Fortisimo

Umm... as to your second post, I'm not sure what you are insinuating, but my works span wide varieties of musical disciplines far beyond "putting chords together that sound good with woodwind runs. " Maybe you haven't really listened if you think otherwise. There is abounding use of contrapuntal styles, complex motive structures, and much more. And we did shows from Poulan when we had our old director; a rather conservative type with often questionable tastes/knowledge of music. And what would make you think I would have the kind of influence to step in and change our show? A better arranger you ask? JD Shaw. He did an amazing job on our show this past season. And you can't simply claim that you have a stronger arguement based on what is in essence a seniority idealism. Basically, you're saying that since he was born at an earlier time and is therefore farther progressed along life that he is automatically not at fault. Perhaps when it's spelled out so plainly you will see the obvious foolishness of such ideas. And lack of solid facts? Listen to his shows; HIS shows, not ones he took from other people and arranged. Now listen to mine; there's the proof. And if you believe his shows are better than fine; mostly likely that be attributed to musical taste, or perhaps insincerity. And of course it stands; he has the power. But maybe you should note; I'm just arguing a stance- you on the other hand are implying that our band sucks. That sounds much more like a personal attack than anything I have said or even came close to saying.

Well that's all well and good, but it's my opinion that a band needs something much better than a Poulan show. And yes, you do need a very strong brass section to pull off a DCI show.

Oh well that's funny, but I've already produced 4 marching shows that excede your expectations and am currently workign on a fifth. Perhaps they are outside of UIL time limits, but they are within BOA limits. I didn't write battery parts for them; neither does Key Poulan. So, who's the fool now? I've been writing music for 2 and a half years and am darn good at it; that's how it got so big. If you want to hear the shows, go to the Composer's corner and listen to "Suite of Assorted Cataclysms" "The 2nd Law of Thermodynamics" "The Unnamed Show" and "A Darker Side of Man", all of which are shows I have composed. Most of them have This arrangement: 3 Flute parts 2 piccolo Parts 3-4 Clarinet parts (splits) 3 alto parts No one marches baris and I particularly don't like altos 2 Bass clarinet parts 3 F-Horn Parts 3-5 Trumpet parts 2 or 3 trombone parts Screw bass trombone 2-3 Euphonium/baritone parts 2 Tuba parts Pit percussion including Crash cymbals Splash Cymbals Chinese Cymbals Gongs Suspended Cymbals 2 kinds of bass drums HIgh impact cymbals, High Impact bass strike Two- Three different snares Tubular bells 3 boards parts (not specified type)

Ha! What a feeble retort: just as I would expect from a french horn.

Lol, it's cool.

Ha! You m ust have me mistaken for someone else; I am an arrogant, stubborn person and I will not back down from my arguement. You have nothing to worry about in the way of me editing my posts. And I would venture to say that while my performance of music and while I don't have a degree in music (and I don't plan to get one either) I will confidently say that I can compose at least, AT LEAST, as good as Poulan, so I will bash his composing as much as I want.

Lmao, good call bluebell.

I think the more pertinet question is what does that mean today? Perhaps nothing; the past is not necessarily indicative of the present nor future. You would be hard pressed to find someone who would say that past experience reins over contemporary, concrete evidence. And you're right, I don't have to care. So he cranked out some really good bands way back in the day. Like I said, so what? My beef is his capitalization off of his image in order to sell half-a**ed shows for over the top prices. If I were to be a show writer, I am certain that I would not settle for anything less than the best job I can do on a work. But that's only me. Maybe he does it to just to pay the bills, a sad situation in which the bands suffer the resulting mediocrity. Besides, what exactly did he do at those HS's? Did he write their shows or be a tech or a director or what?

Lol, yeah for juniors. And I think sophmores too.... I could be wrong though.

I don't dislike him personally (I don't know him), but I do dislike his music, and I hate the fact that he charges such premium prices for shows that are, to use a word from a different thread, lackluster. And besides, why would I care about what he did for some high school in the early 90's? This is the mid 00's; I'm sure you're aware that there is more than a decade between then and now.

Lmao, looks pretty cool, and original to boot.

What about it? Once again, it's just an arrangement. Not really his music. And don't even start to say that it is his because he arranged it because it's not, otherwise it would sound just like every other original piece he has ever made. Besides, it's really not all that amazing in my opinion. Beyond that still it is only one show, so even if it were his own music, and amazing, it would still be more likely a fluke than anything.

I finished the science in 45 minutes today, and that includes drawing pictures and going "wtf?" to those pointless questions about the Man of War

Lol, or at least there's more of them, so statistically there should be more people involved who are attractive.

I don't see the conceite... maybe it's just me. And yeah, I would imagine the majority of bands get overall better from year to year. And I can see how a show can very possibily lead to a 'lackluster' season. I mean, how can you argue that it couldn't? Shows are the foundation of every season afterall. I think I am not well acquainted with some of these bands you're refering to, but it seems there is some hostility involved here....

Well, yes, it is boring. BUt I think what you meant to say was more along the lines of "I wish we could play a DCI show." Since, you know, Key Poulan writes subpar shows and charges way too much for them.

Gotta second that.

Our school has a deal where if you pass you get 7 points added to your semester final (which I will be exempt for anyway) which basically adds a point to your semester average in that class. And it's too much of a pain still. Besides, I can feel superior at any time and make sure everyone knows it, lol. Maybe that's why (or because of the fact that) I play the trumpet.

Ha! Don't even start to tell me about midi; I composed using pure midi (which is like 5 steps below the high grade synthesizers he has on the few recordings to which you are refering) as a composing tool for at least a year. I know what good music sounds like despite the soundfonts utilized, unlike a vast majority of people. You wouldn't believe how much flack even a well written piece will take because it quote, sounds like a video game, end quote, or some BS like that. Lmao, it's really funny though; Bluebell, you have no idea how much irony there is in your use of Brazoswood for your example. You see, we hired Key Poulan to write that show for us not this past season, but the one before. I am well acquainted with his works; and they are below average. The SCV pieces you are refering to are largely arrangments, which means they aren't really his pieces. And I will. Oh, I most certainly will, Lol.

No joke; I mean, making top notch students take minimal skills tests? Absurd!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you probably didn't play his shows for the past two years... go to his website and listen to his original marching pieces and tell me that 95% of them don't blow. I've said before, and I 'll say it again- at some point in my natural life I shall go and take a dump on his porch. That's all there is to it. (And ironically enough, chances are it will be more musical than anything he ever wrote, lmao)

OUr band is average size for 5A, but our school itself is rather large; we have about 4000 students.

Here's an entry; It's sort of a freeform improv style deal with synths and a bass and a trap set basically.... it covers a variety of musical styles and it is entitled "Circumstantial Evidence" for no obvious nor good reason. And... it's 2:03. Circumstantial Evidence

Ahck, not more Key Poulan. Jeez... Speaking of over performed things, how about something that doesn't generally fall below expectation? Granted, it has been played countless times, but we are playing Ride for our last concert of the year (along with other pieces of course), and I must say that it actually is a very well written piece and I rather enjoy playing it. BUt as to our show for next year.... I'm not sure as of yet. In fact, I don't know that anyone is quite sure yet. Ah well.

Lmao, wikipedia is basically the sum meaning of |337