Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps
The Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps is a former World Class (formerly Division I) drum and bugle corps. Based out of Toledo, Ohio, the corps was a member of Drum Corps International (DCI) and was a sixteen time DCI World Championship Finalist.
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| Location | Toledo, Ohio |
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| Division | World Class |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Disbanded | 2013 |
| Folded | 2014 |
The Glassmen were inactive for the 2013 DCI season, and on November 29, 2013, it was announced that the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps Board of Directors had filed for bankruptcy protection to try to work out from under a major debt load.[1] The Federal Bankruptcy Court officially dissolved the organization on March 14, 2014.[2] Almost immediately following the bankruptcy announcement, the Board of Directors of the Glassmen Alumni Association announced their intention to assist in resolving the difficulties and returning the corps to the field either as the Glassmen or as a new entity.[3] The Alumni Association took possession of much of the corps' memorabilia and is storing it for the possible future rebirth of the corps.[4] It was announced shortly before the beginning of the 2015 Drum and Bugle Corps season that The Glassmen were going to try and start up again for competition hopefully as soon as the 2016 Drum and Bugle Corps season. On March 1, 2016, it was announced that the corps would compete as a Sound Sports team during the coming summer season.
History
In 1961, Richard (Dick) Ford and Jack Schnapp founded the Maumee Suns under the sponsorship of American Legion Post 320 of Maumee, a suburb abutting the south side of Toledo. For its first three (3) seasons, the unit was strictly a parade corps. In 1964, the corps entered American Legion field competitions, and the name was changed to the Glass City Optimists in 1967, recognizing the co-sponsorship of the local Optimists and honoring Toledo's heritage as a major center of the glass industry. In 1971, the "Glass Capital of the World" was even more fully recognized when the corps' name was changed to the Glassmen.
The Glassmen first entered DCI competitions in 1975, placing 5th of 19 corps in the Class A championships in Philadelphia. The corps then went inactive for four seasons. It returned to the field in 1980 as a Class A corps, but by DCI Finals in Birmingham, Alabama had moved to Open Class, finishing 42nd of 44 corps. In 1982, the Glassmen began competing in Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) shows, joining the circuit the following year, when they placed 4th of 24 corps at the DCM Championships in DeKalb, Illinois. The corps then went on to place 24th of 51 corps at DCI in Miami, Florida, earning DCI Associate membership. However, the corps dropped to 28th place in 1984 and 39th in 1985. In 1985, Dan Acheson, the current executive director and CEO of DCI, was named executive director of the Glassmen. From 1985 through 1995, the corps moved up in the DCI standings every year, regaining DCI membership in 1988, placing in semifinals for the first time in 1991, and making the DCI Top Twelve Finals for the first time in 1993. The corps had been a Finalist for three years when Acheson was elected chairman of the board of DCI in 1995 and later that year was appointed to his current position.
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After Acheson's departure, the Glassmen fell from DCI Finals in 1996, only to return the following six seasons under new Executive Director Brian Hickman, placing as high as 5th in 1998, '99, and 2001. The corps dropped from Finals again in 2003, returned for another seven-year run from 2004 through 2010. During this period, the Glassmen made four appearances with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, performing Respeghi's "Pines of Rome" in 2004, 2008, and 2012 and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" in 2006 and 2012. Once more dropping from Finals in 2011, the corps began to fall victim along with many other non-profit organizations to difficult financial times with the national economy faltering. After slipping from 13th in 2011 to 14th in 2012, the organization found itself deep in debt, with no recourse but to sell off its assets to settle some of the debt load, and became defunct as a result of a Federal Bankruptcy Court ruling in 2014.
In June 2015, the Glassmen Alumni Association announced the first step in bringing back the corps with the scheduled return of the Glassmen Winter Guard to WGI competition in 2016.[7] However, they did not compete. As of January 2017, there is no representative unit under the Glassmen flag, and the Glassmen Alumni Association website has been idle for nearly two years.
Sponsorship
The few remaining assets of the Glassmen are held by the Glassmen Alumni Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Fort Wayne, Indiana; the president of the Association's board of directors is Jamison Eige. The association has announced its intention to assist in returning the corps to the field either as the Glassmen or as a new entity.[4]
Show Summary (1972–2012)
Source:[8]
Gold background indicates DCI Championship; Pale shaded background indicates DCI Top 12 Finalist.
