Phantom Regiment--Spartacus (2008)

A Word About Drum Corps:
First of all, it's Drum CORE, not Drum CORPSE. Just saying. Second, but as important if you don't like to sound like an idiot, a Drum Corps is NOT a marching band. You will offend people by saying that. Most notably, marching bands have woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, saxophones) while Drum Corps don't, but there are numerous other little differences. Drum Corps compete in Drum Corps International, or DCI. They are comprised of 13-22 year olds who choose to spend their summers competing in some of the over 100 competitions in the DCI circuit. They practice or perform almost all the time. There are over 5000 total members (just over half of which intend to major in music), who perform for over 400,000 fans. While they are the self-proclaimed "Marching Music's Major League (TM)," they do NOT pay members. In fact, members pay around $2000-$3000 annually, depending on the Corps--assuming they pass the rigorous audition process. They do this because they want to and have a passion for marching music, and are the best of the best, putting on perenially amazing shows. Almost all of the above information is from http://www.dci.org/ because I actually knew very little about Drum Corps before today. Nevertheless, I have always been amazed by what they can do, and I hope you are to! Please give it a chance, you may be pleasantly surprised by how incredible the art form of marching music can truly be.

The Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TyfrQCtJe8

The Words Trying to Describe an Ineffable Art:

Drill: linear, filling space, fast-paced

Choreography: militaristic, violent, fluid

Music: loud, powerful, brassy, marcato, accented, dark, lyrical, ballad, percussivePerformance Quality: precise, in character,

Inferences: arrogant, violent, desperate, romantic, lamenting, vengeful, professional

Claims:

The Charles Dickens Version:
The professionalism, precision and characterization of Phantom Regiment allows for near-perfect execution of the show's wide range of emotional contrasts: from arrogance, showcased through forte, marcato music and condescending, violent choreography,  to romance, expressed through graceful movements and a lyrical ballad, to combativeness, conveyed through brassy hits, percussive rhythms and fast-paced, militaristic visuals, to lamentation, through quiet music and slow drill, finally to vengefulness, underscored in the musically and visually strong and powerful finale to the saga of Spartacus.

The Sparknotes Version:
Phantom Regiment's professional execution of the contrast between powerful, fortissimo fast-paced, militaristic style and the more lyrical, graceful, slow ballad underscores the emotional contrast between vengeful violence and sorrowful lost love.

P. S. Apparate to a competition this year! While Drum Corps season has ended, competitions in Indiana, probably the strongest marching band state, are well worth seeing. October 1 and 8 are at Homestead and October 29 is the much anticipated State Finals in Indianapolis.