2008 DCI Championships

Last weekend marked a new high in pageantry, as thousands crowded into a stadium to be treated to a display of artistry and athleticism. No, I don't mean the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics (though that was certainly a sight to see), but rather, the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Finals. This is the pinnacle of achievement in marching music, and I was thrilled to witness a season's worth of hard work and talent on exhibition.

For those unfamiliar, drum corps are similar to marching bands, and consist of (bell-front) brass instruments, percussion and color guard. There are several dozen junior DCI corps, which operate as non-profit businesses and go on summer circuit tours to compete at shows. Each corps has up to 150 members, and auditions for these are highly competitive, often beginning in November for next year's marching season. Over the summer, members dedicate ~10 weeks to full-time rehearsal and competition, culminating with performances from the top 12 corps at DCI Finals. This year, the championships were being held at Indiana University in Bloomington, about 3 hours from Chicago. I had never been to a DCI show before, but I was armed with Matt, a veteran marcher from the '06 season and self-proclaimed DCI obsessionist. He was able to fill in various tidbits of trivia about the individual corps and provide historical references.

When I first mentioned that I had tickets to see an "extreme marching band competition," I was primarily greeted with looks of apprehension. Marching band is popularly viewed as the province of band dorks, and with a reputation for loud, uncontrolled playing, it is not accorded much respect from music aficionados either. Well, I am here to tell you that this is a different animal altogether. However badly your high school band played "Tequila" at football games, push those thoughts aside because DCI deserves to be treated with the legitimacy of a unique art form. In fact, it strips away any pretense of connections with football, save for the field on which you perform.

How do I begin to describe what a drum corps show is like? Most people have played an instrument at one point in their life. Many have danced on stage, and still others have performed in theater. Now combine elements of all these disciplines (an alternate "Triple Threat," if you will), and coordinate over 100 individuals into a single, cohesive unit. A drum corps show is a top-notch concert, with a narrative that resonates with audiences and color guard for enhanced visual appeal. If done seamlessly, this is musical theater on a grand scale. In fact, whether or not you've had marching experience, I am positive that the vast majority of people would enjoy watching a drum corps show. It is a spectacle on the order of the Beijing opening ceremony.

Going into the night, my favorite corps was Carolina Crown, whose show "Finis" featured the Candide overture, among other pieces. But I couldn't remain partisan for long. The Glassmen had a whimsical show titled "Karneval" that featured the release of balloons into the sky. Blue Stars had a show ("Le Tour") themed around bicycles, with guard members rolling bike wheels across the field to each other. How could you resist? The Bluecoats show ("The Knockout") told the tale of a boxing match, with music from On the Waterfront and Rocky. On the field, the horns formed two rings, complete with a boxer inside. The Cavaliers' show ("Samurai") featured the eerie sounds of Japanese warriors and some of the coolest drill of the night. The Blue Devils ("Constantly Risking Absurdity") created a stick figure on the field at one point. And let's not forget their amazing bass line spin.

Now for the Phantom Regiment show. This corps was seeded second at the start of the night, up from 3rd place the night before. Their show was titled "Spartacus," and as the drum major rolled dominantly onto the field atop a platform, you could feel the crowd lean forward in anticipation. Guard members dressed as slaves staggered to the ground, as horn players shoved and kicked them. The performance began, and I was enraptured by the battle unfolding before me: for love, for freedom from Roman slavers, for the hearts of the audience. By the end, the crowds in the stands were on their feet, roaring "I am Spartacus!"

When the scores were announced, Phantom Regiment had taken first place by 0.025 points, the slimmest of margins. I've never felt a stadium quake with so much energy.

Drum corps shows are designed to take place on football fields, and as such, I can't tell you how large the gap is between watching a live show and seeing a grainy clip on YouTube. No photo, no CD, no DVD can possibly capture what it feels like to be in the stands with a smorgasbord of action below you, in every direction you turn. Should you hone in on the guard member riding a bicycle across the field, or watch for the snare feature? Oh boy, the marimba players just popped balloons in sequence! I can't think of another art form for which the gulf between an in-person and on-the-screen experience is wider. If you are the least bit curious about DCI, check next summer for a tour stop near you.