Blue Devils 2015 - Hornline [Quality Audio]

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Blue Devils hornline warm-up and rehearsal at DCI East and DCI Finals, July 31 - August 8, 2015. Includes high brass / trumpet features, as well as their gorgeous ballad, "Children Will Listen." Enjoy Blue Devils brass and stay tuned for Blue Devils 2016 content this summer!

[@kia2008100]

I'm a huge crown fan, and even I can say that the blue devils have something every musical ensemble should strive for. Incredible

[@MrAndersonneo88]

+kia2008100 I think it's embouchure matching.

[@jackdiddlysquat1402]

A bit of an understatement tbh

[@left_rios]

*vanguard punching air rn*

[@esroberto1]

I'm a mixing and mastering engineer with multiple Gold Record awards, and I watch a LOT of 'amateur' DCI videos, and this video has absolutely THE BEST SOUND I have ever heard of DCI horns. The warmth and power and stereo spread is just phenomenal. You have a new subscriber. Thanks for posting!

[@HornlineFanatic]

Thank you so much for the compliments! Means a lot to hear coming from a successful recording engineer!! I definitely record this hornline with purpose -- with mic specific placement in mind, given their "sectional circle." Used this recording as my model for filming their 2016 hornline as well, though I should've added the windscreen due to the storm clouds rolling in over Annapolis... Oh well, managed to salvage the audio to an extent, and guess the wind noise adds to the drama :) Thanks again for the kind words and for watching!

[@stealthyordo1788]

The trumpets are so clean...

[@Aflo4820]

Talk about sound projection... I can only imagine hearing this in person. Simply amazing.

[@eriktheblue3496]

Mr. Walker: I never wore ear protection playing Baritones from1979-1985. I joined the USAF, and worked around jet engines for twenty plus years. I wore ear pros everytime, and still enjoy having 90% of my hearing. I can enjoy a show or two with a critical ear for details. That said, this performance over KZbin sounds "flawless." The Blue Devils are my favorite Corp forty years running. 2015 was their best year. Thank you.

[@HornlineFanatic]

+Erik Lester Thanks for sharing, and for your service. Jets and brass playing...a great combination. Glad your hearing is still largely intact. Blue Devils are very much the corps that inspired my channel to begin with, and I am glad to be able to feature their brass sounds from yet another amazing year! Thanks for you comment and for watching.

[@ImSimplyLegit]

5:25 where the trumpets go up is SO clean

[@johnythanj]

as a member of this Blue Devils Corps, I would like to say thank you for posting this, and at such a high quality to boot. Not just of us, but all of the videos you post. Thank you for posting this and letting us reminisce. Thank you again! Hopefully we meet this summer

[@HornlineFanatic]

+johnythanj It is my pleasure. Thanks for your comment and for these amazing reps! I'm glad to be able to bring these sounds to people, including those who were on the other side of the horn! Assuming you play tuba (based on your videos), you should know that the BD tuba/contra sound has long been one of my favorite trademarks in drum corps, so the focus on low brass in this video is not an accident :) Hope to see you out there this summer as well!! I will be catching BD starting on the week of August 1, and am hoping to head to Indy again.

[@nicholasgustafson2051]

This is so freaking amazing. 1:33 is goals for a trumpet player. Thank you for all of your productions. In my opinion, no one is better at making these productions.

[@HornlineFanatic]

+Nicholas Gustafson I don't think I was able to reply to your comment when I first saw it... But now that I am, thanks so much :))) Just capturing the sounds I would want captured if I were marching.

[@everythingturns]

+HornlineFanatic ditto, by far the best sound quality and production to be found on the tube. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@HornlineFanatic]

+luke snell Thank you!! It's always encouraging to hear comments like this.

[@dcibrass]

Just like being there . Awesome thank you !

[@HornlineFanatic]

Thanks! Your early season vid of their ballad is what inspired me to get this footage!!

[@Joseph-Tapper]

Did anyone else notice at around 2:20 Bloo playing their chord progression in the background?

