by Shane Mason
Since 1953, on the third Saturday of July, the small town of Deep River, Connecticut is transported back in time. The Deep River Ancient Muster (DRAM) is the largest and oldest fife and drum muster in the world. Nearly 45 fife and drum groups from across the States participated in this year’s muster, albeit small in comparison to pre-Covid turnout. Tryon Palace’s Fife and Drum Corps returned this year, having last participated in 2016.
New England is the heartland of fife and drum not just in the United States, but the world over. Virginia was also well-represented, and in previous years corps have participated from as far away as Switzerland, the birthplace of military fife and drum music. The Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps was the southernmost corps to attend this year. Tryon’s participating members drove an average of 650 miles. The accolade for furthest corps went to a group all the way from Los Angeles, California.
Many groups like the Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps represent the music and history of the American Revolution, but others represent different conflicts like the Civil War or the War of 1812. Some groups are not tied to a specific period, like the Ancient Mariners who march and perform in sailor garb.
DRAM 2021 opened on Friday, July 16th with the DRAM Tattoo, a performance and social for participants. The celebrated Parade and Muster began Saturday at 11:00am and lasted for a few hours. Up next was the ‘on-stand’ portion, when each corps had a chance to perform an individual short set-list to an appreciative public. A favorite was the Fort Myers Fire Department Fife and Drum Corps performance. This group is made up of former members of the Old Guard, a ceremonial unit in the United States Army that naturally includes a fife and drum corps.
Our Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps debuted a tune that they have been working on since January. Aux Champs (pronounced as ‘aw shomp’) is a French marching tune and was already old by the American Revolution. Our Corps played a modern version of this ancient tune graciously provided by Jérôme Orlandini of the Fifres et Tambours de Fréjus, a French fife and drum corps in southern France. This martial tune has become a favorite of our group! Audiences can experience this fabulous piece at any upcoming Tryon Palace event featuring our group. The next opportunity is the re-enactment of the Stanly-Spaight duel on September 4th at the New Bern Academy.
DRAM concluded Saturday, and our group was awarded a plaque as a welcome back gift. Our southern corps was happy to share in the spirit of 1776 with our northern compatriots, just as our forefathers did two and a half centuries ago. Next year, on the third Saturday of July, the Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps plans to return to the Deep River Ancient Muster for another historical performance, martial tunes, and comradery.
The Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps is always looking for new recruits. If you wish to learn this art and perform with us, please contact shane.mason@ncdcr.gov.
Tryon Palace • 529 South Front Street • New Bern, NC 28562 • 252-639-3500 • www.tryonpalace.org