Klarinet Archive - Posting 000865.txt from 1997/11

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: professional wind ensembles
Date: Sun, 23 Nov 1997 19:10:48 -0500

On Sat, 22 Nov 1997, SEAN TALBOT wrote:

> First of all I find it unnerving the anti-drum corp feeling and
> makes me wonder when was the last time you experienced a modern drum corps.
> The importance of the music has really taken center stage over the last few
> years. Star of Indiana has left the field and is now a touring organization
> and I had the opportunity to see them at a sold out Ravina festival that was
> just as packed as the Chicago Symphony concerts held there. It might not be
> as professional as some other things but lets face it......it gets people
> listening to music. It gets hundereds of kids playing music and many come
> out not only with a positive musical experience that they will take with them
> the rest of their lives but many are excellent musicians. To say that
> drum corps has nothing to do with music shows that a person is not open to
> all mediums of music.

Sean implies that the discussion we have had regarding the lack of
spontanity in drum and bugle corps somehow stakes a claim that drum corps
has nothing to do with music. He has misquoted what has been stated here.
It certainly does not suggest that people who believe that music educators
in the public schools or beyond are not open to all mediums of music
because they do not adopt the philosophy and approach of the drum and
bugle corps is simplistic and idealistic. Beyond that, it is ignorant.

I do understand that some people don't like brass bands
> or even brass quintets as far as their sound but they do have their place.
> DCI tried something new this year for their 25th anniversary in which they
> held a number of indoor concerts where a couple of corps would play their
> sets in a concert setting. There was also peroformances of color gaurds doing
> dances that Bob Fossy would be proud of. All of it showed the true artistry
> of Drum Corps.

Drum and bugle corps have fine musicians who memorize music for
competitions on the field. Any other show of musicianship is not what
people think of (including public school band directors who mimic the
style and ideals of the all-summer DCI programs) when DCI is mentioned.
That DCI is incorporating additional showy performances to augment their
competitive season is wonderful....however, it does nothing to change the
idea that DCI is a competetive approach with arrangments of all kinds of
music for a medium that is not feasible with a standard high school music
program....at least with one that teaches music learning.

> Someone just calling it a marching competition should really
> take a look at it with new eyes. I can smell the smoke of the flames comming
> my way but so be it. I get lucky very soon that I have a Satuday comming up
> where I get to play in a Drum Corps style marching band, an orchestra, and an
> excellent wind ensamble all in the matter of about 4 hours....and I am going
> to love all of it I will tell you now.

That you perform in many ensembles is commendable....and more power to
you. It does nothing to change the discussion of what DCI represents and
how it impacts upon school music programs.

Roger Garrett
IWU