[@Jordan-ob7sk]

2:11 The blue coats in the back killing it

[@TheRyry97]

This is the first video I came to while trying out some expensive headphones, and I had NO idea how much I was missing out on. Top notch audio my friend

[@chadwmkim]

This kind of stuff is why i appreciate your work so much. thanks man

[@JonYeahThatGuy]

Thank you for capturing all this with such amazing audio!

[@HornlineFanatic]

My pleasure! This is the corps that inspired this channel! Thanks for the amazing sounds and for your comment :)

[@TheMysteriousRock]

Goosebumps. Uncontrollable goosebumps. Dude. Finals night was an awesome night to be in Indy. So glad you finally uploaded this.

[@HornlineFanatic]

Haha ...yes, glad I finally finished it! More vids coming soon!

[@markmedina5247]

5:05 OMG TRUMPETS best I've ever heard

[@markmedina5247]

5:05-5:40

[@left_rios]

I’m always coming back to this video

[@risefuzion6530]

2016 auditions here I come!!! Thanks for the video as always :)

[@HornlineFanatic]

Yessssss!!!! Awesome. And my pleasure, as always!!

[@McFlury9687]

Thanks for recording this so well! That summer happened so fast it was a blur, but you help put me back in the hornline and relive the moments!

[@WeDeserveToRot]

GOT damn. Those trumpets squealing.

[@toneyvaughn2536]

This is my favorite video honestly

[@zackg3]

I love this so much. This wasn't my favorite BD year, but it is difficult to beat this sound! Those screams give me chills!

[@Xtrovid]

Wooo! Our buses in the background.

[@saladofdoom42]

WOW! Amazing! Love, love, LOVE all the show music!!

[@HornlineFanatic]

You're definitely not alone there!

[@BrianHaag]

Best I've heard from this line. Huge props to the recording too. The attack @ 6:07 is for the ages.

[@HornlineFanatic]

That attack is awesome. In the raw audio prior to upload, it sounds even tighter. Wish youtube offered control over sound quality!!

[@HornlineFanatic]

+Eric Olsen I use FCPX

[@ddjjj33]

4:40 - 5:55 just melts my soul every time OMG !!

[@salvadorgomez5908]

I’ll forever watch this video .

[@gregorious6507]

I love Into the Woods music... So lush on brass.

[@bugeyedbb]

This is my favorite video ever

[@anthonytroupe4923]

I had to come back to this video! That Sweeney hit at the end was so good it put me in that dark, angry feeling of the musical! I didn't even catch my face changing this is so good!

[@TheSnowmanMc90]

Favorite year of blue devils

[@marxysunze3739]

Best thing i heard ever

[@teresafbrooks]

Wow. Beautiful. Magical.

[@samrogalsky]

thank you for this! you are the best!

[@HornlineFanatic]

My pleasure! Thanks for your comment :)

[@Jackson-my5lp]

This is fantastic 😍

[@popeyesailor9571]

I called my son after they placed 4th in quarters and said whats up? He said don't worry dad we are gonna do this! They sure did! the best BD win EVER!!!!

[@frankajames]

Best video yet.

[@HornlineFanatic]

Thanks :) That's always the goal.

[@mnguyen313]

I’m upgrading my sound system piecewise so I’m back here for perhaps the fifth time in two weeks. I have lot of pieces of music I use as reference audio but nothing is as bang-on as this recording

[@popeyesailor9571]

as a 50 year alumni of BD and the kid they started C corps over I am super proud to have a son who played in this corps and is on staff for BDB. 2015 is my favorite year without question!!!!

[@iAmNovaFilms]

One person couldn’t play in time with themselves better than these trumpets did with each other

[@eviesstrong_]

great video! i loved it, great audio, and i enjoyed the blue devils' brass for their 2015 show, Ink. :D

[@HornlineFanatic]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :)

[@Marc-fz4xb]

What a chilling sound....

[@andrewprawat8199]

Honestly one of the best hornlines I've ever heard.

[@declandougan7243]

And it is a reflection of the insane competitive landscape that they placed 3rd in brass.

[@ouro1835]

Awesome! Great Video!

