U.S.S.R., were generally derided in the 1960s especially for not having embraced serialism and other modernist impulses. For instance, per Wikipedia, "Pierre Boulez dismissed Shostakovich's music as 'the second, or even third pressing of Mahler.'" That's not a political comment.
|
|
|
Post by ohbandie48 on Oct 25, 2019 12:20:28 GMT -6
Wow, I haven't seen Homestead until now, but it's really clear how ambitious their show is and it's also being executed much better than I was expecting.
|
|
|
Post by marimba11 on Oct 25, 2019 12:25:17 GMT -6
Homestead has definitely improved since Toledo. It’s so close to being a really great show... so close!! Just still a little too dirty rn :/
|
|
|
Post by Jake W. on Oct 25, 2019 12:26:44 GMT -6
Well done, Homestead!! I'm loving the ambitious direction they've taken this season & last. They've really been challenging their kids, and I love that. Tons and tons of meat on the bones of that show!
|
|
|
Post by TeamIndiana on Oct 25, 2019 12:26:46 GMT -6
It sounded like Homestead had no sound effects today which is a bummer. The show is cleaning up which is great. Still work to do. This show definitely has the potential though. Hopefully the electronics work in finals.
|
|
|
Post by OldSchoolTrumpet on Oct 25, 2019 12:57:58 GMT -6
It sounded like Homestead had no sound effects today which is a bummer. The show is cleaning up which is great. Still work to do. This show definitely has the potential though. Hopefully the electronics work in finals. Hopefully the lack of electronics doesn't hurt them too badly. It definitely seemed empty in some spots. Would hate to see them slip into the dreaded bottom 7.
|
|
|
Post by TeamIndiana on Oct 25, 2019 13:00:28 GMT -6
It sounded like Homestead had no sound effects today which is a bummer. The show is cleaning up which is great. Still work to do. This show definitely has the potential though. Hopefully the electronics work in finals. Hopefully the lack of electronics doesn't hurt them too badly. It definitely seemed empty in some spots. Would hate to see them slip into the dreaded bottom 7. Yes I agree. The show seemed kinda mehhh without them so I’m sure it will hurt a bit. I think they are going to be safely in the top 7 though.
|
|
|
Post by N.E. Brigand on Oct 25, 2019 13:15:56 GMT -6
I didn't realize Beech Grove and Lakota East had merged, Flo.
|
|
|
Post by N.E. Brigand on Oct 25, 2019 13:17:59 GMT -6
When a band plays a song recently performed by a top drum corps, it's hard to put the earlier version out of your head.
|
|
|
Post by Jake W. on Oct 25, 2019 13:20:02 GMT -6
I didn't realize Beech Grove and Lakota East had merged, Flo. Ohhhhhh! I was wondering what the hell happened to Lakota East. Not in talent, Beech Grove is a great group; I was just shocked that they were like a third of there size from last year! For what it's worth, BG's show design & prop presence is competent that I believed the design aspect could be Lakota East. I was shocked at "their" size though : )
|
|
|
Post by abtwitch on Oct 25, 2019 13:20:31 GMT -6
I didn't realize Beech Grove and Lakota East had merged, Flo. That mixup had me really confused for a good minute before I checked the schedule. "Dang what happened? Lakota East is TINY!"
|
|
|
Post by Jake W. on Oct 25, 2019 13:20:40 GMT -6
When a band plays a song recently performed by a top drum corps, it's hard to put the earlier version out of your head. All the songs*
|
|