Newbie here, so please cut me some slack. Never marched but lately I've been getting interested in watching drum corps for the sheer enjoyment of it.

I was wondering if anyone knows the history of the development of tenors from the original single 12x15 to today's quads/quints. Seems like a very ergonomic set up but i don't know who came up with it or how. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Ha I remember those tri-toms as we called them, they we the TDR Slingerlands. The "Small" set 12-14 were bad enough but the big mamas well you were a man to play those! They would flap their wings when you got up to a good marching clip. This was 80-81 high school, I auditioned for Quest in 81 and I was asked to play "the Tenors" as he called them, I was mortified! Only drum I ever heard of was the one drum tenor. 10th grad finally made a corp line and I have to play a snare drum with no guts! I almost cried, when they brought out a set of quads and said these are tenors, well angels sang the sun shined brighter!! The tubs were dead!!

I went back to school and told every one of this wonderful creation of God called the QUADS, well I was crazy!