Their beat goes on

http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/lifestyle/article/0,1426,MCA_521_2596100,00.html

The elite Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps revies a World War-I era tradition, giving young musicians a chance to play and compete.

By Michael Lollar
Contact
January 25, 2004

At first glance, it looks like a band on the floor of the Cordova High School gym, but the marchers sometimes look like they're in an Olympic sprint instead of marching.

A traditional Sousa march moves at roughly 120 beats a minute, but the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps is marching to a jazz and blues intro that moves up to 180 beats a minute.


A good article about the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, which was put together by a former member of the Memphis Blues Brass Band, a corps around briefly in the Ambassadors' day. The reference to Sousa is a bit tiresome but it does a good job of explaining 'corps and the kind of work people put into it.

CBC News: Stronach jumps into Conservative leadership race

CBC News: Stronach jumps into Conservative leadership race

Last Updated Tue, 20 Jan 2004 13:34:22

AURORA, ONT.- Belinda Stronach ended weeks of speculation Tuesday by announcing that she will run for the leadership of the new Conservative Party of Canada.

...

Things have changed when national news stories are coming out of Aurora.

RSS feed: part deux

I think I have a working RSS feed now for those of you who are into it. Thanks RSSify at Wytheville Community College!

- Sam

Toronto Eatons Santa Claus Parade 2004 "Super Corps"

Ted Brazier is trying to put together a "super corps" for the upcoming Santa Claus Parade in Toronto, ON. It's not clear wether old-timers can participate unless they are already associated with a 'corps. See this post on the ODCA site for more info.

What I remember about the parade from my Ambassadors days is "no hymns or religious music is to be played". The proximity to the Christian holiday is purely coincidental. :-P

- Sam

Gaffe, gaffe...

Oskaloosan to march in the Rose Bowl Parade

By MIRANDA PEARSON - The Oskaloosa Herald 12/30/2003

Twenty years ago Oskaloosan Terry De Jong played the snare drum and marched with the Santa Clara Band Guard, a drum and bugle corps out of Santa Clara, Calif. Recently, Terry got news that he, as well as the current Santa Clara show corps, the cadet corps, and additional alumni, was invited to march in the Rose Bowl Parade New Year's Day in Pasadena, Calif.

Oops Miranda! I think you misheard that corps name. Oh well, at least you know it's a drum corps.

Comments are implemented!

You may now add your own wisdom to the Ambassablog by using the comments function supplied by the nice folks at Haloscan. Thanks Haloscan!

Features and more features! Perhaps I will get time to edit the CSS at some point!

- Sam

Fan Mail

Here's an e-mail from Brad:

> From: "Brad"
> Date: Sun Jan 4, 2004 2:31:26 PM Canada/Eastern
> To:
> Subject: good job
>
> Hi Sam ...Don`t think we ever met but my name is Brad, I marched for
> the ambassadors drum line from 1977-1999
> (tenor drums)I may have some old photos from that time that i can
> email to you....... hello to all
> take care and nice work on this site....Brad bjdcarpet at bellnet.ca


and Happy New Year to all!