From: phelps1230@iscsvax.uni.edu
Newsgroups: rec.arts.marching.drumcorps
Subject: Re:Woodwinds in Drum and Bugle Corps
Date: 26 Jan 93 09:08:21 -0600
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Northern Iowa

In article <C1FBt4.B3J@apollo.hp.com>, afo@hpwarht.wal.hp.com (Aaron Oppenheimer) writes:
> In article <21764@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>, matthews@eecs.ucdavis.edu (Thomas W. Matthews) writes:
> |> I saw an issue of DCI Today in which the director of the Cadets
> |> wrote in favor of considering adding electronic instruments
> |> and woodwinds and etc. to the drumcorps activity.  This was in 
> 
> I would not be upset to see woodwinds in Drum Corps. In fact, I can't 
> really see why anyone would be against it, except that "it's never been 
> done before." Keep it's identity? What *is* the identity of Drum Corps, 
> anyway? It certainly isn't the same as it's identity in the 70's.  Or 
> the 60's or the 30's. Why should drum corps maintain it's "identity" as 
> we define it today?

There is a distinctive sound for drum corps that has lasted....big beautiful
BRASS sound. I love the sound of brass choirs. I can go hear band sound
anytime, and almost anywhere, but brass emsembles are the rariity.

> 
> I guess some people would like to maintain some sort of artificial 
> difference between Corps and marching bands, but I think that's sort of 
> silly. There really isn't that much difference now, is there?

Um....performace levels, quality of program. Three months of grueling rehearsal
everyday, all day, only broken by long nights on the bus. Football games. 

I'm just going to speak logistically for a little bit here. Can you imagine if
Corps had woodwinds? 

First question would be:are you going to enlarge the size of corps? If not, 
what horns are you going to remove to make room for the new instruments? It's
already hard for some corps to keep 128 people on the road!

Second question would be:Who is going to buy the instruments? Who is going to
pay for repairs? Who is going to run out and buy reeds every day? Woodwinds are
very prone to breakage, and don't hold up to weather. No more shows or
rehearsals in the rain? That would certainly take plenty of precious practice
time away! Not to mention money out of DCI's pocket if it has to cancel every
show for a week because some enormous storm is blowing through! Who is going to
hire woodwind staff and the full-time repair technician that would be required?
Our hunks-'o-car-bumper instruments may not be the best in the world, but they
stand up to constant beating FOREVER! It takes alot of work to put a bugle out
of commission permanently!

I also feel that we are not depriving anyone of an opportunity. Colts have
several buglers whose main instrument is a woodwind. They are among those of us
protesting this idea. The non-directionality of the instruments do not lend
themselves to this activity. The beautiful and distinctive sounds of flutes,
clarinets, saxaphones, and oboes should be enjoyed in the employment they were
invented for:a concert hall. They should not have to compete with the blasting
drumlines and blaring horns of Drum and Bugle Corps.

I am NOT close-minded, and if you can answer my questions above in a way that
make perfect sense, I will certainly listen. Flames will be returned in force.

@set me=flameproof

Brooke
Colts '89-'93
Mellophone
and Clarinet
and Trumpet (which I also wouldn't like to see out there! I use my junk horn
for just M. Band. I don't think my Strad. would make it!)