Vol 6 No 4 Page 1 ,· ISSN 0091 1176 The Ancient Times Published by The Company of Fifers & Drummers, Inc. Vol. VI No. 4 September, 1979 Ancients Mourn Tragic . A GLANCE AT THE SUMMER OF 1979 Michigan's 2nd Muster Loss Of Everett Miner Of Course There Was Deep River .. , A Great Success By PHIL TRUITT By MARK LOGSDON The Ancient community suffere<l a deep The 2nd Annual Invitational Ancient and widely fell loss on June 11th when Musick Muster at Greenfield Village is Everett Miner was tragically killed in an now history. Once again it rained. The rain automobile accident in Granby, Con­ did not, however, dampen the spirits of necticut. Approaching his twentieth those who participated. This year was a bit birthday which was lo fall on lhe very day different in that the Muster portion of the of The Marquis of Granby Muster this program did not get rained out. This year, Everett had already carved out a unusual event < for Michigan) was well distinguished career as a leader and received by all who came lo listen and musician as well as being an inspiration to watch the great variety of units that at­ lhe thousands who knew him personally or tended. had seen him perform. He was a young New additions to this year's roster were man destined for great things and perhaps Hana ford's Volunteers of Vermont and 3rd herein lies the greatest tragedy of his loss. New York Regiment of Oneida County, Few will forget hissymbo l of the Ancient New York, Both groups did a fine job of spirit as Drum Major of The Marquis of bringing Ancient fifing and drumming to Granby and the great strength of in­ Michigan. spiration he gave to lhat corps. It was not All the corps that attended, especially by chance that his picture was selected to those that returned for the second time, appear on the cover of a recent record deserve a hearty round of applause for album as lhe embodiment of the pride and making the effort to come "Out West" to authenticity to which we all aspire. In put on a show. We of The 1st Michigan fulfilling his lifetime ambition of being a Colonials wish to extend our appreciation member of the distinguished Old Guard for that effort, and for the fine music, Fife & Drum Corps, his influence was friendship, and learning experience af­ equally fell among that body as a driving forded us "Mid Westerners". force to greater achievement. The depth of One highlight of the weekend that must respect and warmth in which he was be menlione<l was lhe meeting held by regarded within The Old Guard was most officers of THE COMPANY OF FIFERS evident to all who were in attendance at AND DRUMMERS for Corps Represen­ The Marquis of Granby Muster on July the tatives. 14th. <Continued on a e 3) L r e 1 e mm, vere a ac- tively and eagerly pursued many interests And The Banglers were there from Switzerland. with the same drive he exhibited on the Centenarian Celebration Muster field. He was a great lover of Big Party In Plainville nature and the out of doors. As an amateur naturalist, he was constantly studying Rather than observe their centennial biology, casting deer and other wildlife year in the hackneyed Muster format, the tracks and maintaining charts or bird members or the Plainville FDC decided lo observations. His search for knowledge do something different. They hired the and achievement was interminable. He largest hall in Bristol, Ct.; lined it with an loved to go backpacking with his fellow Old enormous U-shaped banquet table and Guard members. invited their drum corps friends to enjoy Everett also possessed a very artistic the host corps, and a select group of nature. In addition to his exploits with the partisan-musicians, in exhibition. Ancient fife, he was also a student or the A pleasant surprise awaited the organ with great professional promise. He audience as the Plahl\'ille Corps' 19 had studied for several years with Gary players, major and colors took the floor lo Jaskulski on the organ and in theory. This demonstrate the sounds they have been was a young man with a great love and noted for since 1879. They were followed. appreciation for true beauty in life and he shortly thereafter, by Leo Reinhauzen, sought those interests with great devotion. Drum Major of The Chester FDC, who was Yet his dominant interest always lay in so anxious to demonstrate his solidarity the world of Ancient fifes and drums. At with the birthday corps that he marched age 10 he joined The Marquis or Grai;iby as on the floor with no corps behind him. This a fifer and his mother, Penny