Published by The Company ofFifm & Drummers, Inc. Vol. 24 No.4, Winter 1997 S2.50 50% Concert and Marching OFF Model Sticks Created for Discerning Percussionists on selected Worldwkie for CNer 40 models & years. weights wflile suppries last. I $800 ~iW~ •w Sa,e • pr. Coopennan Fife & Orum Co. rli, $/ 6 ~ p Essex Industrial Pork Regu la "1 ' r. P.O. &x 276, Centerbrook, CT 06409-0276 USA Tel: 860-767-1779 Fax; 860-767-7017 E-mail: [email protected] AncicntTunes 1 Vol. 24 No. 4 - Winter, 1997 he National Muster will be a highlight of the 1998 Publisher/Editor: Vin Ci.epiel season! The 1998 season is sure to be another great Art Director: Da,·c Jones Consultant: Bua Allen one. We have a National Muster to look forward to, an Editorial Assistant: Donna C1,:p1cl event that only comes up every two years. Robin and Contributing Editors: Scott Grteru,trect, Mark Logsdon. Dan Mo) Ian. Steve Niemitz of the 8th Conn. Regiment and Ed Olsen, Kevin M. Sullivan. George Yeramian Warehouse Point Jr. Ancients spoke at the February Correspondents: Ed Bo} le, Ellen Ca.-.hman, business meeting of 71ze Company about their plans for the National Muster, and Enn Connolly. Cap Corduan. Sally S. F11111, S= K. Keogh. it's going to be a great Muster! Scou Mandrell. Colleen Andrew~ Stnck. Randy Stock The National Muster is an important opportunity to showcase the Contributors: Peter ~wi,, BillJ~ variety and breadth of the Ancient community. The public will see (and hopefully Bill LaPorte. Gu, Mabll'OIII, J~ MomeaulL Alan Nelson. recognize) that although every Corps is unique in its own right, we are all a part of Cliarlie Riley. Peier Weiss. Jcny Wluw.ker something much bigger than most of us would Photographers: Mal Hinckle), chief; Cap Corduan. have even dared imagine a scant 35 years ago. Joe Culhwlc. D1an.1 Culhane. Ron DJSilva. Rhonda Fori;tall. 1n this issue, we turn the spotlight on a Alan Goldfinger. Ethel Lavelle. Betty Moylan. Ed Ohen. favorite drum corps personality, Duke Thrreri, who Jim Willey. George Ycramian. Carl Yusna recently celebrated his 80th birthday. With more Membershlp,Subscriptions: than 70 years of rudimental drumming behind For information on Life Membcr;hip pledge,,. ~ changes and sub-.cnpoon information con!OCI: The Compan) or Fifer.; & him, he's still going strong, still doing parades and ~ P.O. Bo~ 525. lvoryton. CT 06442-0525.tel. 860 767-!237; fux 860 767-9765c-mail: musters. and still jamming. I had the pleasure and thecompan)offd~ Juno.com privilege of doing a couple church festival parades Editorial: Forwriter'sguidelillC\ortodi= story ideas, cditonal mater­ with Duke ... these are marathon events! At the ial and photos contact V m Czepiel 14 Taft A\'e .. Newburgh. NY 12550. (914) 565-8416: e-mail: end, I was exhausted. Duke was ready to jam. They ancicnume:[email protected] don't make 'em Ii ke they used to! Advertising: For rares and availab1hty con1ac1 Vin D.epiel. abo\'c. Our cover photo is the 5th Alabama Field Music, from Deep River, Conn. Roving The Company of Fifers & Drummers reporter (now in Georgia) Cap Corduan originally President: Roger aart (860) 3~5 set out to find a suitable subject from their ranks First Vk:e President: George Ycranuan (860)688-4771 Second Vice President: Erin Connolly (617) 762-0568 for her Accent on Youth column and discovered a Secretary: Sandra Bidwell (860) 742-9235 tightly-knit group of young fifers and drummers Treas11rer: Jocculhane (718)823-5071 Ancients Fund: Dan Moylan (617) 734-1290 who are learning, living and teacrung American Arthin~ Museum Curator: Ed Ob.en (860) 399-6519 rustory. Facilities Manager: Dave Hooghkirk (860) 526-9944 For a little change of pace, Kevin M. Sullivan's A Colonial Music Chainnan: George Carten.s (914) 833-4136 Musters Chairman: Scou Greenstreet (508) 520-7641 Williamsburg Tale will strike a familiar chord with any parent who has ever The Compan) Sore: Cathy 01,;en (860) 399-6519 chaperoned a group of kids away from home. Kevin, who's poetry and miscella­ A11citnt timts is published quanerly by ~ CompanJ of neous writings have appeared in these pages in the past, is our newest Contributing Fiftrs & Dnimmtrs, /11c.• Museum, Mu,1c Library. Hcadquaner... P.O. Box 525. 62 North Mam St.. h OC)ton. CT Editor. 06442-0525 (860) 767-2237 The publiClltion (ISSNOO!)l-7176) seeks to keep mdividual. instirutiooal. and And finally, some late breaking news - The Company now has an drum corp, members throughout the world infonncd primaril) on the acu,,ti~ ortrndilional AmenCllll fifoand drum~ e-mail address! You can communicate directly with headquarters at thecompany­ kno"'n as AR<.iCntl>. The Company m:lintai~ a museum and [email protected]. (The Ancient limes' e-mail address is he.ldquaners on 1wo-pl11> acl'Cl>. Its«~ to perpetuate the historical ,igmficancc and folk tradition, of American field [email protected]). m11>1c and to foster the ,;pint or fcllo",lup among all fifers and drummen.. Founded m 1965, ~ Compa,1y ofFifm & Vin Czepiel, Editor Dnunn1ul, /11c. is a taX-exempt. tax.