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Fife & Drum Corps
Massachusetts - Fife & Drum Corps
Fife & Drum Corps carry revolutionary sounds through all parts of Massachusetts
In Colonial America the armed forces consisted mainly of citizen soldiers. These men would gather -- or muster – periodically to practice their skills. Each community usually had a fifer and a drummer to provide marching music for the local militia. During battle, fifes and drums signaled troop movement. At camp, the music provided entertainment for the soldiers.
Today’s fife and drum corps are still comprised local citizens dedicated to preserving the ancient art and music of the fife and drums. Musical selections are drawn from many sources, some predating 1800, and include marches, dances, and cheerful tunes. Popular selections include “Yankee Doodle,” “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” and “The Road to Boston.”
Uniforms worn by the fife and drum corps are a source of pride and distinction. Drummers and fifers had special status in the militia signalers and non-combatants; their uniforms usually were the reverse of the regiments’ colors. Some of today’s fife and drum corps wear clothing of the 18th century and others wear dress common of the American Civil War period and later.
Fife and Drum Corps perform in parades, reenactments, musters, encampments, and even at half-time shows at Fenway Park and Foxborough Stadium. A muster is a gathering of several corps with a parade in the morning followed by individual performances by each participating corps. When all corps have performed, it is customary for some members of each corps to mass and play common fife and drum tunes.
Check the websites of the individual corps for information about their public appearances.
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Colonial Navy of Massachusetts
P.O. Box 1775
Fall River, MA
This group, honoring the Massachusetts Colonial Navy, the commonwealth’s naval militia of the American Revolution, performs extensively at parades and musters throughout New England.Appearances in 2009:
Independence Day, July 4, Martha’s Vineyard
Deep River Muster, July 18, Devitt Field, Deep River, Connecticut
Sudbury Muster, September 26, Sudbury
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Middlesex County 4-H Fife & Drum Corps
Concord and Eastern Massachusetts, MA
The Middlesex County 4-H Fife & Drum Corps was formed in 1972 in anticipation of that town’s celebration America's bicentennial. The corps primarily plays music of the 1700s. The style of the uniform --tri-corn hats, relatively short vented waistcoats, gathered shirtsleeves, fall-front breeches, buttoned haversacks, and leather garters-- is based on styles of the 1770s. The corps plays at musters, parades and civic ceremonies. E-mail Contact: mc4hfd@yahoo.com.
Appearances in 2009:
USS Constitution Sunset Parade, July 5, Boston
Sudbury Muster, September 26, Sudbury
Woburn Halloween Parade, October 25, Woburn
Veteran’s Day, November 11, Concord
Merrimac Holiday Parade, December 6, Merrimack
First Night, December 31, Boston
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Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums
105 Boston Avenue
Medford, MA 02155
Phone: 781-488-3627
See Map
The Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums (MCV) was established in 1982 toward the close of the U.S. Bicentennial by Boston-area musicians who wished to further explore the traditional repertoires of the regimental fife and drum corps associated with the European or American armies during the American War for Independence, 1775-1783. Today we have evolved into a repertory ensemble performing martial, dance, and folk music drawn from 17th, 18th, and early 19th century sources in America and Europe. Appearances on 2009:
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, July 1, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Deep River Ancient Muster, July 17-18, Deep River, Connecticut
Concert at Minute Man National Historic Park, August 29, Lexington
Labor Day parade, September 7, Marlborough
Middlesex County Volunteers in Concert, September 20, Lexington
Sudbury Colonial Faire & Muster, September 26, Sudbury
Marquis of Granby 40th Anniversary Muster, October 3, Granby
Thanksgiving Parade, November 21, Plymouth
Santa Parade, November 22, Haverhill
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Sudbury Ancient Fyfe & Drum Companie
Box 93
Sudbury, MA 01776
Phone: 603-585-6630
See Map
The Sudbury Ancients play the Ancient style, and are dressed in the civilian attire of 1775 to emulate the Colonial Militia who marched to Concord on April 19th to meet the British Regulars. The Companie practices on almost every Wednesday throughout the year, in winter at Sudbury's Peter Noyes School and in summer at Longfellow's Wayside inn. Its Colonial faire and muster is held annually at the Inn on the last Saturday in September.
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The Spirit of America Fife & Drum Corps
Orleans, MA
Phone: 508-255-3999
Spirit of America FDC is a 20-member Corps dedicated to portraying a historically accurate representation of the life and music of the U.S. Infantry during the War of 1812.
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The Stow Minutemen Company
P.O. Box 174
Stow, MA 01775
See Map
The Stow Minuteman Company was reactivated in 1965 by order of the Stow Selectmen, to "preserve and perpetuate the memory and spirit of our forebears [and] promote an active interest in Revolutionary history." The membership portrays the colonial civilians of 1775, mainly farmers and their families, who were in opposition to the recent acts of Parliament. The Company attends a number of area parades, living history demonstrations, colonial fairs, and reenactments throughout the year. Locally, the group reenacts the trail march from Stow to the North Bridge in Concord along nearly the same route as the Stow Minutemen of 1775.