[@HornlineFanatic]

+Christopher Lisboa Thanks! :)

[@Studio64Productionsx]

Miss playing that stuff

[@HornlineFanatic]

The summer goes by so quickly! Lucky I got to hear you guys multiple times. But I just think of the many BD fans who only get to hear you for 12 minutes every year!

[@Studio64Productionsx]

I know right... The biggest downfall to being a member, to me, is losing the surprise of seeing all the progress at the end, without hearing every moment in between. In other words, ironically the worst part about being in the Blue Devils is never getting to SEE the Blue Devils!!! Thanks for the video, caught some feels. I remember seeing you recording and hoping I would get to see those videos, and it's weird to remember that so clearly after it's been done for so long.

[@HornlineFanatic]

Yeah I guess the closest you will get is listening to other hornlines. In 2013 I went to a show just to hear BD warm up...my first day hearing hornlines up close in YEARS. It was a small show, but the crowd listening to BD warming up was huge--mostly people from other corps that had already performed. The hornline first got loud on Shotgun (my first time hearing that warmup). I had forgotten how loud BD was. And all the people around me from other corps had the same reaction. Captured this moment as well...one of my first vids on this channel. Hearing shotgun is always exciting--usually the first loud stuff we get to hear! Anyway, this year...I don't know what it was...but that Allentown warmup in this vid was just brutally loud haha. Especially that jazzy section with the swaying... The brief silence at the end is because we were all just in disbelief. My recording doesn't really capture how insanely brutal it was for those of us sitting in the circle!

[@wtwrush]

The finals lot take of children will listen is undoubtedly its reference recording. "Quality Audio" is too humble a description of how pristinely it comes across. Every time I hear that first low brass entrance after the solo I get chills. Thank you so much. I too would like the information on how I can donate to this fantastic channel, please bore me with the details ahaha. Keep up the amazing work!

[@HornlineFanatic]

+wtwrush Thanks so much!! Hahaha, at some point I might set up a donation thing to offset some of the costs, but much of my audience is in school, or paying off student loans, and I wouldn't want students or recent grads giving me their money...unless they're rich lol. So I pretty much operate on the assumption that there isn't much money to be made in filming hornlines, much like there really isn't any to be made in actually performing with one!! Money aside, nice observations about the brass sound, especially coming from a drummer--which I assume based on your vids. Is that you drumming in your popular Portfolio vids?

[@wtwrush]

I'm all for free internet content, but I think you'd be surprised (or not, seeing how many overwhelmingly positive comments there are on every video) at how many people think these recordings are worth donating for, student loans, tour fees or otherwise. I don't know how much they would help you to make more videos, but they could at least cover the travel costs and maybe future equipment expense... but it's obviously your choice. As you say, and as always, compensation for any sort of involvement in drum corps usually comes in the form of abstract things like self-fulfillment and that's part of what makes it so strange and incredible. I just feel like you deserve a more concrete reward for the amateur but absolutely most professional content you bring to all these people who can't experience it themselves, and to people like myself who maybe see one or two lines once, but never again. And yes, that is me! Thanks for checking out the channel, those are some old videos ahaha. I am only a drummer, but especially in drum corps, the battery is important but overall a very small part of the real music, and that's really the part I love most: melody and harmony!

[@HornlineFanatic]

+wtwrush I will definitely keep your suggestions in mind. Thanks again for the kind words. You are right about the reward in the abstract. If anything I'm doing helps prove that the pure hornline sound is *not* a relic of a bygone era, but is in fact still one of the main selling points of the activity--even among newer and younger fans--then hopefully my concrete reward will be having helped save my favorite musical sound from becoming regulated out of existence. Congrats on the success with those vids! On melody and harmony--as much as I love them, a well-tuned drum is one of the most musical sounds ever! So I disagree with pairing off the word "only" with "drummer," and I say this as a funk bassist who has observed that the best drummers always seem to be great all-around musicians. In this case, I observe that you also play piano, so I rest my case :)

[@joelgranby6739]

The devils are always so clean

[@RichardTuttle]

outstanding

[@hunter98dan]

amazing

[@aaronlaughlin2389]