| Year | Theme | Repertoire | Score | Placement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Repertoire not available | |||
| 1973 | Enter the Conquering Hero (Unknown) / The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone / One Fine Morning by Skip Prokop / Declaration of Independence by Paul Kantner / Wooden Ships by David Crosby, Paul Kantner, and Stephen Stills / We May Never Pass This Way (Again) by Seals and Crofts | |||
| 1974 | Scythian Suite by Sergei Prokofiev / One Fine Morning by Skip Procop / Skybird by Neil Diamond / In the Mood by Wingy Manone, Joe Garland, and Andy Razaf / We May Never Pass This Way (Again) by Seals and Crofts | |||
| 1975 | Aristophonic Suite ‘The Wasps’ Overture by Ralph Vaughan Williams / Hill Where the Lord Hides by Chuck Mangione / March of the Three Oranges by Sergei Prokofiev / In the Mood by WIngy Manone, Joe Garland, and Andy Razaff / Prelude for an Occasion by Edward Gregson | 63.050 | 5th Class A | |
| 1976–79 | Corps inactive | |||
| 1980 | Opener (Unknown) / Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Moussorgsky / Closer (Unknown) | 45.550 | 42nd | |
| 1981 | Entrance and March of the Peers (from Iolanthe) by Gilbert and Sullivan / Late in the Evening by Paul Simon / Captain Marvel by Chick Corea / Piano Concerto No. 1 by Keith Emerson / The Light is On & Ride Like the Wind by Christopher Cross / | 53.600 | 38th | |
| 1982 | The Red Pony by Aaron Copland / Rio by Mack David, Oswaldo Santiago, and Alcyr Pires Vermelho / Piano Concerto No. 1 by Keith Emerson / El Congo Valiente (from Cuban Fire!) by Johnny Richards / The Light is On & Ride Like the Wind by Christopher Cross | 55.000 | 34th | |
| 1983 | Wind Machine by Sammy Nestico / Recuerdos (from Cuban Fire!) by Johnny Richards / Hide & Seek (Undetermined) / Big Noise from Winnetka by Bob Haggart and Ray Bauduc / Time for a Change by Hank Levy | 58.250 | 24th | |
| 1984 | Wind Machine by Sammy Nestico / Groovin’ Hard by Don Menza / Race with the Devil on a Spanish Highway by Al Di Meola / Chain Reaction by Don Ellis | 68.900 | 28th | |
| 1985 | Repertoire not available | 53.900 | 39th | |
| 1986 | This Could be the Start of Something Big by Steve Allen / Coconut Champagne by Denis DiBlasio / Misty by Erroll Garner / Everything’s Coming Up Roses (from Gypsy) by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim | 62.900 | 31st | |
| 1987 | This Could be the Start of Something Big by Steve Allen / Sambita by Justo Almario / As Time Goes By by Herman Hupfeld / The Groove Merchant by Jerome Richardson and Thad Jones | 62.400 | 30th | |
| 1988 | South 21st Street Shuffle by Steve Wiest / Caravan by Juan Tizol / Watch What Happens by Michel Legrand and Jacques Demy, adapted by Norman Gimbel / Just a Gigolo + I Ain't Got Nobody by Leonello Casucci, Julius Brammer, Irving Caesar, Spencer Williams, and Roger A. Graham | 67.500 | 25th | |
| 1989 | Key to Her Fararri by Thomas Dolby / Jive Samba by Nat Adderley / Caravan by Juan Tizol / Swing Low, Sweet Chariot by Wallis Willis | 68.700 | 23rd | |
| 1990 | Suite for Jazz Orchestra by Dmitri Shostakovich / Threshold by Patrick Williams / In the Eighties by Bob Mintzer / After All by Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow | 79.500 | 18th | |
| 1991 | Appalachian Morning by Paul Halley / Escapades of Pan by David Lanz / After All by Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow | 78.500 | 17th | |
| 1992 | A Childhood Remembered | The North Wind by David Arkenstone / Madre de la Tierra & Escapades of Pan by David Lanz | 83.900 | 13th |
| 1993 | A Voyage Through Imagination | Overture, Morning Sun on the Sails, The Lion’s Breath, The North Wind & Sailing All by David Arkenstone | 82.800 | 11th |
| 1994 | Days of Future Past | Dawn: Dawn is a Feeling by Mike Pinder / The Morning: Another Morning by Ray Thomas / Lunch Break: Peak Hour by John Lodge / The Afternoon & Nights in White Satin by Justin Hayward | 83.900 | 10th |
| 1995 | A Joyful Celebration | Fugue in G minor (Little Fugue) & Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach / Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee by Ludwig van Beethoven / A Mighty Fortress Is Our God by Martin Luther | 88.300 | 8th |
| 1996 | An(other) American Revolution | Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa / Second Symphony, Fifth Movement by Charles Ives / I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin / Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin / Strike up the Band by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin / An American in Paris by George Gershwin | 82.700 | 13th |
| 1997 | The Age of Gold: Music of Georges Bizet | Scene and Variations, Changing of the Guard (from Carmen), Intermezzo: The Mountain Pass & Farandole (from L'Arlésienne) All by Georges Bizet | 90.000 | 8th |
| 1998 | Dreams of Gold: Music of Alexander Borodin | Asia Fantasia, Prince Igor Overture, Notturo: String Quartet No. 2 in D Major, Kismet Suite, Polovetsian Dances (from Prince Igor) All by Alexander Borodin | 92.800 | 5th |
| 1999 | Empire of Gold | Symphony No. 1, Variations of a Hungarian Folk Song (The Peacock), Entrance of the Emperor and His Court (from the Harry Janos Suite) All by Zoltán Kodály | 93.700 | 5th |
| 2000 | Music of George Gershwin | Piano Concerto in F by George Gershwin | 90.350 | 8th |
