11 definitions by songspirit
In modern times, marching band for people too stupid to spell properly - or care enough to use a spellchecker. Such people are usually woefully ignorant about a lot of other things too. Sometimes this is due to the presence and influence of mediocre teachers, purported leaders and even predators who use children for reasons of sexual or financial exploitation. All of these are very bad signs of something no one decent should want to be involved with. Amusingly for "drumcorp" critics, "corp" is also the abbreviation (without the period) for corporation - and corporate exploitation is often one of the reasons for the ignorance and lack of care such mispellings reflect.
The use of the terms "drumcorps", "drumcorp", "drum corp" and "corp" are all signs of ignorance and a lack of respect for drum corps, drum and bugle corps and other genuine marching musical history.
by songspirit November 19, 2006
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.
by songspirit April 19, 2006
In modern times, marching band for people too stupid to spell properly - or care enough to use a spellchecker. Such people are usually woefully ignorant about a lot of other things too. Sometimes this is due to the presence and influence of mediocre teachers, purported leaders and even predators who use children for reasons of sexual or financial exploitation. All of these are very bad signs of something no one decent should want to be involved with. Unfortunately, these misspellings and contractions are also being intentionally used in order to further disguise fraud.
The use of the terms "drumcorps", "drumcorp", "drum corp" and "corp" are all signs of ignorance and a lack of respect for drum corps, drum and bugle corps and other genuine marching musical history.
by songspirit November 19, 2006
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.
by songspirit April 19, 2006
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.
by songspirit April 19, 2006
n. and adj.
plural: blan-dos
Derogatory term (except sometimes when used defensively by blandos themselves) applied to a performance music member, staffperson or other profiteer more interested in hype, marketing and supporting a political network than in music and genuine performance genres.
Original form was "bando", in order to distinguish those of mediocre intentions from genuine band and performance members and supporters. Similarities to the word "bland" are intentional, reflecting this impression of mediocrity, i.e., less than what could be as evidenced by hype and politics. Most usually related and applied to highly competitive marching band circuits and Drum Corps International (DCI).
plural: blan-dos
Derogatory term (except sometimes when used defensively by blandos themselves) applied to a performance music member, staffperson or other profiteer more interested in hype, marketing and supporting a political network than in music and genuine performance genres.
Original form was "bando", in order to distinguish those of mediocre intentions from genuine band and performance members and supporters. Similarities to the word "bland" are intentional, reflecting this impression of mediocrity, i.e., less than what could be as evidenced by hype and politics. Most usually related and applied to highly competitive marching band circuits and Drum Corps International (DCI).
"The best marching bands at the show didn't win, because the blandos were judging and put the blando school first." (both noun and adjective forms)
by songspirit April 19, 2006
Brass band is a musical genre which employs brass and percussion instruments. It differs from a marching band in that a brass band does not have woodwind instruments, such as saxophones, oboes, flutes, fifes and bassoons.
While brass bands and drum and bugle corps are both musical genres which are defined by the use of instruments classed as brass and percussion, the two genres differ as follows. A brass band:
-- may or may not have an honor guard -- a drum and bugle corps must have an honor guard;
-- may or may not observe patriotic or historically military traditions and values as a drum and bugle corps must (this is due to the often strictly civilian nature of band instruments as opposed to the purely military history of drums and bugles as signalling weapons);
-- is focused first on instrumentation and the playing of instruments, not (always) first being a fraternal group, as drum and bugle corps are;
-- plays band instruments in a variety of keys - drum and bugle corps use single key brass instruments throughout their hornline;
-- may or may not play outdoors or march - while a few drum and bugle corps may be organized as a "concert" or non-marching group, they still only perform with marching outdoor instrumentation; and
-- identifies with and honors band people and band history, while drum and bugle corps identify with and honor drum and bugle corps history, all other outside musical genres being optional and less vital than one's own genre.
Some categories of brass bands, such as traditional British brass bands, observe strictly regulated rules regarding size and type of instrumentation.
While brass bands and drum and bugle corps are both musical genres which are defined by the use of instruments classed as brass and percussion, the two genres differ as follows. A brass band:
-- may or may not have an honor guard -- a drum and bugle corps must have an honor guard;
-- may or may not observe patriotic or historically military traditions and values as a drum and bugle corps must (this is due to the often strictly civilian nature of band instruments as opposed to the purely military history of drums and bugles as signalling weapons);
-- is focused first on instrumentation and the playing of instruments, not (always) first being a fraternal group, as drum and bugle corps are;
-- plays band instruments in a variety of keys - drum and bugle corps use single key brass instruments throughout their hornline;
-- may or may not play outdoors or march - while a few drum and bugle corps may be organized as a "concert" or non-marching group, they still only perform with marching outdoor instrumentation; and
-- identifies with and honors band people and band history, while drum and bugle corps identify with and honor drum and bugle corps history, all other outside musical genres being optional and less vital than one's own genre.
Some categories of brass bands, such as traditional British brass bands, observe strictly regulated rules regarding size and type of instrumentation.
The brass band marched from the parade route into the center of the park, and performed a wonderful summer concert for the community.
by songspirit May 20, 2006