I can't believe all of the people that are so confident that this is either a 3-valve horn or a euphonium. It's a 2-valve baritone bugle in G. It's not the same as a euphonium bugle, which were also made in 2-valve key-of-G form. Phantom has not always marched euphs exclusively. I have spoken.
First time I've seen his performance (which is impressive) but what I remember was in Arizona when DCM & DCW did a combined thing at a Bowl game. Not a shred of humility and the guys running the bari rehearsal were just adding to it. It was a good example of learning to seperate the man from the musician.
Alfred, thanks for the kind words. I guess the one thing that has been constant is change. I marched from 81-89. The activity changed a bunch in those 9 years not to mention how differen it was 10 to 20 years prior. We went from the tick system of judging to the build up system.(more credit could be given for difficulty and design) I like the sound of the Bb hornlines today. They sound cleaner. Playing the G bugle was like wrestling a pig. Thanks again for the props.
Bb horns have given a viable secondary market for used equipment, if nothing else. There's a certain premium that can be charged for old horns from your favorite corps, allowing them to recoup probably 100% of their investment, once promotional discounts from the manufacturers are factored in.
Okay, I'm going to try and make this as clear as I can. The difference between a marching Bb Euphonium and a marching Bb Baritone is essentially the same as the difference between a Trumpet and a Cornet; that is all true. However, he is not playing either of those instruments. He is playing a two valved G Baritone Bugle. The term Baritone describes the range of the instrument, not the type. Technically, this is a Bugle, end of story.
Naw, I'm pretty sure that that is technically a baritone, but it's a G baritone bugle, which is where the darker sound comes from. I don't think any corps started marching Bb euphs until the mid-ninties sometime.
I always thought the coolest thing about James was that he was actually a Trombone player! He use to only play baritone or euphonium for corps, as far as I know. A truly gifted musician to be sure! SUTA!!
He's still playing. In Florida last I heard. He went on to play for Disney and a bunch of groups in that part of the country. It seems like a happy ending.
wow! my hat's off to this guy! i tried out for an all age corps once although not able to do it because of a shortage of money, but i did get a chance to play those horns. those are beasts! this guy's got lungs of steel to get that horn to speak like that!
2nd valve. The fingerings on a G bugle are the same as a Bb trumpet. The only notes it couldn't play were C#, D, Eb, and Ab in or below the staff. Above the staff you could play an Ab by using 1st valve and throwing the 1st valve tuning slide all the way in. Any note with a 1st valve was inherently a little flat on those horns....the 4th line D in particular. Even today, years later (BD in 1984), if I'm listening to my show and start air fingering with my R hand, the L thumb moves if needed
@stutzand000 Negative....3 valved G bugles were not legal until the 1990 season. There's one place (I forget the time stamp) in this vid where the valve cluster is isolated against the white in the tunic...there are clearly only 2 valves. Besides...a lot of us posting here marched in the era (I did) and know our stuff....you apparently do not.
I'll second that motion. But I am biased. He's one of my best friends. We both started in the Royal Grenadiers. When that corps disbanded in 1984 James and I (and a number of others) went to Phantom Regiment. James played with Phantom from 1985 through 1989. I'll never forget when he played flight of the bumble bee on his trombone for High School solo and ensemble contest. You can catch him in and around Orlando. He often plays trombone in Walt Disney World's main street marching band.
You were right the 1st time. Its a Marching (two Valve) Baritone Bugle in the Key of G. And yes for his age he was amazing. I was there at Kansas City for that performance a true talent. There were and are marching euphoniums also in the key of G. Bore size and bell diameter is different. The horn was playing in the video was a Two Valve Dynasty Bartone.
Now.... Nice job, Hosmer. You, Dave Lang, Dean Smith, and that guy from Blue Devils '83 were the best in DCI back in the day. I tried, but I think the best I got was 3rd in '87. Playing the Arban arrangement of Carnival of Venice. You definitely took it to the Ho Notha Level.
