As someone who seems to have started my dci journey at the same time, this video brought tears to my eyes. I know there are other, possibly greater, ballads out there, but the 10 in this video all have had such a big emotional impact on me and so many others! Thank you for posting!
Very good post we all have our favorites and may put them in different orders.Its fun to watch what other people think and going back in time with the beautiful ballad's. For me id call a tie between Blue Devils 2017 and Santa Clara Vanguard 2018 as #1 . Interesting ballads are for suttle low key showing off your brass. Blue Devils in 2017 showed off the whole Corp with that powerful Ballad. Santa Clara Vanguard did just about same thing In 2018 especially with that powerful hornline at the end with the great solo
it’s kind of interesting how much classical music shows up in marching band. The first entry here was rach 2 lol Note: rach 2 has one of the best 2nd movements I’ve ever heard so I’m not surprised it’s on this list, even with different instrumentation.
In terms of why jazz music isn't AS popular (since it still shows up a decent amount) is because a majority of jazz music straight up doesn't work for drum corps. I'd say at least 95% of jazz in DCI is inspired by Big Band, with less than 5% (if that) being combo-style jazz (which itself makes a majority of jazz music). This doesn't even touch the fact that the #1 most important part of jazz is improvisation, which is basically absent from drum corps music, making drum corps basically the antithesis of jazz music. (This also isn't a condemnation of big band or jazz representation in corps, I play in a few big bands and write mostly big band music, and love seeing it in DCI)
i don’t think people in the comments realize this isn’t a general top 10 ballads, it’s a top 10 based on personal liking, so maybe the poster just hasn’t seen any shows from earlier DCI
Didn't go back very far. 1989 SCV "Wishing you were somehow here again". 1992 SCV "Chavala". 1990 Velvet Knights "Summer of 42". 1988 Blue Devils "Happy Days Are Here Again".
Yeah there’s a whole host of older DCI that this person completely neglected. When I think of beautiful slow lyrical pieces from DCI, it’s stuff like BD 1991, Garfield 1984, Phantom 1995, Freelancers 1991, SCV 2000….
@@twalters2962 you have to make sure the third valve slide is well lubricated. Push out the third valve when holding your instrument in down position. Then when you snap up the horn to playing position you have to pull the valve slide in very fast. Thats what makes the noise. If you do it right its pretty loud :)
I don’t think anyone could ever say with a straight face that bd 2017 isn’t a top 3 ballad minimum, bc 2016 isn’t a top 10, but bc 2015 is top 1, like never heard 2015 before and I almost closed the vid watching it.
Scv is hands down one of the best ballads ever
21:45 is one of the coolest effects I’ve ever heard, that ballad has always been insane
As someone who seems to have started my dci journey at the same time, this video brought tears to my eyes. I know there are other, possibly greater, ballads out there, but the 10 in this video all have had such a big emotional impact on me and so many others! Thank you for posting!
Very good post we all have our favorites and may put them in different orders.Its fun to watch what other people think and going back in time with the beautiful ballad's. For me id call a tie between Blue Devils 2017 and Santa Clara Vanguard 2018 as #1 . Interesting ballads are for suttle low key showing off your brass. Blue Devils in 2017 showed off the whole Corp with that powerful Ballad. Santa Clara Vanguard did just about same thing In 2018 especially with that powerful hornline at the end with the great solo
Little high school me watching the bluecoats 2014 ballad is what made me fall in love with DCI
Same here! I would've given anything to see it live
Me too!!! The Hymn of Acxiom is incredible, along with the rest of Vienna's music.
bloo 15 is by far my most favorite ballad of all time, it’s the only time i’ve ever cried while listening to something
i don't care what anyone says, bluecoats 17 and blue devils 2022 will never not be my 2 favorite ballads of all time. they just hit some type of way.
Why is the 2014 bd video a whole step sharp 😂
Dang, I knew something was wrong with it 😭
Nothing deserved number 1 more than BC 15. Most underrated show of all time
it’s kind of interesting how much classical music shows up in marching band. The first entry here was rach 2 lol
Note: rach 2 has one of the best 2nd movements I’ve ever heard so I’m not surprised it’s on this list, even with different instrumentation.
