Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps
Encyclopedia
Drum and bugle corps (modern)
A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...
based in Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
and founded in 1967, and is a member corps of Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...
. The corps has won six Drum Corps International titles (1 tie).
Mission statement
To provide the opportunity for people of all ages to develop an appreciation for the performing arts through participation, thus instilling characteristics of integrity, dedication, excellence and good citizenship.Tradition
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
as not only the corps' greatest show, but as the greatest show in the history of DCI, as evidenced by fan votes for the 2005 and 2007 Classic Countdown (a theatrical special where shows were chosen by fans). In fact, most people would say that "more than half of DCI fans" feel this way.
The Vanguard is also one of the few corps to tilt their snare drums down on the right side. When snare drums were first worn and played, they were carried by a sling worn over one shoulder, causing the snare drum to be tilted down to the right. Because of that, snare drummers held the stick in their left hand with a Traditional grip
Traditional grip
Traditional grip is a technique used to hold drum sticks while playing percussion instruments. Unlike matched grip, each hand holds the stick differently. Commonly, the right hand uses an overhand grip and the left hand uses an underhand grip...
so they could comfortably hit the drum. Recently in 2011, with the introduction of new staff, Santa Clara Vanguard has gone to level drums.
Other Vanguard traditions include an award-winning and very musical percussion section that has captured numerous high percussion awards at World Championships; the long-standing corps director Gail Royer, who guided the corps from its inception to his death in 1993; the Corps' song "Send in the Clowns"; and the Vanguard's performance of the "Bottle Dance" from Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
.
In the past, the corps would do their final performance of the year (the first age out ceremony was held outside Townsend Field in Santa Clara) and those members "aging out" (performing their last Vanguard show, as they had reached the maximum age for junior corps) would perform with a green feather added to those already in their aussies. In recent years, however, that has changed, as many members leave straight for home after DCI finals and the post finals performances do not occur. Instead, those ageouts have the green feather added for the Finals performance. In the case of pit or color guard, a portion of green feather is affixed somewhere on their uniforms, since they do not wear the aussie in show.
Another tradition that is incorporated into the show is the signature cymbal "V". The SCV cymbal section get together and make a V with the cymbals, signifying "Vanguard". The cymbal section also has a tradition of their own called the "Viper". The Viper is a dangerous, high-risked visual where each member somehow swings their cymbals under or over another cymbal member. It is said that the 4 cymbal players in SCV are the closest members in the entire corps.
Historical Moments
1967: After a dispute with the leadership of the Sparks Organization, the drum and bugle corps portion breaks away and establishes the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps1968: The year of the first "Pacific Procession" field competition (the name coming from the Corp's new opener, "Procession of the Nobles").
1970: The first year SCV played Gail Royer's arrangements of their trademark music from "Fiddler on the Roof"; Won American Legion Nationals (Portland, Ore)
1971: The Vanguard won VFW Nationals (Dallas, Tx) with a score of 89.95 (and without coming in first in a single caption).
1972: First year Rifle line does the "Bottle Dance" a crowd favorite through the years.
1973: DCI Champions; DCI High Percussion Honors.
1974: DCI Champions; The Vanguard first plays "Send in the Clowns" for the closer of their show. Gail Royer considered this song to be "simple but effective".
1974: DCI High Percussion Honors
1975: DCI High Percussion Honors
1977: The corps food truck, "Miss Amana" debuted.
1977: The Vanguard started using two valve horns.
1978: DCI Champions; DCI High Percussion Honors
1979: DCI High Percussion Honors
1980: Santa Clara's entire drill for this year's show was filled with asymmetrical forms (something never done before); their drill was called "extremely innovative". The corps also placed 7th that year — the first time in their history they finished below 3rd place (some argue that's because the judges score sheets were not fully prepared to judge asymmetrical drill.)
1981: DCI Champions; The tympani was moved into the pit this year.
1987: Santa Clara Vanguard drum line debuts Remo Falam Kevlar drum heads.
1988: DCI High Percussion Honors
1989: DCI Champions, DCI High Percussion Honors
1992: The last year Gail Royer directs the Vanguard.
1993: Gail Royer passes away; Dr. Len Kruszecki is appointed as the new corps director.
1996: J.W. Koester is appointed as the new corps director.
1999: DCI Co-Champions.
2000: Rick Valenzuela is appointed as the new corps director.
2004: DCI High Percussion Honors.
2005: Jeff Pearson is appointed as Program Manager, responsible for all performing and educational groups and as new corps director.
2008: Jeff Fiedler is named new CEO of the Santa Clara Vanguard.