I'm marching with the Kilties this summer up in Racine WI. It's always interesting to know about how the 2 valves worked. From what I understand, DCI made the rules so the corps could use so many 3 valves, and eventually went into full 3 valve hornlines.
that was pretty freaking ridiculous. I've played a three valve Bb Euph, and that take a rediculous amount of air, not to mention the brute size of the horn. Kudos, man, that was amazing.
Reading RU-vid comments give me a headache. It's been said quite a few times here: That's a 2 valve baritone in G. Call it what you want, but Dynasty, (the horn manufacturer) called it a BARITONE. They made a model they referred to as a EUPHONIUM which was a bit larger. I played a horn exactly like this in the mid 90s. As far as the weight, it wasn't bad at all. 2 valve G baritones weigh about the same as the Bb baritones today. The 3 valve G horns were A LOT heavier.
yeah that is from Arbans. i dont know the actual excersize(sp?). but yeah. about baritone. i march with the SDSU marching aztecs, using a Bach Mercedes baritone.
The only lipping I had to do on a 2 valve sop was on 1st valve notes where I didn't push the slide in properly. On the other notes the horn could not play...they just weren't written in the range where they weren't affected. If they were low notes (bari/contra), the sometimes were given to the upper brass in a range where they could be played. Sometimes they went to the tympani, which didn't have the note restrictions. Who are you playing with on a 3 valve sop?
what's most impreessive is the horn he's playing, a two valve bugle in the key of G which means you could not play 4 notes...C#, D, Eb, and Ab in or below the staff...awsome
because i think it was 88 or 89. some one was listening to them warm up, or they were watching the show, and said, "man, those guys sound like a fleet of buicks coming at us"
Kilts are a good group...had a few friends who marched there over the years (in both the Jr and Sr corps years). The 3 valve horns had to be phased in...one voice in the choir per year (contras excepted)...you couldn't switch over all at once like when the any-key rule came in. Each corps decided which voice they'd do each year. The first year (1990), BD went with sops, SCV with baris, for example. The only corps that did not switch was Star of Indiana...2 valved for all 9 DCI years.
it takes dedication to play any low brass instrument well. Not saying that isn't true with any other instrument... but in general those who play low brass stick with it.
I love all the comments! Let me make this clear: James is playing MUSIC. There are so many elements in MUSIC that are far beyond valves, scores, horns and mouthpieces. If you listen to that and then check out what he is doing, you'll get it. MUSICIANS play MUSIC.
i think i like the sound of a baritone more than a trumpet. im not sure why. more melodic and not shreaky. of course there are great trumpet players that can make a trumpet not shreaky. this guy is awesome
Uh, yeah, I've played them both as well. That's not a Bb baritone, though. It's a G baritone bugle that does in fact sound more like a euph than a Bb baritone. But it's not a euph. Hence the two valves.
G bugles of the era could not play 4 notes...C#, D, Eb, and Ab in or below the staff...which required a 3rd valve that far down. (all the horns were in the same key and clef...TECHNICALLY the same instrument) You could play Ab above the staff with the 1st valve and pushing the st valve slide all the way in (remember those?), but otherwise, you had to pick a key that minimized 3rd valve combos, especially for the low brass. GREAT job!
Nnnnope....if you freeze at 2:23 you can see there are only 2 valves (look at the bottom of the valve cassing against the background of his uniform) The rules for bugles re # of valves applied to I&E as well as the corps' performances. 3 valvers were NOT legal in DCi until the 1990 season, and even then, it took time for corps to transition, as they could only buy one voice per year (contras excepted)
more impressive on trombone but I'll still give him credit. And I'm sure it goes without saying but it's not mentioned anywhere here. This is "Carnival of Venice"
I marched with him and as much as I hated him he was very good and at that time deserved to win. I know I'm going to hear all sorts of shit about 2 v. 3 valve but at that time that was it. Again, trip-quad tonguing aside. If only you had to understand what we dealt with dan you'd understand. him and his brother were a kissass bastard. let's hear it for regiment. oh, btw i miss you kylee!