I remember the part at 2:40 from the end of my freshman year, one of our seniors had made it into BD and was practicing that nonstop at lunch

[@zekatsu5012]

Tfw I see myself and my brother, a previous academy drum major, inside their finals circle, and this year I get to see him as a part of the circle on euph/trombone

[@CWelton6]

Incredible as always. I have to say...this year was the best and strongest low brass from BD I've heard yet

[@HornlineFanatic]

The low brass sound is one of the things I love most about BD--especially the tuba sound. They are not afraid to make use of the lower range of the instrument, even at high dynamic markings. I have some amazing 2014 finals warmup footage of them I never posted...you should hear how the "Armageddon" section sounded. Some truly amazing low brass work. I need to post that footage.

[@CWelton6]

+HornlineFanatic It is true they always do have a strong low brass...but on the dci recording (especially in Indianapolis) the low brass sound with BD doesn't quite pick up. I remember parts I heard in person that were incredibly solid and loud but in the recordings...you can barely tell. That is why the recordings you make do them true to life justice. Thank you.

[@HornlineFanatic]

It is definitely easy for details to be lost inside that huge echoing stadium. I think DCI should definitely get some recordings of some of the outdoor shows during late season, especially at PPL Park--probably my favorite stadium because of the cool architecture, but especially because there is no track around the field, which puts the audience closer. Thanks for watching and for your comment :)

[@Jamler3]

4:40 - 5:55 GLORIOUS 75 seconds of sound...

[@ddjjj33]

Right there with ya bro, I can't stop listening to that section

[@Jamler3]

Those mello and barri runs are so sweet, typical BD blend and balance

[@devontaelindsey3842]

Jam Camp Where is this piece from? I've heard many marching bands play the song at 4:40 but I can't find it anywhere online. It's so beautiful and irritating not to find.

[@Jamler3]

Children Will Listen & Last Midnight (both from Into the Woods) by Stephen Sondheim

[@HIME5SENTZ]

2:18 Blooo is fucking killing it

[@zane31415]

yep heard it too...Bloooooooo

[@CamdenBoggio]

Excellent video

[@HornlineFanatic]

Thank you!

[@tbonetime3568]

i hope to join these guys when i get out of highschool

[@canalbandashow]

Fantásticos. Saudações Musicais do Brasil

[@JackWarsProductions]

YESSSS

[@peytondixon5781]

breathtaking😅

[@keeganmclean2017]

4:27 inject that major7 chord into my veins

[@estebangonzales139]

I love the euphonium soloist tone omg ❤❤....Hence Euphonium is the best instrument ☺

[@estebangonzales139]

Your the soloist at 4:42?!

[@TheMudsnake]

One thing about nice headphones is that it’s really easy to hear the bands in the background

[@coleguess5420]

Bluecoats in the background at 2:10

[@kevinvalencia239]

There so in tune

[@beataskaw836]

power

[@theirishasian9473]

Hearing Bluecoats in the background at 2:14 lol

[@BotAurelionSol]

+The Irish Asian9 | ¿Is that a march or a warmup? ¿Any link?

[@ryangreen9378]

its a warmup

[@keeganmclean2017]

Everyone commenting about 1:45 or 4:40 but 4:07 is by far my favorite part! Just so puuuure

[@channelthree6678]

Often BD makes their production look too easy. No stress. No worry. No effort. No stakes. But one aspect of showmanship is showing complete commitment and even exhaustion if for no reason other than to prove to the audience you're giving it your all. When the performer shows us they're giving it their all, the stakes are higher, the emotion ratchets up, and you build empathy with the audience. When Cirque du Soliel's gymnasts balance on each other's extended arms, they're taught to shake the arms a bit, as if from exhaustion-- the audience asks "Can they do this impossible feat?" Without the shaking of the arms, it looks too easy, and the audience doesn't even engage. The stakes are too low.

[@HornlineFanatic]

I hadn't heard that about intentional arm-shaking in Cirque du Soleil before, but that is interesting. However, as far as brass playing goes, I think that is the same general idea behind stuff like the park & bark "knee bender" stuff, which you commonly see in BD. For percussion, the high stick raising stuff (whatever that's called... not a drumline expert lol). Some visual theatrics, like you're describing. If anything, I'd say BD actually adds these kinds of theatrics more than a lot of corps.

