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What Do You Know About Moving Bands And Their History?

Feb 21, 2010 General
Posted by admin

The moving bands originated with traveling musicians who performed together at different events like festivals and celebrations throughout the ancient world. with time they became more structured within the armies of the early city-states and in result they became the basis for military bands which gave rise to the modern unplugged band. As musicians became not so important in directing the movement of forces on the battlefield, the bands got especially ceremonial roles, in such a manner being involved into the military tradition. So, a lot of military traditions survive in modern marching bands. Uniforms of many marching bands still resemble military uniforms.
Many U.S. universities had bands before the twentieth century. At present the largest collegiate marching band in the world is the Florida State Marching Chiefs.

Except of police and military organizations, the existent modern marching bands are usually associated with American football, particularly the halftime show. The first modern halftime show by a marching band at a football game was performed by the University of Illinois Marching Illini in 1907. With time bands departed from traditions and had broken traditional military ranks on a football field. The first of such bands was the “Block P” created by Paul Spotts Emrick, director of the Purdle All-American Marching Band. They moved at a “V-shaped” formation and it was decided that a band could reproduce the action as show formation.

Another novelty that appeared along with the field show and marching in formations was the fight song. As a rule university fight songs are often closely associated with the band of the university. A lot of the most kown and popular fight songs are widely used by high schools across the country.

Other improvements in live unplugged mobile bands include acceptance of the tradition by secondary schools, addition of a dance line, baton twirlers/majoretters and inclusion of color guard members.
Since 1970 many marching bands performing field shows have taken over such changes to the activity as parallel developments with drum and bugle corps. These bands are called as corps-style bands. Changes adopted from drum corps concern the style of marching – instead of a traditional high step they march with a fluid roll step; adaptation of the flag, rifle and sabre units into “auxiliaries” marching with the band and assuring visual flair by spinning and tossing flags or mock-up weapons and using dance elements in the performance; usage of different types of percussion instruments such as tambourines, crash cymbals, suspended symbals, bass drum and gong sets, chimes, etc at stationary sideline percussion section.
As for the marching band competitions they are judged with reference to the criteria similar to those used in drum corps competitions, but paying special attention and with emphasis on individual aspects of the mobile band visual performance, percussion, auxiliary and general effect.

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