Miner, lack was soon corrected and all were recalls that he never put the instrument treated to several rousing numbers, in the ((;ontinued on page :l) style for which this venerable unit has long been famous. Sixty-Nine Ancient Units Ston)' Creek's large corps was majored by Conn. Fifers and Drummers Ass'n. Parade in Deep River iudge Bob Bailey whose lack or uniform did not go unnoticed by self-appointed What does one say about Deep River adjudicators St.Denis, (Plainville), and each year that has not been said many Arsenault, <Lancraft>. Revenge is sweet times before? The 1979 version of The - especially when it means getting even Muster drew over 1,200 marchers from 10 with a judge. The corps was in fine fettle as slates plus Switzerland as 69 units took lo they played "Patriots and Defense," the the parade shortly after noon on July the Roy Watrous medley that moved them into 21st. It was a humid, warm and overcast the Northeast Association's winning circle afternoon, but far better than last year's some years back. North Haven's Lancra_fl driving rainstorm. Present were virtually FDC was next with "The Lakes of Sligo" all of the Ancient super corps as well as Plainville Had A Birthday Party ..100 Years! and a "Green Cockade" sing.along con· new corps a ltending for the very first time. ducted by Long John McGuire and his As is normal in this premier gathering, a Indian quartet. big crowd of over 20,000 onlookers was on 6 The crowd was as appreciative as only a hand to cheer every unit that swept by in a ~ang of old cronies could be - especially full rainbow of colors and an •elaborate when they moved toward the groaning show of uniform styles. board or the ale kegs. The subsequent Connecticut Patriots & Jollification included so many playing The Ancient Mariners styles - from Mattatuck to The Conn. As you can well envision, with 69 Ancient Blues - that it soon took the form of an corps and Pipe Bands descending on Deep Ancient potpourri rarely witnessed in River's Main Street it is difficult to cite these days of individual expression. any corps as outstanding from such a fine Not many corps have survived as many field. There were highlights, however, and winters as the boys - or rather, boys and ~ "" the first to come was the appearance of the ~iris-in the buff and scarlet. We can only big and musically impressive Connecticut wish them a similar amount of success. Patriots from Plainville, Connecticut. This .Jack Nutledge and In· Haviland take the Lorfln St. Denis discussing lh<' finf."r points and an equal number of good friends. corps has been growing in stature by the floor with th~ huge Plainville co_rtingent. of judging II ilh ll<lh Baile.I' and l.ong John throughout their next ten decades. <Continued on page S) i\k(:uirr. Vol 6 No 4 Page 2 Page 2 The Ancient Times September, 1979 YANKEE PEDLARS authorities in the fields of military drill, uniforms and music._ For some corps this The Ancient limes "They Found A Way" would be most welcome. Published by In the mean time I'll enjoy a variety of Th~ Company of Filers & Drummers, Inc. Daye Press 1938 Oyster pedlars from the shore towns, corps including Colonial Williamsburg, The Company of Fifers and Drummers is Incorporated in Charles Dickerson, St. Benedict's, the tt,• St•I• 01 C0Mtc.1'eut f.-1\ a char1tab1e and eeluc,111onal. shad pedlars from the rivers, cheese non,oroflt tnstilutton and 1s off1ctauy 11nd 1eg.a11v pedlars from Goshen, and horse radish Ancient Mariners, Scots Guards Corps of rtcogn,ted as such by IM U.S. T<easury Departmen t Tne Drums, the Army Old Guard and of course pedlars from Wolcott taught the people of Company"s purposes are to pe,petuate tne ,,.-o ,.,... ,. ol Ridgewood, N.J. my favorite junior corps, the Morris Earh A.m(H1can marllal mu sic, lo encourage g,ear~• "'"0"" New England to enjoy a varied ration and 1eoge 01 1ne hls1oric:a1.s lgn1hcance of flfe ano Cln,111 niu!.1, get their full quota of" vitamins, even This is to thank you for a-II you ·.;~;~ County Militia. and 10 foster the spin l ot totlowsn1p among ,ne Ider$ a,na don-,, and are doing, for Ancient fifing and RonDaSilva drummers everywhere. I hough they didn't know there was a name Vol. V[ No. 4 Sept. 1979 for lhem. Alewives, a measly bQny fish. drumming. This is also to thank your wife ~:lllTOR: Ed Olsen were hawked in faraway Vermont by for all of the cooperation which I know she C'ONTRIRL'TING EDITOR: Bill Pace pedlars who got their loads from the must give - My mother did, and loved it.