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07/18/2017 12:00 AMThough attended by thousands and heralded as both “Colonial Woodstock” and “The Granddaddy of all Musters,” the Deep River Ancient Muster (DRAM) still feels like Connecticut’s best kept secret of a day out.
Held annually on the third weekend of July, Fife and Drum Corps have descended on Devitt Field from across the country, and the world, since 1879, to keep alive a musical tradition dating back to the Revolutionary War. Though it has faced many iterations over the years, the tattoo takes place on Friday night at Devitt field, with the parade following Saturday morning. Straight after the parade marches down Main Street, the muster takes place at Devitt Field.
For those who aren’t aware what a muster is, Tony Sepe, director of the 15th New Jersey Field Music Company A, summarizes it as “a gathering” of those who play fife and drum in this tradition. Corps decide on their time period and identity, whether they conform to Revolutionary or Civil War era dress (or not), and some, like the 15th New Jersey Field Music Company A, are attached to reenactment groups and so attempt to avoid anachronism in their presentations and period dress.
“It’s not a competition. Originally these companies were mustered into service, but we’re not going into war,” said Sepe. “This is the biggest muster in the world. It’s open, there is no invitation needed. You just fill out a form online and get your spot in line.”
Sepe has been attending DRAM for about 35 years. Now the director of this corps, he has been attending with his father, Joseph, who also is part of the corps, though he lives in Delaware.
“My drum instructor, Duke Terreri, wanted to bring me here, but passed away before we got here,” said Sepe on how he first started coming to DRAM.
Terreri, the founder of the corps in which both Sepes play, is credited with transcribing corps music so it could become standardized. That standardization has taken the music across the globe, including Switzerland, which has its own fife and drum tradition.
“We went to Switzerland, and they played American patriotic music perfectly,” said Joseph Sepe. “They said they did it to honor and respect what the U.S. did for the Swiss in World War II.”
“We’re only here to entertain each other, and enjoy the spirit of ancient military and popular music,” Sepe continued. “People get involved through family, or general interest. Here, people don’t even know it’s going on—it’s free and they wander in off the street.”
A Cottage Industry
Tradition and skill is not only found in the musicians, but in those who make their instruments. Jim Neely of Branford started to play with the Stony Creek Drum Corps when he was 13, and used to make fifes himself.
“I used to hear someone practicing fife and I got interested in it,” said Neely. “I already played euphonium. Now I’m still here because of my friends, they’re people I’ve known for a very long time.
“The DRAM is great because it’s open. I don’t think there is a limit to the number of corps, and many have been coming for a long time. Deep River keeps it going. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they were to not have it, if it would happen anyways,” continued Neely.
Neely started making fifes after becoming interested in making his own instrument while in the army.
“You start with a one-inch square, 18-inch long piece of a very hard wood,” said Neely, who had a fife he had made from rosewood in his pocket. “You want a very hard, very dense wood. They usually have copper or brass on the ends; traditionally they would have been brass. But the basic design goes back to the 1300s—the hollowed-out shape that is widest at the embouchure hole” where the player blow air into the instrument.
Ron Peeler of East Haddam started making fifes in 1999, when his kids, who were in the Moodus Drum Corps wanted their own.
“I always had woodworking as a hobby, and it took off into a part time business,’ said Peeler, who also is a bass drummer in the Moodus Drum Corps. “I take a piece of wood and I bore it through with a gun drill, and then use a 1941 smooth bend metal lathe to shape it. You want a hard wood so that the sound resonates.”
When it comes to the variation in shapes, Peeler notes that it is the length and the spacing of the holes that determines the key, but the shape and style is determined by the corps.
Peeler also notes that it’s not the business aspect that keeps him coming back.
“It’s a lot of fun to be here, you meet a lot of people,” continued Peeler. “It’s like a big family reunion and get together.”
An Annual Reunion
The parade is a mainstay for many who return year after year, either to spend time with their families listening to good music, or because of the de facto reunion with those they might have otherwise lost touch with that is bound to happen.
Fred Owsiany of Guilford has been coming to the parade for 52 years.
“We come here to see the [Ancient] Mariners and the Old Guard,” an Army drum corps from Virginia, said Owsiany. “It’s an enjoyable day, and it’s free.”
Owsiany noted that Deep River’s two-day event is truly unique.
“We went to the national muster in Virginia—we get there, and there was no one there. They only had six units at the national muster, but here, it’s great, people come from all over,” he said.
“It’s a special day for Deep River,” said Bruce Glowac who, with his wife Taffy Glowac, have been setting up a “Valley Regional Class of 1970” sign for the last 10 years. “We’re the local headquarters for the muster. You see people you see once a year.
“It’s always had tremendous support from the town. It makes it click, makes the mechanics run very smoothly,” continued Glowac. “It’s a special event. People just want to come and have a great day in Deep River.”
Ensuring a Next Generation
The DRAM is not only successful because of the continuation of and ancient and local tradition, but in the week leading up to the muster there is a camp for youth to work on their skills and meet up with friends from across the country: the Company Kids Camp, sponsored by the Company of Fifers and Drummers. Volunteers teach youth to become better at all aspects of Fife and Drum at Incarnation Camp in Essex, and then the camp kids perform at the tattoo.
Olivia Handy, 14, of Portland, has been part of the Deep River Junior Ancients for six or seven years.
“I love the uniqueness of it and how it brings people together,” said Handy, who plays the bass drum, and a little bit of fife and snare. “It’s been in my family for generations. Most people play two or three instruments.”
“One of my favorite things is the camp corps,” said Handy. “It’s four days with kids from across the country. I met most of my best friends there. It’s like a family.”
On the other hand, 10-year old Sam Harang from North Branford is new to fife and drum.
“I’ve been in the color guard since October. I’m learning to play fife,” said Harang. “I’m trying to get my sister to do it, but she won’t. It’s all instruments that I like.”
“He’s into history, and wanted to look into fife and drum because he wanted to learn fife,” said Sam’s mom, Amanda Harang. “So, I looked around and I found the Junior Ancients. I’m impressed that they are all kids and they provide instructions.”
For many, fife and drum is simply a family affair. Art and Kathy Hutchinson of Wethersfield met through fife and drum when they were young; her dad was the secretary treasurer and his was the director. Art Hutchinson is now the director of the Colonel John Chester Fife and Drum, and notes that for most, it is a multi-generational activity.
“I’ve been coming since I was eight years old. We bring the whole drum corps; my whole family is involved—my wife, two kids, and two grandkids. It’s a good activity, teaches kids an instrument, gives them discipline,” said Hutchinson. “Some of our kids were at the camp, but the corps plays tomorrow.”
Asked why the DRAM seemed to be so consistently successful, Kathy Hutchinson said, “Deep River embraced it from the beginning. You have the camping, the field, the parking—it’s just always been here.”
Those with a child from 8 to 18 years old who’s inspired to learn to play the fife or drums can contact the Deep River Junior Ancients at info@drja.org. The next Deep River Ancient Muster will take place Friday and Saturday, July 20 and 21, 2018.