Black Knights - Drum and Bugle Corps UK

Black Knights 2010 production, 4motion

Over recent years, Black Knights have built a reputation of presenting crowd-pleasing productions, often receiving standing ovations from audiences in both the UK and Europe.

“Having fun and letting the audience in were essential elements we wanted to include in our choice for a production for 2010”, commented corps director Rus Rogers.

“Many people forget that Drum Corps is a form of entertainment. We are serious about improving our performances as a Drum Corps year on year but we must never lose sight that we do this because it is fun and we love it. An audience pay to be entertained, not challenged”

Throughout the years Black Knights have performed several different styles of music, from Broadway to Rock and varying styles in between. 4motion will celebrate the corps diversity, as they will perform music from 4 popular and contrasting genres, those being Classical, Latin, Jazz and Rock.

Q1 – Classical - Opener

We want to make an impact with a Classical piece that has not been done to death in drumcorps before, but is recognisable by the audience.

O Fortuna, best known from the film “The Omen”, and more recently used on The X Factor, is dark, foreboding and somewhat of a nod to the Black Knights productions from 2002, 2003 and 2006.

The piece, which is being arranged by Joe Rodwell, will no doubt be driving and aggressive and work in perfect contrast to the other pieces in the show.
Follow this link to YouTube to listen to the original piece

Q2 – Latin

A familiar characteristic of Black Knights shows over the past couple of years has been a “party piece” of sorts, a number that allows the members to let their hair down and the audience to be let in.

Englishmen in New York - Sting, will work in contrast to the dark and aggressive opener, and allow the corps to show their ability to shift gears quickly.

This piece will be arranged by Joe Rodwell who is looking forward to bringing this well known piece to the field.
Click the link to hear the original piece
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flWP28y2cyw

Q3 – Jazz

Sassy, Sexy, Laid Back and Cool. Another well known piece, “Feeling Good” has recently been popularised by Michael Buble.

Black Knights used this piece to open up their 2004 production of the same title, but they are updating and revamping the piece for this years ballad. The style is one that arranger Joe Rodwell is familiar and comfortable with.

Click on the link to listen to the Michael Buble version.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L0e75PSOMc

Andy Cartwright is writing the drum music for us for the show.

Q4 – Rock

Q4 – Rock Probably one of the most entertaining Black Knights shows of recent years was 2008’s production “Young Musician’s Guide to Rock”, and Q4 will see the corps once again draw inspiration from that genre.

Welcome to the Black Parade by My Chemical Romance, is an epic rock track, compared by many to Queens’ Bohemian Rhapsody, and has a structure and phrasing that lends itself well to Drum Corps.

The piece will be arranged by Joe Rodwell.
Click on the link to hear the original track.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_kZb2zwQy0