| 2001 | IMAGO | Panambi Invocation to the Powerful Spirits & Pameana No. 3 Impetuosamente by Alberto Ginastera / Concertino for Oboe and Strings by Brenno Blauth / Panambi Dance of the Warriors by Alberto Ginastera / Pavana (from the Tres Versiones Sinfonica) by Julián Orbón | 94.300 | 5th |
| 2002 | Odyssey | Javelin by Michael Torke / Millennium Symphony by Michael Kamen | 91.000 | 8th |
| 2003 | The Elements: Air, Earth, Fire & Water | Air: Danza de los Duendes by Nancy Galbraith / Earth: October by Eric Whitacre / Fire: Drum feature / Water: Original music by Bruce McConnell and Chris Hestin | 84.500 | 14th |
| 2004 | Voice of One | Prologue (Original, inspired by Robert Schumann and Samuel Barber) / Diversions: Serenade for Orchestra & The Saint (from Seraphic Dialogues) by Norman Dello Joio / The Cave (Original, inspired by Samuel Barber and Christopher Rouse) / Finale for Martha (Original, inspired by Aaron Copland) | 85.950 | 12th |
| 2005 | A New World | Symphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World" by Antonín Dvořák | 87.700 | 11th |
| 2006 | Beethoven: Mastery & Madness | Selections from Symphonies 1 thru 8 / Moonlight Sonata / Diabelli Variations / Ode to Joy (from Symphony No. 9) All by Ludwig van Beethoven | 86.00 | 11th |
| 2007 | Gitano | Alborada – La Noche – Danzas – Fandango Capriccio Espagnol by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Rhapsody Espagnole by Maurice Ravel | 85.750 | 11th |
| 2008 | Kar-ne-vel | Carnival is Over by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry / The Breakfast Machine (from Big Top Pee Wee) & Overture by Danny Elfman / Watermark by Enya / Beirut Taxi by Alexandre Desplat | 87.200 | 11th |
| 2009 | The Journey of ONE | Multiples of One by Joseph Curiale / You Are Wherever Your Thoughts Are by Steve Reich / The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Michael Nyman / Tristan & Yvaine (from Stardust) by Ilan Eshkeri / Joy (from Awakening) by Joseph Curiale / One by Harry Nilsson | 87.750 | 10th |
| 2010 | The Prayer Cycle | Mercy (from The Prayer Cycle) by Jonathan Elias / Primacy of Number (from Naqoyqatsi) by Philip Glass / Terminal by James Dooley / Hope (from The Prayer Cycle) by Jonathan Elias / Epiphanies (from Fanfares and Chorales) by Ron Nelson / We're Jungle Creatures (from The Lion in Winter) by John Barry | 85.800 | 12th |
| 2011 | My Mortal Beloved | Original music by Don Hill / Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven / Can't Help Falling In Love by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss / Romeo & Juliet by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi | 83.400 | 13th |
| 2012 | Glassworks | Mishima by Philip Glass / One (Original music) by Key Poulan and Rob Ferguson / Ethiopia III (from Beyond Borders) by James Horner, Symphony No. 3 (Organ Symphony) by Camille Saint-Saëns, | 82.250 | 14th |
In addition to their regular show music, the corps maintained a selection of encore tunes that were used for non-competitive events such as parades and stand-still concerts, including:
- Madre de la Tierra by David Lanz (corps song)
- Time to Say Goodbye (English version of Con te partirò) by Francesco Sartori and Lucio Quarantotto
- Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre
- George M Cohan Medley
Traditions
The Glassmen had a variety of traditional elements that reappeared often in their programs. Chief among these is the modern corps symbol, a triangular shield (shown at top). Most shows had at least one occurrence of the shield in the drill, even if it appeared for only a couple of seconds. Triangular forms were also prevalent in drill design. In addition to this, the color gold had been a traditional element, most notably in the successful seasons of 1997 through 1999. Another annual tradition was to modify the shield that goes on the left breast of the Glassmen uniform. Each year had a different variation on the corps symbol that corresponded to the show and added individuality to each season without changing the simplistic, clean-cut look of the overall uniform.[9]
References
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-12. Retrieved 2014-10-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- https://www.facebook.com/pages/GLASSMEN-Drum-Bugle-Corps/175562630809?sk=info
- http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/2013/11/glassmen-alumni-association-statement-on-glassmen-bankruptcy-filing/
- http://www.glassmenalumni.org/
- http://www.dcxmuseum.org/index.cfm?view=EditHistory&CorpsID=35
- https://www.facebook.com/pages/GLASSMEN-Drum-Bugle-Corps/175562630809?sk=info&ref=page_internal
- "Glassmen Winter Guard 2016 Promo". The Glassmen Experience. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
- http://fjminc.com/cesario/glassmen/
External links
Drum Corps International member corps | |||||||||
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| Active corps not competing in DCI† |
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| Corps active as alumni or mini-corps‡ |
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| Inactive or Defunct Corps |
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† Includes previous DCI member corps and competitors. ‡ Includes as SoundSport ensembles, all-age or senior corps, parade corps, winter guards or drumlines. | |||||||||
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