[@BarracksSi]

+Channel Three I used to try to watch shows from high up so I could see the entire drill. After a few years, I wanted to sit lower so I could see the performers' faces. Not only is it louder, but it's so much fun, so much more engaging. You can see who's new, you can see who's about to age out.

[@keeganmclean2017]

Weird how the baritone voice is almost completely lost at 4:07.... The audio is still amazing!

[@mrbigg151]

I love that articulation @1:45

[@davidmaciel7260]

like!

[@Munkeez]

God BD slaps

[@erknjerk_]

What is the name of the ballad at 4:41? It's so heavenly!!

[@HornlineFanatic]

"Children will listen" from Into the Woods.

[@erknjerk_]

+HornlineFanatic thanks!

[@tpte]

I know I'm probably stating the obvious, but the directors of these corps must be fantastic.

[@vorticosecomb]

They could fr win competition just by warming up 😫😫

[@landongarrison1930]

4:41 man I miss being in band 😣

[@cptfoxheart]

1:01

[@terrifingtuba]

1:12 tuba comes in early but it sounds fantastic👍

[@HornlineFanatic]

Allentown warmups can be a little raw. It's dark, there's a ton of distractions, and they're getting pepped up for one of the most unforgiving shows of the summer--on rival turf! :) But agreed... That tuba entrance still sounds fantastic, if not also a little on the dixieland side of jazzy.

[@jaredbowen9942]

I think I met you at the J.W. Marriott after finals this year, and you were lying when you said you got some good recordings of us playing.

[@HornlineFanatic]

Hahaha! Trying to remember... After checkout on the way to the parking garage, maybe? Thanks for the amazing sounds! Truly surreal to hear in person!

[@MrAndersonneo88]

Best drum major bar none

[@MWebb-rs7vz]

1:10 nice.

[@ghoulonely7201]

what song is 3:02

[@deeztruckz2430]

I love the shotgun exercise!

[@HornlineFanatic]

Shotgun might just be my favorite corps warmup since I first heard (and filmed) it in 2013. Written by John Meehan himself. Always exciting because it's often when the hornline first really opens their dynamics.

[@ghxstgamerrr2504]

why is it called the shotgun exercise anyways?

[@deeztruckz2430]

+HornlineFanatic My high school started incorporating shotgun into our warm ups last year and we love it! I shock myself how loud I'm actually playing.

[@moler512]

is the shotgun warmup in this video? if so where at lol

[@deeztruckz2430]

+The Funky Chicken Starts at around 30 seconds into the video.

[@ImSimplyLegit]

You scared me by changing the thumb nail. thought the video had disappeared

[@HornlineFanatic]

Haha... Sorry about that. Hope the new one is at least more fitting.

[@eriklindquist6820]

What mic do you use for these videos? I can't tell if it's a shotgun mic or a stereo mic

[@HornlineFanatic]

Rode SVMP! And it is ABSOLUTELY in stereo :) Possible to get comparable results using standalone recorders such as Zoom H1 or a Tascam

[@eriklindquist6820]

+HornlineFanatic i've been debating between that and the rode stereomic pro shotgun mic lol for both horn and drumline lots

[@HornlineFanatic]

Honestly, the people who will repost your videos on Instagram won't care which because Instagram is mono anyway :P

[@eriklindquist6820]

+HornlineFanatic true haha i'm actually doing media for blue stars this summer and was planning on getting a killer mic to go with my Sony a6300

[@philipbbb]

holy moly 2:00

[@chakkrinngamsomjan4330]

The solo at 4:40 is that a mellophone or Euphonium playing?

[@HornlineFanatic]

Euphonium (hybrid, I believe)

[@gentrywalker]

Do you wear any ear protection inside their circle?

