Newsgroups: alt.drumcorps
Subject: Re: Madison 93 show
From: <MHUGHES@MIAMIU.BITNET>
Date: Wednesday, 18 Nov 1992 11:11:59 EST
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service

Mike Hughes (that's me :) said:
 
>Yes, there is something to be said for history and the repetition and
>variation on it.....the trouble is that it's damn near the ONLY thing that
>Madison is capable of these days.  Just look at the past few years:
>
>       1986 - Gershwin music from the 1970s regurgutated
>       1987 - (I forgot this one...sorry)
>       1988 - Maleguena regurgitated for the umpteenth time
>       1989 - Slaughter on 10th Avenue regurgitated for the umpteenth+1 time  e
>       1990 - an original show that I actually liked (but noone else did)
>       1991 - City of Angels...an excellent production
>       1992 - City of Angels...an excellent production (yawn)
>       1993 - excerpts from the 1981, 1983 and 1990 shows
>
> C'mon!!!!!!!!!!  How can you defend this lack of musical creativity?
> Would you defend the corps if they did the same drill moves year after
> year?  Used the same guard uniforms and equipment?  Etc, etc, etc....
>
 
In article <1992Nov17.154618.3599@medtron.medtronic.com>,
ck10322@china.medtronic.com (Cameron Kaszas) says:
>
>I'll defend it!
>
>Gershwin music was Rhapsody In Blue.  Now this is quite a long piece in
>its original.  In 1986 they took TOTALLY different segments (OK a couple
>of "remembrance" chords were thrown in occassionally).  However,  other
>than the title, this was a new peice for them.  Same with Slaughter.
>Again, they kept the company front push at the end, but this piece
>had a totally different,  much lighter feel.  Now, Malaguena had a
>lot more repetition to the '80-81 versions (although these were both
>severe departures from the '78 version).
 
But they were the SAME PIECES OF MUSIC...only different arrangements.  Why
couldn't the design staff look for NEW challenges for the kids in terms of
fresh music?  I think the best thing Madison started getting into was the
Don Ellis stuff in the mid 1980s....Strawberry Soup, etc.  Why stop there?
It was one of my favorite Madison pieces in recent years.  There is tons of
great Ellis music out there...why not explore it a little?
 
>Furthermore, productions done in the '80/90s look totally different than
>anything fielded in the '70s.  The integration between the drill and music
>just wasn't there back then like it is today.  Not only does this mandate
>an entirely new visual production, but new arrangements that are more
>easily enterpreted in the new "style" of drum corps (the guard has to be
>able to dance to it, act to it, etc.)
 
I agree with this, so you must see my point.  We have seen far more variety
and expansion from Madison in the visual caption than in any other, and you
defend this (which you should).  Why must they lag behind in musical variety
by continually pulling out old charts, making a change here or there?  Why
not explore new music that is in a style that fits in with Madison's
tradition?
 
>I would submit that Madison changes "style" from year to year more than
>most corps, even though they may bring back "melodies" more often.
 
On the surface, I can't see the reasoning for this statement.  Please explain?
 
>Boy, those Blue Devils have sure been innovators haven't they?!
>Same style year after year.  I love it, don't get me wrong, but it seems
>to me that their staff has a formula that works and they are comfortable
>with, and even though they do different songs, they can sound remarkably
>similar year after year after year after year after .....
 
IMHO, the Blue Devils are nearly as guilty of the practice of pulling out old
charts as is Madison.  Understand me, the last thing I'm suggesting is that
Madison change their style....there is only one Madsion Scouts, and there is
a style of drum corps which is uniquely identified as Madison.  I'm
just saying....enough already!  WE'VE HEARD THIS ALL BEFORE.  DO SOME NEW
MUSIC.
 
The Cadets have a unique identity.  So does Star. And Crossmen. (etc, etc..)
Yet every year we get new music from them (with very few exceptions).  Why
can't Madison exercise the same *musical freedom*?
 
Respectfully, Mike Hughes