alinktothepresent

!!! Well, I'm off to search the Internet for any sort of video of their show.

Hmm, I wasn't aware of that. I thought Hebron would be more on the verge of taking the music caption -- as long as they can transfer that honor band sound onto the field. I'll have to re-watch some of their previous shows.

Looks like it'll be a clean sweep for Marcus, but there's a few bands I don't recognize.

I haven't seen their show -- what sort of insider info do you have? Feel free to share!

I know this is TXBands, but I thought people might be interested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3374YmBOVg This was their first contest of the year.

Well, I'll see your Spartacus and raise you a '93 Star of Indiana!

Well, I think there's a demand for sites like this, but awareness isn't very high. If I tell even a few people at marching contests (heck, even people in my own band) about this site, then activity would increase. Haha, we could build the forum up to be a powerhouse!

Win. That show was amazing.

http://www.myspace.com/avonhighschoolmarchingband ^^On the media player, there is THE recording of their finals performance at Grand Nationals. There is no substitute.

The Dallas Wind Symphony. They're considered one of the best in the world -- the other being the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. If you ask me, both are incredible. I have recordings of both groups: The DWS playing "Variants on a Mediaeval Tune" and the TKWS playing "Pineapple Poll." It's near-impossible to compare two groups of such caliber just by listening to them -- at the ultra-high level they're both at, only preference could put one above the other. But, being a North Texan myself, I do happen to prefer the Dallas Wind Symphony. Of course, bias is clearly present, but if you'll listen to the DWS play "Variants on a Mediaeval Tune," you'll begin to understand what makes them so special. In the intro alone, their trumpet soloist is the perfect compliment to what can only be described as sheer tone. It truly makes you question what is the ideal in a performance of such magnitude. So, after all's said and done: The Dallas Wind Symphony. Edit: http://www.dws.org/trittico -- This is what I was talking about! Don't forget to listen to the introduction to "Variants"!

Seconded!

@takigan -- Thanks for the explanation! I was just a little worried that this forum might be dead. I think the same sort of hibernation might be going on at the Music For All forum, but I haven't checked it very recently.

This is such a subjective question, but my all-around favorite has to be Avon's 2009 program, "Comm-UNIFORM-ity." Let me explain myself: This show is based on Santa Clara Vanguard's 1999 show, "Inventions for a New Millenium" -- in my mind, one of the most mature drum corps programs ever concieved. So, Avon's staff took that show, ripped out "The Canyon" and "Blue Shades," and focused solely on Barber's symphonies. As a brief sidenote, Samuel Barber is one of my favorite composers. In regard to what Avon did, they added in some dynamics which SCV didn't have, made their trumpet feature more complex (and played it flawlessly) -- and since Avon only had two pieces to work with instead of four, their performance seems more encompassing of Barber's original work. Finally, in my humble opinion, Avon's finals performance at BOA Grand Nationals stands as the epitome of any high school marching band in terms of musical performance. So yeah -- Avon 2009 is definitely my favorite show.

Thanks a lot!

I've searched YouTube time after time, but it's just not on there. If it is, then it's hiding.

Does anyone have a recording of Richland's 2008 show, "Believe"? I remember seeing them at the Duncanville Marching Invitational (which they won) and being very impressed with them. I have literally scourged the Internet looking for this show -- can anyone help me?

What does this have to do with the topic?

As I asked in the topic title text box: Why does NO ONE post anything in the forums?? Discuss, if anyone exists out there...

They're probably easier so that judges will hear more kids ACTUALLY PLAYING rather than just stumbling through the etudes. Not sure about you, but here in region 20, only about four or five kids (out of, say, thirty) can actually play anything cleanly. Usually two players are really stout. The rest are too intimidated by the multiple flats in the key or difficult technique. Granted, these kids shouldn't be making region anyway since the whole point is to PRACTICE, but maybe the people who chose this year's etudes wanted a change of pace. That's just my theory, mind you.