Blue Devils B: 95.650
Thanks to everyone for dropping by this morning. More than 500 folks joined me here, and looked over my shoulder as I watched yet another superb line-up among the Open Class corps. Come by again, bookmark the site if you will: www.fieldandfloor.com
My full live blogging account of Semi Finals -- last to first -- is right in this post.
Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets: 95.600
12:29: One could absolutely abuse the English language and metaphors for flight in describing the Blue Devils B show, well yes, "Flight." But that would diminish the marvelous audio/visual delights the production holds. Besides, the very on-point, and clever, narration suffices as introduction for the various sections of this general effect and music score buster. Both came into Semi Finals as class leading. This surely has to be fun to perform, because darned it, it's great fun to experience! I'll venture one more observation, as this show positions itself for possible medals and/or titles Saturday morning: this is an Open Class show in every way. By design and execution it is exemplary, without begging question of further intent.
Jersey Surf: 95.425
12:12: The final two Open Class spots are held, interestingly -- and wonderfully -- enough, by feeder corps. First the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadets, then the Blue Devils B corps. The Vanguard, while being of a size more in keeping with perceptions of the Open Class, performed with the same refined precision, and expressiveness of its namesake, offering a fascinatingly different "Perspective" to Jersey Surf's enormous show. Quality abounds in the class-leading visual performance score. Taste and restraint to the needs and talents of the performers gave this show all the edge it needed to be medal and title contention.
Teal Sound: 92.90
11:58: H U G E just about describes every single aspect, and second, of Jersey Surf's larger than class life production. From its caption leading brass and color guard, all the way through to its field-crowding visuals (IU's stadium could barely hold the breadth and girth of this production), the possibility of medals on Saturday morning are easily seen. Another year, another superior show from the venerable New Jersey corps.
Oregon Crusaders: 93.325
11:41: And with Teal Sound we enter that netherland of drum corps wonder: here is one of our very finest units in competition that carries "Open Class" on its back like a scarlet *A*, simply because its organization chooses to tour on a limited basis. Of course there has to be some lines of class demarcation, I know, and a limited tour is certainly one. But boy howdee, how I'd love love to see this Florida unit, and many others this morning, able to at least be on the same field as .... Nonetheless, "Voices of the Season" is reason to love drum corps this summer. This general effect feast for the eyes and ears clocked in at second at Quarter Finals, a third place brass finish added further testament to the quality program at play here. From the swaying-in-the-wind, leaf-filled tree, to the rhythmic, and ethnic, percussive sounds, this is as good a production as you'll see this season!
Spokane Thunder: 90.750
11:25: As the Semi Finals move into the rarefied air of the class, fine-tuned technique and a stepped-up pace in velocity of both movement and music takes over. Portland's former class champion Oregon Crusaders are a great example and exemplar. Top five performers in every total caption, with a third in music ensemble pacing the corps, "Inner Connections" linked talent and proficiency.
11:08: Spokane Thunder played perfectly off the notion of "Antithesis," its show title. In setting out to bring contrast to the hypothesis, the corps flowed and ebbed and crested musically and visually throughout this somewhat contrapuntal production -- against type. Larger than its size effects, led to a sixth place general effect finish in Quarter Finals.
Getting settled back in, a good Southern Granny Smith apple in tow. *Crunch* Hello to the more than 200 folks who have joined me this morning. Hope you are enjoying these Open Class Semi Finals as much as I am. Thank you, too, for joining me. I feel as if I need more chairs, to make room for everyone.
Citations: 91.525
Revolution: 88.375
Beatrix: 85.525
10:22: Three years ago a London theatrical director staged "Sweeney Todd" with no orchestra; rather the performers played instruments when they were not singing. The ruse made the "Sweeney" experience that much more visceral; kind of like what the Citations' show does with the music. As exacting as one of the barber's knives, this full production of the legendary Sondheim show eviscerated third place visual performance and second place color guard numbers in Quarter Finals. The show begins with a conceit: after just a hint of foreboding, the lush ballad "Pretty Women" lulls the audience into the corps' "chair," just so the monstrous theme from the show can cut to the quick.