[@HornlineFanatic]

I don't. But honestly, the exposure time is so short I don't worry about it. That said, I did once see some Crown members wearing hearing protection when rehearsing in close quarters in front of a blasting metronome (see my 2013 Crown vid). That makes sense since they are closer to the sound source and exposed to the noise all summer. But for sure, hearing is critical, and damage can't be undone (at least until some cutting edge research on regrowth of hair cells gets further along!). Honestly the worst thing to happen to my ears this summer was being in a loud club for several hours (my ears were shot for the couple days)...wish I'd kept some Mack's roll-up earplugs in my wallet... and all the editing I do--I should probably edit at lower volume levels.

[@gentrywalker]

I had to wonder because this summer I got to sit inside the Blue Devils' circle in San Antonio, and the ending of space chords was so incomprehensibly loud that I felt like I was going to wake up deaf at my housing site the next morning.

[@dansullivanstudios]

+Gentry Walker I was actually a few feet away from him while he was recording. It was the first time I'd been in a circle like this, and I sat right in front of the mellophones, and at the end of a rep I legit couldn't hear for 5 seconds hahah.

[@poconofriend777]

+Gentry Walker It certainly is a good idea to. Many corps bring an audiologist to educate the members about the dangers of prolonged exposure to loud noises. I think the Dr. told us that you shouldn't be exposed to a hornline playing fff for more than about 4 minutes. Most members will wear ear protection when they play in enclosed areas (ie. inside during thunderstorms). Unfortunately wearing ear protection distorts sound quality so I prefer to not use it when in front of a corps even if it does damage my cochlear cilia.

[@poconofriend777]

+Gentry Walker by the way, drummers wear ear protection essentially at all times. That includes performances.

[@tomvieiramusic]

What's in the background at 2:07?

[@HornlineFanatic]

+Tom Bluecoats playing "Thumbs" kzbin.info/www/bejne/iomzpISMg7ammbcm47s

[@tomvieiramusic]

+HornlineFanatic Thank you!

[@HornlineFanatic]

My pleasure. Thanks for watching!

[@nbrister1]

:50 somebody is nailing a double C

[@soundoholic2490]

+Nicholas Brister nailed and then held for friggin ever without moving a bit. Impressive for sure!

[@nbrister1]

+smoshman6000 the top partial is a double C. It's not too loud, but it is audible.

[@thebluedevilfromheaven5256]

I thought I was the only one hearing it..

[@andrewbay8891]

Holy shit the ballad of Sweeney Todd??

[@mmansour1]

What is the song at the beginning?

[@HornlineFanatic]

+Matt Mansour I'm not sure whether it's original content from BD's arrangers, or a quote from a piece of music... But it's the transition into "Children Will Listen," their ballad. Listen to this vid at 9 min 17 sec for the transition, which you can hear the euph and trumpet soloing over... kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKjLgJSohamfd5Ym17s

[@mmansour1]

+HornlineFanatic Thank you! That was helpful. And i always love your content; keep it up!

[@HornlineFanatic]

+Matt Mansour No problem, and thanks for watching :] There are definitely some geniuses working at BD. A couple of interviews discussing the 2015 design... kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYOroqOeirFom9U kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYqTcmCLhb5pmK8

[@HornlineFanatic]

+Matt Mansour P.S. Turns out the phrase at the beginning of this vid was written specifically for the BD show by John Meehan and Dave Glyde. It was based on different ideas from Into The Woods, but it's essentially an original phrase you won't hear outside the Blue Devils arrangement.

[@jonahleonard5732]

3:20 😵

[@LOCOARTS71]

I gotta say, that thumbnail...........

[@HornlineFanatic]

Hahaha! It was purely for clickbait effect when I first published the vid, but I've been meaning to change it. Thinking I'll either go with just the backfield frame or else one from the high brass rehearsing up close...something easily recognizable as being from this vid.

[@meddown6859]

I really can't play any instrument completely still while standing. That's the real Witchcraft of this video.

[@lucasz8825]

5:54 to the end, wtf did they feed those baritones jesus

[@oliviasland100]

"Wishes she was brass"

[@everythingturns]

As much I really don't care for the Devil's brand of drum corps these days, there is no denying how absurd their horn line is, year after year. You just can't f*#k with that sound! :)