It's rare that one can mention a single word and drum corps fans know instantly not only what corps is being referenced, but which year's show as well. In the case of the word "parachute," that immediate reaction is to the 1977 Seneca Optimists.
In 1977, the Seneca Optimists enjoyed their most competitive season, finishing in a tie for eighth with the Freelancers while moving up from 10th place in 1976. That earlier year was the first for the corps, a merger of the Seneca Princemen and the Toronto Optimists, the latter corps having finished 16th in 1975.
1976 was a good year for Toronto corps; both the Optimists and Oakland Crusaders advanced to the World Championship Finals. Of note, this is the only year in DCI history that two corps from the same city competed against each other at the Finals.
The Optimists' 1977 show begins with Mahler's Seventh Symphony. What was really unusual was hearing the percussion section perform Mahler with a bongo and conga line. As was the rule during this time period, all percussion had to be carried onto the field. The corps marched four sets of two bongos throughout the show in addition to four sets of three congas, which took the place of a traditional triple tenor line. One can only imagine how heavy the sets of three congas must have been to carry around the field.
Watch the 1977 Seneca Optimists on DVD
If you love really old-fashioned LOUD drum corps brass, this is a show you want to hear. It's G-keyed bugles turned up to "11," particularly thrilling for fans during the concert standstill of "Selections from West Side Story."
During the drum solo of "Magic Show," it's easy to appreciate how the concept of marching bongos and congas was implemented. However, most eyes at the time were drawn to the center of the field, where the brass section and color guard were congregating for the big visual parachute effect.
The late Gary "Chops" Czapinski was a DCI Hall of Fame member, judge and visual designer who came to prominence through his earlier years with Santa Clara Vanguard, when he coordinated his efforts with fellow Hall of Fame member Pete Emmons to come up with the Vanguard signature "Bottle Dance" routine. Czapinski spoke of attempting to again catch lightning in a bottle by creating an identity for Seneca Optimists through a visual move that would have everyone talking.
One day, while walking through an elementary school where Czapinski was conducting business for the company he was with at the time, he noticed students doing an exercise routine with a parachute, coordinating the routine to music. He saw how much fun the kids were having and a drum corps "Kodak Moment" was born.
After the horns disappeared under the parachute during the drum solo, the members knelt down and started playing "Pippin" on their knees. The big opening statement was all the more effective because the audience couldn't see the horns from the perspective of the stands.
Then the horns spilled out from the chute in a number of echelons, taking several seconds to fully clear from under the chute; kind of like watching a clown car being emptied out.
Unfortunately, the corps would be in competition just one more year, taking 23rd place at the 1978 DCI World Championships.
1977 Overview
Michael Boo was a member of the Cavaliers from 1975-1977. He wrote about the drum corps activity for more than 35 years while serving as a staff writer for various Drum Corps International projects. During his lifetime Boo wrote for numerous other publications including an honors-winning book on the history of figure skating. He also was an accomplished composer. Boo passed away in 2020 and was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame posthumously in 2021.