DCUK Championships 1981

I was very impressed with the recent Drum Corps Championships. It was a super spectacle and I enjoyed it immensely. I was even more delighted when I found my score sheet was the same as the judges for the first three places, and I offer my congratulations to Dagenham, their display was tremendous.

Involved as I am with a traditional military style Bb bugle band, this competition was a new experience for me, and I was interested to see the different approaches in styles. Some had crisp, sharp manoeuvres others had a more casual approach. I agree with my Bandmaster who, as a judge, has criticised bandsmen in the past for their sloppy attitude when coming forward to play solos. Dagenham's soloists marched forward, in step with the rest of the Corps, played their solos and marched back to their place - with precision. Other Corps soloists seem to adopt a very sloppy approach - amble up, 'flush' their instrument of spit in an anything but discreet manner, then, with a "look out here I am" gesture, start playing a short solo and return to their ranks with a "wasn't that great" air. One soloist even threw his headgear towards the crowd for no apparent reason! Perhaps I missed the point of these showmanship styles, but they did nothing for me.

However to the competing bands, thanks for a very entertaining day - including our friends from West Brom with their three-act play! They obviously enjoyed it as much as the crowd did.

Is the time not right for us to have a National Bb Bugle Band Championship? The judges could be solely military personnel for the styles of these bands. It is just an idea. If anyone has any thoughts on this, I should be delighted to hear from them - whether Novice, Contest or Championship. It would be one way of preserving our identity.

 (Excerpt from 'Marching Bands Review' October 1981 Vol 2. No. 1)

DCUK 1984 contest schedule

Sat 12^th May

DC Britain, Walthamstow FC

Sun 20^th May

DC Panorama, Crystal Palace FC

Sat 26^th May

Chesterfield FC

Sun 27^th May

Showdown Part I,  Leigh RC

Sun 3^rd June

DC Nottingham, Notts. County FC

Sat 16^th June

DC Leicester, Saffron Lane Sports Centre.

Sat 23^rd June

Fanfare at Far Town. Huddersfield RC

Sun 24^th June

Salford DC Spectacular, Salford RC

Sat 30^th June

Crawley DC Classic, Crawley Leisure Centre.

Sat 7^th July

Capital Brass, East London Stadium.

Sun 29^th July

DC Brighton, Withdean Stadium.

Sat 25^th Aug

DC Scotland, Scotstoun Showground, Glasgow.

Sun 26^th Aug

Salute to Scotland, East Kilbride.

Sun 2^nd Sep

Brass Roots, Southend United FC.

Sat 8^th Sep

DC Midlands, Alexander Stadium, Birmingham (Prelims & Finals).

Sun 9^th Sep

Challenge 84, Chelmsford City FC

Sat 15^th Sep

Showdown Part II, Warrington.

Sun 16^th Sep       

Gravesend, Northfleet & Victoria FC

Sat  22^nd Sep     

British D.C. Championships, West Bromwich Albion FC

Partial excerpt from DCUK CORFAX May 1984 (The monthly newsletter of Drum Corps United Kingdom)

Fantasy is now pure Fantasy Press Release

The shattering news reached staff and members at the start of a Sunday practice, when it was discovered that the percussion line had gone off to join the Blue Barons.

At first, staff could not understand how the Barons could possibly march two percussion lines, but it was later revealed that the Barons were short and were in fact "looking" for percussion players. The practice was abandoned, and the stunned members sent home to give the staff a chance to assess the situation. Gradually the facts became clear - The Corps could not possibly compete - It would almost be impossible, even to hold the members under the circumstances.

The staff left that day totally depresses and dejected. The success of last season, the hopes, the dreams, the great potential for the future which the corps had, was all now in shreds.

A short time later the 3rd Glasgow BB were contacted and they were highly sympathetic to the plight of the remaining members. Much to the relief and gratitude of Fantasy staff, the 3rd extending a warm hand of friendship agreed to absorb Fantasy's horn line and colour guard into their corps for the '85 season.

(Excerpt from Drum Corps Quarterly April 1985 Vol 2. Issue 2)

DCUK Board of Directors 1983/84 (* = elected members)

Excerpt from DCUK NEWSFLASH October 1983

McAndrew praises Dagenham's 75

Dear Steve,

I am extremely disappointed that no one in the UK has reported the achievements of Dagenham. I think that too often there is so much awe of the American scene that there is a lack of appreciation for what is going on in your own backyard. I would have thought that some awareness and acknowledgement of what the Dagenham Crusaders "Mighty 75" accomplished, would have been in print and, at least, mentioned at the Gala Awards held in Gravesend.

No drum corps has ever changed a complete show, brass and visual, and coincidentally, been successful whilst doing it.

The opener was Francis W. McBeth's "Chant and Jubilo," in which one can hear many harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic differences from the '74 Blue Devils' version. It is these differences which make it distinctly Dagenham's.

The production number, was a totally new arrangement/version/interpretation of "Baubles Bangles, and Beads" which not only was in a different key than the original but was also in a different tonality (mode) (major-minor, minor-major). The only reason this tune was retained was that we thought we could utilize most of the original percussion part which did not prove to be the case at all.

The percussion solo was retained but with changes and a new visual show. The concert was not a "Kiltie" adaptation as has been pointed out (with a contra-brass drone creating a bagpipe effect), but rather a big band chart originally adapted by the Bridgemen in 1972 and copied by the "Kilts." Again, Dagenham, with many changes in the chart as well as a new ending, put the stamp of their personality to "My Favorite Things". The exit of "Come In From the Rain" was completely original.

All of this required completely new brass arrangements, percussion arrangements, and visual design. A strong "ace in the hole" was our National Championship Colour Guard whose abilities and talents we took full advantage of.

All of this was accomplished by Dagenham's "Mighty 75" in 75 working days (2 months). The end result was an extremely close second place overall in the Nationals, 1st place in percussion and 1st place in brass with the first-ever perfect score in music arrangements.

It is wonderful to appreciate American drum corps, but let us not be into the woods so far that we cannot see our own beautiful trees.

I attended my first nationals in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1955 and no one, repeat no one, has ever accomplished what the "Mighty 75" of the 1984 Dagenham Crusaders did.

This has been bothering me for quite a while now, and I appreciate your letting me get it off my chest "for the record" and hopefully into print.

I do hope for all the DCUK members that you will publish this letter in your next issue.

Thank you,

Thomas McAndrew, USA.

(Excerpt from Drum Corps Quarterly April 1985 Vol 2. Issue 2)