1991 Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps

1991 Santa Clara Vanguard at the Western Corp Connection show in Riverside, CA.

[@michaeldaly6421]

Saw this at finals and thought it was one of the most underappreciated shows that year. The more I watch the finished product, the more I love it.

[@pixelvnce]

I remember seeing and hearing this for the first time in 1991 when at the annual spaghetti feed and getting chills when drums came in on the “helicopter “ simulation. Drums sounded even more killer when we did a standing show at shoreline amphitheater

[@just__dave]

This type of genius ingenuity will never exist again. Now if a corps wanted to achieve this they would just load a sound effect into a synth and someone would press a button and do their best strained facial expression to convince us they are working hard. So sad.

[@JeffMenendezRealtor]

Definitely a work in progress, notice the guard book was not complete, and it seemed like they were barely getting a feel for the drill. Interesting they started with 8 snares and 3 quads and ended the season with 7 snares and 4 quads. Wonder what happened there. All that said, what finish product at finals, came a long way. Someone who marched that year told me if they had one more week, they would have contended for the title, they felt they were surging towards the end of the season. Bravo SCV.

[@fnloud]

I marched in the hornline from 89-92. This was definitely the least talented, both playing and marching, of my 4 years. We were scraping the barrel from the cadet corps to fill out the contra, baritone, and French horn sections. On top of that, we had the most physically challenging drill I ever marched. That closer was crazy fast. As a contrast to the hornline, the drums were crazy talented. It was the drums and guard that carried the corp to 4th place. The design staff had to fight with Gail to take what he started with back in November and make it a performable show with a fighting chance. And there was a reason most of the staff was fired after the season. By finals we had a pretty amazing show. We might have been able to get it cleaner with another week but I think our bodies and mental health would have lasted another week. We had snare players walking around with canes as soon as they came off the field during practice.

[@paulcreedon7673]

I believe it was the snare player Karl Schwabauer who injured his knee and had to be cut mid season.

[@whatthehellisthis0505]

I appreciate your time and support of 🥁&🎺 corps future. God bless you.

[@Jonathan-vy9nu]

Wow, this is early season. This show changed so much by Finals. It was awesome in August!

[@supersop]

This must be the 1st or 2nd show of the year at Riverside.... guard doesn't even have Leaf work for the wedding song

[@alpsskiingrocks]

All on TWO VALVE G BUGLES! Some of the best Vanguard shows were performed on supposedly "inferior" instruments. I loved that sound!

[@just__dave]

I think they had upgraded to 3-valve by this time, but your point remains. There was nothing inferior about G bugles. Anyone who says so clearly never played in a G hornline.

[@alpsskiingrocks]

@@just__dave Very true. Compare the number of "goosebump moments" with the old G horn lines to those you get now... Nada!

[@supersop]

This is nowhere near the end product. So strange listening to the end of the opener without the battery book from hell. Half the low brass book was changed entirely. Rachel Romatz.... you're still a pit Goddess

[@mebaran73]

Holy smokes did the horn book change or did it change??? I enjoyed seeing this as ‘91 was my rookie year in DCI and I only saw SCV a few times during second tour before finals. Thank you for posting.

[@MS-df2fk]

Are the guards costumes actually green here or is the color just really messed up in this vid? This show has always been one of my favorites.

[@EJL88]

Matt Stryker The color is right. Might be off by a hue or two. But still pretty close. Notice how the reds are a little more pronounced?

[@MS-df2fk]

@@EJL88 Was just curious because I'm so used to seeing them in those tan costumes

[@EJL88]

Matt Stryker I gotcha. I forgot about those uniforms. I wonder when the switch was made during the season?

[@just__dave]

They were green (more of a jade color than what appears on this video). Although this is Riverside, back then the Kingsmen Invitational in Costa Mesa was held in two parts a week apart. Between Part 1 and Part II, Vanguard had completely changed their uniforms from red & white to the green & white. Guard also switched over to the yellow colored uniforms. I remember thinking “their uniform budget must be enormous.”

[@ms-mo8hl]

Anyone know of casey was in this show

[@briantuma1502]

Were the mellos tossing sopranos at :34? Why?

[@davidwarner3326]

Those are mutes.

[@just__dave]

I think those were drum heads they were playing into.

[@cireravilob]

@@just__daveding ding ding.. drum heads with snares attached to give a buzzing sound. (Barely if not audible but a really cool sound)

[@just__dave]

@@cireravilob it’s funny I don’t even remember writing these comments and then somebody replies months or years later 😂 I suffer from Old man brain

[@80BDBL]

Unfortunately this show would be banned now...cultural appropriation