Klarinet Archive - Posting 000156.txt from 1998/10

From: Matt Johnson <matt@-----.uk>
Subj: Re: [kl] Marching band
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 18:07:24 -0400

Various contributors wrote:
>>>And for top level marching bands and drum corps, the shows they can
>>produce
>>>are not only musical, but they are often as moving and emotional as any
>>>symphony orchestra can be, and often moreso because it's on a larger
>>scale.
>>HOLD ON. I hope you realize that drum corps have NO WOODWINDS, OR
>>STRINGS. The depth of a orchastra CAN NOT be compared to a marching
>>band.
>Now, I wasn't trying to put marching bands "above" other forms of music
>ensembles. I also didn't say that drum corps provides as much music
>coloration as a symphony orchestra, and I certainly didn't mean to offend
>you, or anyone. Though marching bands and drum corps can project over 100
>years, you can be left on the edge of your seat at the tiniest of
>pianissimos... And I know this is possible with an orchestra, and every
>other type of ensemble...
>
>But I want to dispel the myth that marching bands/drum corps are "nothing
>but loud."

<delurk>

As a clarinetist with 10 years experience 'by proxy' of drum corps - my
father was a director of a Drum Corps over here, and the person who
brought DC to the United Kingdom - I tend to agree with Harlan.

DC do, indeed, have a vast range of timbral, dynamic, [marching/visual]
and instrumental effects. However, a violin (or a clarinet, for that
matter) still provides an essentially different timbre to a soprano horn
or contrabass, and an orchestral cymbal a different timbre than the
marching or DC cymbal. Dynamic: compare a solo soprano horn to the DC
playing at full pelt. That's quite a difference.

That said, the great things about DC (in my opinion <g>) are the
harmonies between similar timbre instruments, the volume, and the
spectacle. DC was intended to be a "spectator sport" in its own right,
over marching bands. In that end, it succeeds - it impresses the
audience. However, it may not be to everyone's taste.

In short... each to their own. :-) Those who love DC like it because of
/its/ range of timbres and musical devices employed, those who love
marching bands, concert bands and symphony orchestras will love their
own, individual, ranges of timbres and musical devices.

There's more to music than the instrument. There's the mindset, the
people playing it, the composition of the group, the room, the audience,
and an infinite number of other things to consider.

If it doesn't float your boat, it probably floats someone else's. Don't
begrudge them that. :-)
--
Matt Johnson <mailto:matt@-----.uk>

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