Sun, 26 Jan 2003
DCI Gets Pit Amplification in 2004
Drum Corps International has voted to allow amplification of the front ensemble or pit instruments in 2004. This has been a controversial point in DCI for years, and brings the activity more in line with the competitive marching band circuit. I, being an old man, would prefer to see DCI remain an acoustic activity. Of course, my wife and I stopped going to DCI shows a year or so ago when we just didn't get much out of it anymore. That's a funny predicament considering how long my wife marched drum corps. Anyhow, the comments of Cavalier's director Jeff Fiedler resonated with my own teaching in the activity over the past fifteeen years:
I think it goes against the basic nature of our activity. We don't need it in our pit. The members are taught how to play to project.
Hallelujah, brother. While I admit to being a huge fan of electronic music and I use a variety of amplification and electronics in my own work as a musician, I think there's considerable educational value to be gained from learning to be creative about making acoustic instruments speak in a variety of timbres and DCI is where that has always been a tradition. Sigh.
Posted at: 21:09 | permalink
