Analyse Purgatory Structure

Your score is at the end of the draft.
The thesis in the draft is clear, with criteria that define your structure. In order to keep readers engaged in your evaluation, decide what order you intend to discuss these criteria; then follow that order. As you begin revising, you will need to take a look at sentence structure. Since an evaluation is often more predictable in structure, you will need to focus on strong, sophisticated sentences to distinguish yours from the thousands of others that writers present for the consideration of their readers. Topic choice already sets yours apart somewhat because of your developing expertise in percussion; strong sentences will give it even more impact. I will be available for assistance.

When most people

think about “marching band” they think of a crisp Friday night, halftime at the football game. They get out their cell phones to record their son or daughter performing the music they’ve worked on all year. The band takes the field and goes through the motions they’ve been practicing since mid-summer, everyone claps, and it’s all good. DCI, which stands for Drum Corps International, takes that notion to a whole new level. DCI is an organization consisting of numerous Corps across the US and Canada. Every summer, more than 8000 eighteen to twenty-one year olds audition for one of under 3500 spots in the twenty-three major corps. The competitive season lasts all summer and the groups compete at more than 100 events and are evaluated by judges at each one. At the end of the season the corps with the highest average wins the championship. DCI considers itself “marching music’s major league.” DCI is to marching band as the NFL is to football, to put it in perspective.
The first time I saw Carolina Crown, one of the Corps in DCI, was in a movie theater at a live broadcasting of the start of the competitive season. I was very impressed with the complexity of the music and drill, the overall feel of the show, and how engaging it was. This is why I have decided to evaluate Carolina Crown’s 2015 show, “Inferno.”
The show certainly lives up to its name; it revolves around being stuck in purgatory between Heaven and Hell.

The show starts out with long chords and dramatic pauses in the music, creating suspense and tension. Right away you are impressed by the musicians’ ability to convey drama and emotion. Eventually the corps comes together and a gigantic black tarp with the words “Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter Here” printed on it is pulled over them by the colorguard. This is a very effective tool that leaves no question where the show is headed. As the show progresses it transitions between songs with fast and slow tempos, generating variety and contrast that keeps the audience interested. The band utilizes both sharp and flowing forms, furthering the contrast in mood. My interpretation is that the difference in feeling among the movements symbolizes the back and forth between purgatory and Hell. This concept certainly makes for an engaging performance. Throughout the show the overall feeling is one of darkness and despair, filled with dissonance and minor chords, but at the very end, the band breaks out into Beethoven’s melodic “Ode to Joy,” symbolizing the ascent to Heaven. During this portion of the show, the colorguard utilizes gold colored flags and cloths to convey feelings of victory and joyfulness. The ending is a major contrast to the rest of the show, which is a nice change and feels fresh and exciting. It also provides some literal resolution to the overall minor feel of

the show. I don’t feel like there is one aspect of the show that necessarily stands out; everything in the show just works.
Music is undoubtedly essential to a successful show.

The music in “Inferno” is especially impressive for its complexity and dynamic quality. All the musicians that participate in Carolina Crown are extremely skilled and it shows in their performance. The fact that every year a brand new show is written for the corps only adds to the impressiveness of the show. A unique aspect of the show is the band chanting “abandon all hope, ye who enter hear.” It’s a dramatic effect that also provides a bridge to the amazing drum break early on in the show. There are times when dissonance and cacophony serve to create the feel of the underworld and its chaos. The use of “Ode to Joy” as the closing piece serves as a triumphant finale, with its soaring melodies and beautiful harmonies. It leaves the audience feeling satisfied that good prevailed over evil.
The quality of the musicianship alone is enough to please almost any audience. But these are not stationary musicians sitting in a concert hall; they are constantly moving to highly precise choreography. Each musician has a specific place to be at a specific time. One mistake can throw off the entire formation and ultimately cause the corps to lose points. As I mentioned earlier, the corps utilizes a mix of precise and angular forms, contrasting with flowing organic forms. This provides a delight to the eye, as every single formation is executed

flawlessly.
I’ve watched countless performances in the internet from many other groups, but I often find myself being drawn back to “Inferno,” performed by Carolina Crown. I love the drama and overall quality of every aspect of the show. The music and drill are top notch, and the unique components of the chanting and giant tarps help establish this performance as a standout for this competitive season. Next time someone tells me to go to Hell, I’ll reply with “gladly!”