Definitions by Songspirit
drum corps
n.
A musical genre which uses drums as its only instrument or drums and other instruments. Drum corps may be marching or non-marching. Use of the term to describe more complex instrumentation combinations may be either a commonly-used shorthand within the particular genre, or a misapplication of the term as a result of ignorance or misinformation. The specific type of drum corps depends upon the type or types of drums used, the presence of other instruments, and the character and history of the specific genre. See also fife and drum corps, drum and bugle corps, pipe and drum corps.
A musical genre which uses drums as its only instrument or drums and other instruments. Drum corps may be marching or non-marching. Use of the term to describe more complex instrumentation combinations may be either a commonly-used shorthand within the particular genre, or a misapplication of the term as a result of ignorance or misinformation. The specific type of drum corps depends upon the type or types of drums used, the presence of other instruments, and the character and history of the specific genre. See also fife and drum corps, drum and bugle corps, pipe and drum corps.
drum corps by Songspirit May 1, 2006
Drum and Bugle Corps
n.
singular: corps (pronounced CORE)
plural: corps (pronounced CORZ)
A military-styled marching music fraternal genre, epitomized by Canadian and American corps sponsored by veterans organizations primarily between the 1920s and the 1970s, and still in existence today. Bugles are bell-front brass instruments with or without horizontal valves or slides used to change pitch, and unlike bands the entire hornline is in the same key, usually G. Drums are marching drums, primarily snares and bass drums. Color guards most closely resemble military honor guards.
singular: corps (pronounced CORE)
plural: corps (pronounced CORZ)
A military-styled marching music fraternal genre, epitomized by Canadian and American corps sponsored by veterans organizations primarily between the 1920s and the 1970s, and still in existence today. Bugles are bell-front brass instruments with or without horizontal valves or slides used to change pitch, and unlike bands the entire hornline is in the same key, usually G. Drums are marching drums, primarily snares and bass drums. Color guards most closely resemble military honor guards.
Drum and Bugle Corps by Songspirit May 1, 2006
DCI
n. and adj.
Acronym for Drum Corps International, a political organization formed by a few persons in 1972 out of a short-lived precursor called The Combine. The originally stated goals of both The Combine and DCI were to provide a consistent, single nonprofit organization to serve independent drum and bugle corps, which at the time numbered in the many 100s, rather than a broad mix of sponsoring organizations. Today, DCI serves DCI and its member groups, which are estimated as numbering 70 or so interrelated groups. These member groups resemble marching bands without woodwinds more than they do drum and bugle corps. Discussions as to whether DCI is drum and bugle corps are hotly political. DCI's primary interest today is one of continued corporate branding rather than support of and service to the drum and bugle corps genre.
Acronym for Drum Corps International, a political organization formed by a few persons in 1972 out of a short-lived precursor called The Combine. The originally stated goals of both The Combine and DCI were to provide a consistent, single nonprofit organization to serve independent drum and bugle corps, which at the time numbered in the many 100s, rather than a broad mix of sponsoring organizations. Today, DCI serves DCI and its member groups, which are estimated as numbering 70 or so interrelated groups. These member groups resemble marching bands without woodwinds more than they do drum and bugle corps. Discussions as to whether DCI is drum and bugle corps are hotly political. DCI's primary interest today is one of continued corporate branding rather than support of and service to the drum and bugle corps genre.
DCI may be drum corps of some kind, but it's not drum and bugle corps nor is it the best marching band I've seen.
DCI by Songspirit May 1, 2006
branding
A marketing goal and methodology which involves elevating hype over substance; of imparting great value to the name whether or not the thing so named is worth anything at all.
Coca-Cola and Pepsi are successful examples of branding, even though the value of soft drinks and preferring one over the other is debateable.
branding by Songspirit May 1, 2006