Championship Years
1970
The Santa Clara Vanguard won their first Drum Corps Championship title - The American Legion (AL) Junior Title in Portland, Oregon1971
The Santa Clara Vanguard won their first Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Drum Corps Championship Title in Dallas, Texas1973
The Santa Clara Vanguard won their first Drum Corps International World Championship title on August 17, in Whitewater, Wisconsin at Warhawk Stadium at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. They finished with a final score of 88.650, 2.500 ahead of the Troopers, who came in second.1974
The Vanguard won their second title the very next year on August 17, in Ithaca, New York at Schoellkopf Stadium. They finished with a score of 89.500, .650 ahead of the second place Madison Scouts.1978
After finishing in second place in 1975 and in third place the next two years, the Vanguard won their third World Championship title on August 18, in Denver, Colorado at Mile High Stadium. With a final score of 91.550, they barely beat out the second place Phantom Regiment by .100.1981
After finishing in seventh place in 1980, the Vanguard climbed back to the top this year, claiming their fourth championship title on August 8, in Montreal, Quebec at Olympic Stadium. They scored a 94.000 that night, beating out the second place Blue Devils by .300.1989
After placing second for four years in a row, the decision was made to return to the field in the 1989 season with a highly polished repertoire of the previous year's music, selections from Andrew Lloyd WebberAndrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)
The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
. The Vanguard went into the DCI World Championships in Kansas City having won all but one show for the entire season (on July 15 to the Concord Blue Devils). Aiming to draw as much emotion as possible from the audience, Santa Clara's finals performance was a theatrical presentation perhaps unlike any other show before. Giant phantom masks lined the field and performers donned half-masks of their own. During the final, dramatic push in "Music of the Night", a fully costumed Phantom seated himself on a chair and was covered with a sheet, and after the last note was released, the cloth was flung back to reveal an empty seat, mask still on it. Simultaneous to the disappearance of this individual, the entire corps had apparently vanished as well, behind mask props and under a giant tarp in center field. With all the members safely disguised, that covering moved away to reveal a similar mask left positioned in the middle of the field.
The Vanguard set a record score of 98.800 that night. It remained the highest finals score on record until the 2002 World Champion Cavaliers
The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps
The Cavaliers are a World Class drum and bugle corps based in Rosemont, Illinois and founded in 1948 by Donald Warren, and are a member corps of Drum Corps International, marching music's major league. The Cavaliers are currently under the direction of Adolph DeGrauwe...
achieved a score of 99.150.
1999
The Santa Clara Vanguard claimed top honors this year in a first place tie with the Blue DevilsBlue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps
The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class drum and bugle corps based in Concord, California and founded in 1957 as a Drum and Bell corps, and is a member corps of Drum Corps International...
. Both corps finished with a score of 98.400. The Vanguard's show, Inventions for a New Millennium featured the music of Philip Glass
Philip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
, Samuel Barber
Samuel Barber
Samuel Osborne Barber II was an American composer of orchestral, opera, choral, and piano music. His Adagio for Strings is his most popular composition and widely considered a masterpiece of modern classical music...
, and Frank Ticheli, and contrary to the Vanguard's theatrical style, this year's show is described as "minimalist". The Vanguard also won the general effect caption this year.
Shows by Year (DCI era)
| Year | |Repertoire | Score | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | None | Fanfare and Allegro by Clifton Williams / Henry V by Sir William Walton / Now Thank We All Our God by Johann Cruger / Wedding Celebration and Bottle Dance (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / If I Were A Rich Man (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / Chava Ballet (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock | 87.350 | 3 |
| 1973 | None | Fanfare and Allegro by Clifton Williams / Young Person's Guide To Drum Corps by Benjamin Britten / Wedding Celebration and Bottle Dance (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / Chava Ballet (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock | 88.650 | 1 |