<Jeducublc. non-profit coq,oration. 2 :\ncirntTunes Westbrook Muster Features N.J. Field Music;_ Perfomiances By Epcot and West Point's Hellcats WESTBROOK, CT a weekend that \\ill be much talked about and Detachment of the We,t Point Band. known as the ..,_ _...... he 1997 Wc~tbrook Muster w:u, a long remembered a., one of the great ones. Hellc-Jts. Although their instrumentation con,t)L, grand C\'ent 1f e,er there wa., one' The "iew Jer.ey Field Mu,ic wa, honon.'d of bugle, and rope tcn,ion drums. they ha,c a Blue skies. wann. gentle brcete~ as the Feature Corp~ -- a fitting tribute a, Duke close a,-.ociation with the Ancient communit) by and a wonderful m1, of Ancient Terren. 'IJF\I\ founder. celehrJted a pcr-0nal virtue of the fact that many out,tanding Ancient talent, from tr.id1tional to contem­ milestone of70 year; of Ancient drumming! drummer. ha\c pa.,-.ed through their po1'31). made thi~ pop-ulare\ent Another treat wa., the Field Mu,ic Westbrook Muster -cont. The Minuteman Printshop 18th Ccnrury Font and Chp-Art Pacltagc is available on CD Rom for Windows™ and Macintosh™ from Walden Font, P.O. Box 871 Winchester, ;\L-\ 01890. Pcce: $49 95 & $3.00 S&H. VISA and MasterCaid accepted To order, call or fax toll-free 1-800-519-4575 (or 781 646 6560) Order I~enfoot.com Quo,rioo,?Sond • m,ilto;ofo@waldenfon<.<om ~ ~~00$00€1000i®¢ii®ilE®i$&i@ _:\nGrntTunes. ,"')1 ranks. The Hellcats' performance on stand was Island, North Merrick, NY; Confederate Re-enactors America, Orleans. MA: Sons & Daughters of well received and demonstrated the versatility Field Music, Pleasant Valley, NY; Conn. Valley Liberty, Charlton, NY; Conn. Patriots, Plainville. of the group as they performed selections that Field Music, Middletown, CT; Deep River Ancients. CT; Portland Ancient FDC. Portland, CT; Black ranged from patriotic marches to jazz. The Deep River. CT; Virginia Grays, Lynchburg, VA; River. Branleboro. VT: Civil War Troopers. highlight of their show was when the Epcot First Falls Jr. Ancients, Yalesville. CT; Spirit of Newburgh, NY. •••♦ Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps joined them on the field for an exhibition of precision drumming that brought the cheering crowd to season nears the annual Army-Navy game. special their feet. ln concluding their show they paid Hellcat arrangements of traditional West Point tribute to their alumni by asking former Hellcats The Hellcats gridiron ~ong~ fan the Army fighting spirit. West Point, NY Hellcat buglers and drummers also have the t is through the group of buglers and rudimen­ sad task of performing muffled drums and Taps tal drummers known as the Hellcats that the during West Point funerals. Annually. a bugler United States Military Academy Band traces plays Taps at the tombs of presidents Ulysses S. Iitli Heritage. Their legend began in 1775 with Grant and Franklin D. Roosevelt on the anniver­ the Continental fifers and drummers that minute­ saries of their deaths. men brought with them to West Point. The Hellcats Pride, intense esprit de corps and a sense of confirm lhe band's distinction as the oldest musical historical continuity inspire the distinguished ser­ activity in the U.S. Anny and the olde~t military vice of today's Hellcats. With their precise march­ unit in continuous service at West Point. ing. embelli~hed by the twirls of silver bugl~ and Although the fife and drum were the first intricate rudimental drumming, the group delights instruments at West Point, the bugle followed thousands of spectators each year. The Hellcats shortly after. Army commanders preferred the who are active in Ancient drumming to join have been featured on NBC's "Today Show," bugle's bold, brilliant sound and used it to give them on the field for the march off. ABC's "Good Morning America." "The CBS camp and battlefield commands. During the Once again the Westbrook Drum Corps Morning News," "Good Day New York" and Revolutionary War, the War of 1812. and the War "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee." They have been deserves a tip o' the tricom (or kepi as the case Between the States. the drum was the primary warmly received at military tattoos in Atlanta, may be) for hosting a consistently outstanding source of battlefield communication. Throughout Georgia and Hamilton. Ontario. The Hellcats were event. the day it ~ignaled various orders, and its steady honored in 1994 to participate in the deactivation The beat kept the rhythm for road marches and troop parade of the Allied Strike Force as they left lhe Line Up movements.