Raiders: 86.600
10:07: Texas' Revolution elevated the playing field, not with props and gimmickry, rather with heightened performance at all levels. In fact, someone forgot to tell them they are not competing in the World Class; this show, by design, had the top-end in mind, from start to finish. Sweeping across the field, the corps grabbed hold of John Adam's contemporary and dramatic "Wild Nights from Harmonium," and painted broad stroke effects. In Quarterfinals, the percussion section landed in the top five, but this was the kind of show that succeeded on the strength of the whole, every section, and every caption working towards the overall good. Elevated thinking and performance, indeed.
Dutch Boy: 86.525
9:49: Holland's Beatrix is this year's international entrant to Open Class Semi-Finals. A people-scape representing "The City" became the streets and avenues down which the corps would travel. There was an exacting deliberation in the approach, which lead to solid numbers across the scoring plane (at least in Quarterfinals). The urban swing number was a delight, and the color guard really upped the impacts with color and excitement of their own. Long gone are the days of this group coming across like a "marching band;" the influence of American drum and bugle corps is right there on the field! Nice tag ending to restate the city theme, too.
9:33: Undulating waves and the flowing undercurrent of the ocean set the theme and mood for the Raiders' "Deep Blue." The yoeman's ditty that led into the finale from "La Mer," put everyone on board the ship. The huge full corps "tidal wave" nailed it for me, as music from "The Perfect Storm" helped the corps dive right into the finalist pool! A seventh place percussion score in Quarterfinals paced the unit.
Memphis Sound: 85.475
9:17: Intelligent programming was evident throughout Dutch Boy's fine "Boxed." Commitment to the theme, design for impact and for maximum performance potential, made this one potent show for the performers to bring to the field! An unforced sound and well-written percussion led the way, and the visuals ... not "boxed in" a bit. Terrific show from our Canadian neighbors.
The contenders for this year's Open finals are all appealing, and given each one's "Open" summer schedule, the level of professionalism in performance they bring is outstanding! Ideal way to test the waters for future growth.
Yamato: 85.250
9:00: Memphis' sound is just right for the lovely "Awakenings," with its frequent reference to "Ode to Joy." This is a large corps design and performance. Visual performance was key here, the corps' leading caption.
Another cup of coffee in hand; here are the scores from the break, as Memphis Sound warms up.
Legends 82.00
Spartans 82.70
Velvet Knights: 81.575
BACK AFTER THE BREAK!
8:28: Riverside, California's Yamato played wide open with field-wide coverage, visuals, and impacts that were performed with world class style. Add in evocative, mythical music and sounds from the percussion section, and this show was the perfect cap to the first jolt of drum corps java this semi-final morning.
Remember to hit REFRESH on your browser, to make sure that the most current post is up!
8:13: The hell you say :-) The Velvet Knights, no matter the show, no matter the incarnation, are other-worldly, in every good way. From Bach's tongue extravaganza "Toccata," to "Thriller," and even "Strangers in the Night," the corps proudly bears and sports the "clown prince" metal. No surprise here: leading its scoring in quarterfinals was general effect.
A score for 7th Regiment: 78.375
7:56: Percussion ruled in the Spartans' fine presentation for such a small unit. Imaginative visuals, befitting a unit with such a strong history, were also on display.
Next: former champion Spartans, with "Metallic Soundscapes."
7:41: Loved that the Legends' corps proper provided the visuals here, with the guard punctuating the show with color and some movement. A lovely baritone solo in the middle was a highlight, as was the strong performance in both music and marching. Good things -- very good things -- do come in "open" packages.
7:31: A score for Impulse: 77.300
7:26: Wow! What an ending from the ambitious Regiment. Magic in the morning. And what a tough musical book: Ginastera and that wonderful, extended production of Aaron Copland's "El Salon Mexico." The opening fanfare of trumpets was great, and the strong visual performance scores showed in the crisp marching, good forms, and terrific guard integration.
7:09: Lump-in-your-throat opening by Impulse, featuring
some nifty, and appropriate-to-the-genre narration. Music ensemble
scores led the California corps in Quarterfinals; you could hear it
this morning. Sunny morning, nice crowd on hand. Whew ... it's DCI
Week. Enjoy.
6:44 CDT: Good morning from my virtual seat "on the 50," this is David Hill live, here to report throughout this morning's Open Class Semi-Finals, via DCI's Fan Network. Glad you've joined me.
Click over between each unit for reportage, description, and opinion, as the 2008 finalists are chosen. as we all get set up for the morning, let me get some coffee, be right back.