| 1974 | None | Siegfried's Rhine Journey from Götterdämmerung by Richard Wagner / Young Person's Guide To Drum Corpby Benjamin Britten / Overture to Candide by Leonard Bernstein / A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim / Weekend in the Country (from A Little Night Music) by Stephen Sondheim / Send In The Clowns (from A Little Night Music) by Stephen Sondheim | 89.500 | 1 |
| 1975 | None | Entrance of the Emperor and His Court (from the Hary Janos Suite) by Zoltan Kodaly / Dance of the Buffoons by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov / To Life (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / If I Were A Rich Man (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / Sabbath Prayer (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / Chava Ballet (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / Bottle Dance (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock | 91.000 | 2 |
| 1976 | None | Hary Janos Suite by Zoltan Kodaly / Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland / Black Orchid by Stan Kenton / Send in the Clowns (from A Little Night Music) by Stephen Sondheim | 89.500 | 3 |
| 1977 | None | Overture to a New Era by Caesar Giovannini / Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland / Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) by Leonard Bernstein | 89.850 | 3 |
| 1978 | None | Overture to a New Era by Caesar Giovannini / Dance of Welcome (from Gayne Ballet) by Aram Khachaturian / Adagio (from Gayne Ballet) by Aram Khachaturian / Lezghinka by Aram Khachaturian / Hopak (from Gayne Ballet) by Aram Khachaturian / If You Believe by Charlie Smalls / Bottle Dance (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock | 91.550 | 1 |
| 1979 | None | Verdi's Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi / Adagio (from Gayne Ballet) by Aram Khachaturian / Lezghinka by Aram Khachaturian / Hopak (from Gayne Ballet) by Aram Khachaturian / If You Believe by Charlie Smalls / Bottle Dance (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock | 90.700 | 3 |
| 1980 | None | Fanfare Symphony No. 4 Opus 36 by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Procession of the Nobles by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Stone Ground Seven by R Kellaway / Selections from Evita by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Jupiter (from The Planets) by Gustav Holst | 85.600 | 7 |
| 1981 | None | Northridge by Jack Schaffer / Young Person's Guide To Drum Corps by Benjamin Britten / Slava by Leonard Bernstein / Don't Cry For Me Argentina (from Evita) by Andrew Lloyd Webber | 94.000 | 1 |
| 1982 | None | Third Symphony, Fourth Movement by Giannini / Capriccio Espagnol by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Slava by Leonard Bernstein / Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland / Bottle Dance (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock | 93.550 | 2 |
| 1983 | None | Third Symphony, Fourth Movement by Giannini / On The Town by Leonard Bernstein / Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland / Dream Sequence (from The Red Pony) by Aaron Copland | 92.750 | 3 |
| 1984 | None | Fanfare and Allegro by Clifton Williams / Musika Bohema / On The Town by Leonard Bernstein / Tender Land by Aaron Copland | 97.400 | 3 |
| 1985 | None | Festive Overture by Dimitri Shostakovich / Grover's Corner (from Our Town) by Aaron Copland / Tender Land by Aaron Copland / The Red Pony by Aaron Copland | 97.200 | 2 |
| 1986 | None | Festive Overture by Dimitri Shostakovich / Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky | 97.000 | 2 |
| 1987 | None | Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed / Dance of the Tumblers by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Lezghinka by Aram Khachaturian / Lullaby by Aram Khachaturian / Hut of Baba Yaga (from "Pictures at an Exhibition") by Modest Mussorgsky / Great Gate of Kiev (from "Pictures at an Exhibition") by Modest Mussorgsky | 97.800 | 2 |
| 1988 | Phantom of the Opera | Music of the Night by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Angel of Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Masquerade by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Track Down This Murderer by Andrew Lloyd Webber / All I Ask Of You by Andrew Lloyd Webber | 96.900 | 2 |
| 1989 | Phantom of the Opera | Angel of Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Masquerade by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again by Andrew Lloyd Webber / All I Ask Of You by Andrew Lloyd Webber / Track Down This Murderer by Andrew Lloyd Webber | 98.800 | 1 |
| 1990 | Carmen | Prelude and March (from Carmen) by George Bizet / Intermezzo (from Carmen) by George Bizet / March of the Toreadors (from Carmen) by George Bizet / Changing of the Guard (from Carmen) by George Bizet / Allegro Moderato (from Carmen) by George Bizet / La Habanera (from Carmen) by George Bizet / Gypsy Dance (from Carmen) by George Bizet | 94.000 | 6 |
