Once upon a time... I did play soprano in a Drum & Bugle Corps:
Blue Wave from IJmuiden, the Netherlands.
Promo photo Blue Wave approx. 1985-1986 (Photo by unknown).
Blue Wave was formed 23 March 1984.
The first 'In Exhibition' performance at a Drumcorps Holland Contest was in
1985 and
in 1986
Blue Wave first fully participated.
Unfortunately the only material, I think, still excisting from this era is some
video recordings made of these shows (VCC-2000 and VHS).
The audio, back then, was transfered to a PCM digital copy and now to DAT and
MP3 (192kbps).
As these recordings were made with simple amateur video equipment with analog,
mono sound, you should not expect a brilliant quality recording.. Actually it
is simply lousy quality, but at least something is available.
When I get time for it, I will see that I also transfer the complete video
recordings to digital format.
The programme for 1987 was digitally recorded in a special session in between
show rehersals (open air):
Jamie and Mary
Oh! Happy Day
Percussion Solo -
California Dreaming
We are the Reason -
Georgia
Unfortunately not much time was allowed in between these show rehersals, so there
are quite a few flaws heard.
This recording was digital PCM on a VCC-2000 recorder, but as no working recorder
was available, this copy is taken from a SA-C90 Compact Cassette (Dolby-B) copy,
again transfered to DAT and MP3 (192kbps).
When time comes that I have a working recorder available, I will surely see
that the recording from the original master will be preserved in a format that
is available at that time.
There is a (closed) Blue Wave group on
Facebook (Dutch).
There also is a Blue Wave page on
Facebook (The language is Dutch).
For information about Drum & Bugle Corps, European in particular, have a look
at:
Drum Corps Europe