In terms of why jazz music isn't AS popular (since it still shows up a decent amount) is because a majority of jazz music straight up doesn't work for drum corps. I'd say at least 95% of jazz in DCI is inspired by Big Band, with less than 5% (if that) being combo-style jazz (which itself makes a majority of jazz music). This doesn't even touch the fact that the #1 most important part of jazz is improvisation, which is basically absent from drum corps music, making drum corps basically the antithesis of jazz music.
(This also isn't a condemnation of big band or jazz representation in corps, I play in a few big bands and write mostly big band music, and love seeing it in DCI)
I LOVE bluecoats 15. One of the most undervalued shows of all time
bloo 15 being 1 is so right
Y’all are hating, but the title clearly says “MY Top 10 DCI Ballads…”
Need to go back further in time…Phantom ‘93 Fire of Eternal Glory or Phantom ‘94 Claire de Lune…both worthy of top 10
No way bro didn’t put Crown 13 on here
Bro that ballad is terrible
Terribly EPIC.
@@Crown_678You mean the ballad that made Brass judges cry because it was so good?
“Do you love me, John?”
I have to put SCV ‘18 at number 1. I am a HUGE sucker for mellophone sound in shows and that entire show is FULL of it.
I love the mellophone!!! That’s also why I play it!
i don’t think people in the comments realize this isn’t a general top 10 ballads, it’s a top 10 based on personal liking, so maybe the poster just hasn’t seen any shows from earlier DCI
I’m a relatively new DCI fan. I didn’t really start listening to many shows until 2019 so these are just my favorite ballads that I have heard so far
Didn't go back very far. 1989 SCV "Wishing you were somehow here again". 1992 SCV "Chavala". 1990 Velvet Knights "Summer of 42". 1988 Blue Devils "Happy Days Are Here Again".
Bluecoats 2017 🔥
Ok I think we’re all wondering where mandarians 23 and 24 are
Bro I made this video before the 2024 season 😭. Also sinner man would be an honorable mention
This list would appeal to the age 30s crowd. 😄
Me Personally I like Blue Devils 2016 ballad the most🔥💯
Favorite Devils ballad ever 💙
No videos before 2014?
Yeah there’s a whole host of older DCI that this person completely neglected. When I think of beautiful slow lyrical pieces from DCI, it’s stuff like BD 1991, Garfield 1984, Phantom 1995, Freelancers 1991, SCV 2000….
Scv adagio for strings 2000 thats a standard setting middle of the show ballad..
Spirit of Atlanta 1979.
You should check out Cadets 1991. It probably has the best mellophone solo ever.
I will definitely check this out!
No lie, I kinda like to replicate the horn snap from SCV18 on my trumpet lol
how do you get the sound?
@@twalters2962 Practice. :)
@@twalters2962 you have to make sure the third valve slide is well lubricated. Push out the third valve when holding your instrument in down position. Then when you snap up the horn to playing position you have to pull the valve slide in very fast. Thats what makes the noise. If you do it right its pretty loud :)
@@twalters2962 Also helps if the 3rd valve is slightly or fully depressed for the air to quickly escape
I love bloo 2015
Where’s Bluecoats 18?
Bloo2016???
That’s what I’m sayin
2023 Phantom, but not 2011 Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral?
The lords prayer from 2003 or how about fire of eternal glory think thats 1993 ..
That was the closer
Kinda sad, no CC22 or BC16
Drum corps existed before 2014
not having spartacus 2008 ballad on here is disheartening 😢
INFERNO, YESSSSSSSSSS🔥🔥🔥🔥
leaving out bloo 2018 is a crime
I somehow recently just heard bloo 18 and I absolutely love it! I might make an updated version of this video and that would definitely be in it
bd 2017 😢
Bluecoats generally has the best ballads
Bluedevils? Come on man.
What’s funny is that Cadets 05 is EXPONENTIALLY better than all of these
What’s funny is that they said these are THEIR favorites not yours 💀
Phantom 2008???
I don’t think anyone could ever say with a straight face that bd 2017 isn’t a top 3 ballad minimum, bc 2016 isn’t a top 10, but bc 2015 is top 1, like never heard 2015 before and I almost closed the vid watching it.
if you closed the vid, you're an ipad kid
Immediately lose all credibility with the oldest show being from 2014
people begin their DCI journeys at many different times. Gatekeeping enjoyment of the activity does not get society anywhere.