| 1991 | Miss Saigon | Overture - What's This I Find? (from Miss Saigon) by Boublil, Alain; Schonberg, Claude-Michel / Sun and Moon (from Miss Saigon) by Boublil, Alain; Schonberg, Claude-Michel / Morning of the Dragon (from Miss Saigon) by Boublil, Alain; Schonberg, Claude-Michel / Wedding Ceremony (from Miss Saigon) by Boublil, Alain; Schonberg, Claude-Michel / The Fall of Saigon (from Miss Saigon) by Boublil, Alain; Schonberg, Claude-Michel | 94.400 | 4 |
| 1992 | Fiddler on the Roof | Tradition (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / Sabbath Prayer (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / To Life (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / If I Were A Rich Man (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / Chava Ballet (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / Wedding Celebration and Bottle Dance (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock / Bottle Dance (from Fiddler on the Roof) by Jerry Bock | 91.800 | 7 |
| 1993 | Walton Trilogy | Johannesburg Festival Overture by Sir William Walton / Richard III by Sir William Walton / Agincourt Song (from Henry V) by Sir William Walton | 90.400 | 7 |
| 1994 | The Red Poppy | Hymn to Red October by Basil Poledouris / Triumphal Dance of the Coolies (from The Red Poppy) by Reinhold Gliere / Chinese Dances (from The Red Poppy) by Reinhold Gliere / Phoenix (from The Red Poppy) by Reinhold Gliere / Russian Sailor's Dance (from The Red Poppy) by Reinhold Gliere / Great Gate of Kiev (from "Pictures at an Exhibition") by Modest Mussorgsky | 92.300 | 5 |
| 1995 | Not the Nutcracker | The Clock Breaks by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky / War of the Nuts by Dave Carico / Romance and Seduction (from the Nutcracker) by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Celebration by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky / The Journey Concludes by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky | 91.900 | 6 |
| 1996 | La Mer | La Mer, Mvt. 1 by Claude Debussy / Oceans by Goff Richards / The Skyboat (from Waterworld) by James Newton Howard / La Mer 3rd Movement by Claude Debussy | 92.300 | 5 |
| 1997 | Fog City Sketches | On The Town by Leonard Bernstein / On The Waterfront by Leonard Bernstein / The Age of Anxiety by Leonard Bernstein | 96.900 | 3 |
| 1998 | Copland, The Modernist | Grohg by Aaron Copland / Dance Panels by Aaron Copland / Down a Country Lane by Aaron Copland / Hear Ye! Hear Ye! by Aaron Copland / Grohg, Part II by Aaron Copland | 97.900 | 2 |
| 1999 | Inventions for a New Millennium | The Canyon by Philip Glass / Symphonies No. 1 & 2 by Samuel Barber / Symphony No. 1, mvt. 3 by Samuel Barber / Blue Shades by Frank Ticheli | 98.400 | 1 |
| 2000 | Age of Reverence | Prayers of Kierkegaard (Prayer No.4) by Samuel Barber / String Quartet No. 4, mvt. 5 by Bela Bartok / Piano Concerto No. 1 mvt. 3 by Bela Bartok / Agnus Dei (Adagio for Strings) by Samuel Barber / Stained Glass, 1st and 3rd mvts by David Gillingham | 94.700 | 4 |
| 2001 | New Era Metropolis | Short Ride in a Fast Machine by John Adams / Jug Blues and Fat Pickin' by Don Freund / Variants on a Medieval Tune by Norman Dello Joio / New Era Dance by Aaron Jay Kernis | 95.350 | 4 |
| 2002 | Sound, Shape, and Color | Trivandrum by Gordon Henderson / Symphony No. 2 "Romantic" by Howard Hanson / Symphony for Organ and Orchestra by Aaron Copland | 95.650 | 4 |
| 2003 | Pathways | Orawa (Part 1) by Wojciech Kilar / One Man Show by Jeff Beal / Anima Mundi by Richard Danielpour / Orawa (Part 2) by Wojciech Kilar | 94.700 | 5 |
| 2004 | Attraction: The Music of Scheherazade | Excerpts from "Scheherazade" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov | 96.825 | 3 |
| 2005 | Russia: Revolution - Evolution 1917 - 1991 | Symphony #12 by Dmitri Shostakovich / Russian Christmas Music by Alfred Reed | 88.650 | 8 |
| 2006 | Moto Perpetuo | Chains of Reaction by Key Poulan / Newton's Cradle by Key Poulan / Echoes of Time by Key Poulan / Speed of Sight by Key Poulan | 92.350 | 6 |
| 2007 | ! (Eureka) | Introduction from Daphnis et Chloé by Maurice Ravel / War Dance from Daphnis and Chloé by Maurice Ravel / String Quartet in F Major - 2nd Movement by Maurice Ravel / Romanian Dance for Orchestra, Sz. 47a by Bela Bartok / St. Gregory the Great from Church Windows by Ottorino Respighi / Finale from Daphnis and Chloé by Maurice Ravel | 94.175 | 5 |
| 2008 | 3HREE Mind, Body and Soul | The Chairman Dances (Foxtrot for Orchestra) by John Adams / The Man in the Bath by Philip Glass / Eclipse by Talvin Singh / Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre | 93.025 | 7 |
| 2009 | Ballet For Martha | Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland | 95.650 | 5 |
| 2010 | Bartók | Concerto for Orchestra by Bela Bartók / Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta by Bela Bartók | 92.000 | 7 |
| 2011 | The Devil's Staircase | First Essay for Orchestra by Samuel Barber/ Piano Sonata #2 Mvt 2 by Avner Dorman /The Eternal Knot by Karl Jenkins/ Etude 13: The Devil's Staircase by Gyorgy Ligeti | 92.200 | 6 |