2011 Blue Devils Run Through 7-12-11 Pella HS

[jonrskelton1962]

That is so loud at 7:00

[jonrskelton1962]

Just for technical info. I recorded this with a Cisco Flip. I've been using the camera to record jazz bands and other live music and have been impressed with the quality.

[dundy96]

can anyone tell me the time signatures for the first part.. or tell me were i can find a score.

[jonrskelton1962]

@dundy96 You can always contact the Blue Devils directly. Not sure if John Meehan or Wayne Downey did the arrangement. The easiest way to get the meter is from the drum major's hands. Just watch. He's wearing white gloves so they stand out.

[jonrskelton1962]

@dundy96 You can always contact the Blue Devils directly. Not sure if John Meehan or Wayne Downey did the arrangement. The easiest way to get the meter is from the drum major's hands. Just watch. He's wearing white gloves so they stand out.

[dundy96]

@jonrskelton1962 I know what a drum major looks like lol..And I tried to look but, in places like 0:25 and 1:48, he does some weird movements that don't look like any time signature I've seen. And how could I contact them? By there website?

[jonrskelton1962]

@dundy96 at :25 he does a 4/4 then a 2/4. At 1:48 he's directing 1/8 notes. It kind of looks like a 9/8 measure and the mallet run at the end of the drum break brings it back to 1.

[dundy96]

@jonrskelton1962 What's 1/8??

[jonrskelton1962]

@dundy96 eighth notes sorry - 1/8

[dundy96]

@jonrskelton1962 Sorry for asking so many questions but I still don't understand..

[jonrskelton1962]

@dundy96 I'll try to explain as best as I can. Even though he is directing in a 4/4 pattern it looks to me that the beats he is directing are eighth notes or cut time. But around where you are questioning, 1:48, it looks like it has an odd measure which changes the downbeat to the right foot; but when the mallets play their last run it is also an odd measure so the corps ends up back on the left foot when they come back in. We even did that in drum corps back in the 80s. Anyone else??

[dundy96]

@jonrskelton1962 Thanks alot.. I have an idea of what you mean now. If you were wondering why I was asking so many questions, I'm auditioning from drum major at my school some time this month, and I wan't to use this song as my audition piece. Thanks for answering all my questions and I'm sorry if I bothered you.

[jonrskelton1962]

@dundy96 Not a problem. Good luck in your audition. You've picked a great piece.

[dundy96]

@jonrskelton1962 Sorry for asking so many questions but I still don't understand..

[nelfam4]

is this Pella Iowa?

[jonrskelton1962]

@nelfam4 Yes, it is Pella Iowa. This is the run through the day of the show in Des Moines - Waukee Ia.

[nelfam4]

@jonrskelton1962 oh i live in Iowa and went to this show!

[jonrskelton1962]

@nelfam4 Are you a marching musician // past or present? I marched back in the early 80's with the Troopers and the Blue Devils. I try to go see a drum corps show each year. If the Blue Devils are within 100 miles I'll make a effort to go to the show.

[nelfam4]

@jonrskelton1962 nope, just kid in Iowa haha sorry

[jonrskelton1962]

@nelfam4 So, as a kid in Iowa, what do you think of the drum corps activity? I saw my first live DCI finals in 1979. I've been hooked to the activity since. Living together with 140 people over the summer bonds friendships like no other activity. And the community between drum corps is unmatched. Even after 30 years I still stay in touch with those same corps members. It's bigger than any college fraternity.

[nelfam4]

@jonrskelton1962 Well I'm hooked as well and hope to become a part of it when I get older playing the snare drum

[jonrskelton1962]

@nelfam4 Excellent!! Best of luck to you.

[jonrskelton1962]

Obviously being a Blue Devils alum I am partial to their corps; but I have heard from others, that are not Blue Devils fans, that the choice of music in 2011 has made this corps more accessible to the casual fan. A drum corps show should leave you with a memory that has you humming the tunes for days afterwards; and the visual impacts are the wow factor! This show did just that. Although Cavies and Cadets had impressive shows, I can't even remember the melody of even one of their songs.

[chanceypoo299]

@jonrskelton1962 I remember the cavies main theme. As I did the Devils, however, I agree, I remember nothing specifically about the Cadets, musically. However it was splendid visually.

[TheMastakilla69]

This show is the best:)

[TheTealeuph]

Every time I watch this show, the level of visual excellence blows me away. Something about watching the entire hornline jazz run PERFECTLY, spiral around and throw their hons up FLAWLESSLY into an amazingly CLEAN form, excites me.

[iDrumRboy407]

@9:56 OMG

[woodwinds4ever]

Their music this year is amazing! Sure their drill lacks difficulty in comparison to other top corps, but judges don't look at difficulty as much as they look at execution. And don't judge them by what you see on videos. Watching drum corps live is a completely different experience.

[forrest822]

ohhh how i love this show :D especially the last little trumpet solo phrase

[DynamiteMcGhee]

Honeslty, I would take an any place BD with this show over what they gave us and won with in 2010.

[asdf072xxp]

Their pitch is really bad this year. Maybe this was a long rehearsal, but the shows I've seen haven't been a lot better.

[CVON12]

idk, just my honest opinion, Every year, Their music sounds the same!! so idk, this is just boring to me!!!

[jonrskelton1962]

I used a tripod to steady the shot, however it was missing a ring so every now and then the camera leans back from the wind. Also I didn't move it around much and miss some cool shots of the guard.