Pro....And Con

DCN Sept. 12, 1962 issue

Dear Sir:
Your fine paper has been enjoyed tremendously at my house, but I hope it is not going to become a mere transmitter of unfounded statements. I am referring to the article in the July 11, 1962 issue by Herb Cole concerning the Mission Drums contest. I did not miscontrue his remarks, but took them as he wrote them. His remarks were not authoritative, quite obviously, or he could not have made the statements he did about the Hawthorne Caballeros.

I should like to give Mr. Cole some AUTHORITATIVE answers to his remarks. Hawthorne plays the most difficult music ever written for the bugle. This is a well known fact, and can be proven by asking any judge who has ever been on the field with them. They have nine parts to each of their arrangements: solo, first and second soprano, first and second french horn, solo, first, second and bass baritone.

Mr. Cole stated that "the drill is certainly basic with a few highlights." Well, I think he should look again. Perhaps then he will realize that Hawthorne actually spots their opposition points every time they compete. They have the largest corps in competition, therefore, more men to make mistakes. Their drill is one of the most difficult performed on the field; so, next time you see them, notice how many obliques and flank movements you see ou see as compared to ANY OTHER corps. Notice the quick squad recovery, and the cadence, and the straightness of squads and rifles and fronts.

If Herb Cole considers this "boring and on the border of uninteresting" I do not feel that he is enough of an authority on drum corps to have an article such as his July 11 review of the Mission Drums to be published in such a fine paper as DRUM CORPS NEWS.

I doubt very much that this letter will be published, but please see to it that Herb Cole receives it.

Sincerely,
Gerald A. Simpson
Kingston, N.Y.