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William Diamond Junior Fife and Drum Corps
P.O. Box 162
Lexington, MA 02420
Phone: 508-278-2803
See Map
The William Diamond Juniors consists of boys and girls ranging from ages ten to eighteen using six hole wooden fife and the rope tension drum. Clothing is of the style worn of yeoman status, living in Lexington in 1775.
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Yankee Volunteers Fife & Drum Corps
P.O. Box 475
Seekonk, MA 02771
Phone: 508-336-9159
See Map
Dressed in Colonial civilian clothing, this corps plays popula0r tunes from the colonial period through the Civil War. It combines fifing, drumming and musketry with traditional dance by younger girls. Information: 508-336-3055.
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Songs By Ridiculously Talented Composers and Lyricists – Pittsfield, MA September 3, 2010 to September 4, 2010 |
Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams at the Lowell Summer Music Series – Lowell, MA September 3, 2010 |
Cabaret Magic by Carl Seiger -- Pittsfield, MA September 3, 2010 to September 4, 2010 |
Baseball, BBQ and more with the Pittsfield Colonials – Pittsfield, MA September 3, 2010 to September 4, 2010 |
James Montgomery Blues Band -- Cotuit, MA September 3, 2010 |
Gloucester Schooner Festival -- Gloucester, MA September 3, 2010 to September 5, 2010 |
Entrain -- Cotuit, MA September 4, 2010 |
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes at the Lowell Summer Music Series – Lowell, MA September 4, 2010 |
Sail on the Tall Ship Friendship of Salem – Salem, MA September 4, 2010 to September 5, 2010 |
Founder's Weekend -- Worcester, MA September 4, 2010 to September 5, 2010 |
Celebrate Gloucester -- Gloucester, MA September 5, 2010 |
Essex Shipbuilding Museum – Essex, MA September 6, 2010 |
Robert Randolph and the Family Band at the Lowell Summer Music Series – Lowell, MA September 10, 2010 |
Seasonal Soiree at Plimoth Plantation – Plymouth, MA September 11, 2010 |
Lucy Kaplansky -- Plymouth, MA September 11, 2010 |
Banjo and Fiddle Contests -- Lowell, MA September 11, 2010 |
Banjo and Fiddle Contests at the Lowell Summer Music Series – Lowell, MA September 11, 2010 |
Rootsfest -- Leominster, MA September 11, 2010 |
Honey Harvest Family Program at Historic Deerfield – Deerfield, MA September 11, 2010 to September 26, 2010 |
Lucy Kaplanski -- Plymouth, MA September 11, 2010 |
Narrows Festival of the Arts -- Fall River, MA September 12, 2010 |
Dave Matthews Tribute Band -- Salisbury September 16, 2010 |
"Hamlet" presented by Theatre in the Pines – Rockport, MA September 17, 2010 to September 18, 2010 |
Halfway to St Patrick’s Day Irish Music Weekend -- Salisbury September 17, 2010 to September 19, 2010 |
Provincetown Music Festival -- Provincetown, MA September 18, 2010 |
Salty Dog Day -- Gloucester, MA September 18, 2010 |
The New England Dessert Showcase -- Boston, MA September 18, 2010 |
An Afternoon With Rockwell's Models -- Stockbridge, MA September 18, 2010 |
Native American Powwow -- Upton, MA September 18, 2010 to September 19, 2010 |
The Magic of Storytime with Cinderella and Snow White -- Saugus, MA September 19, 2010 |
Lunasa in Concert – Worcester, MA September 19, 2010 |
DeCordova Musuem Family Festival -- Lincoln, MA September 19, 2010 |
Tattersall Farm Day -- Haverhill, MA September 19, 2010 |
Farm Dinner at Gore Place – Waltham, MA September 23, 2010 |
Farm Dinner at Gore Place -- Waltham, MA September 23, 2010 |
Men of Boston Cook for Women's Health -- Dorchester, MA September 23, 2010 |
Farm Dinner at Gore Place – Waltham, MA September 23, 2010 |
End of Summer Soiree -- Boston, MA September 23, 2010 |
Flamenco Al Andaluz -- Cambridge, MA September 24, 2010 |
Last Comic Standing Live Tour – Worcester, MA September 24, 2010 |
Fiber Twist -- Deerfield, MA September 25, 2010 |
Blackstone Valley Music Fest -- Uxbridge, MA September 25, 2010 |
Manet Exhibit Opening Celebration – Worcester, MA September 25, 2010 |
History of Tea at Historic Deerfield – Deerfield, MA September 25, 2010 |
Stony Brook Fall Fair -- Norfolk, MA September 25, 2010 |
Brew Fest – Amesbury, MA September 25, 2010 |
City-wide Open Artist Studios -- Lowell, MA September 25, 2010 to September 26, 2010 |
Antique Tractor & Truck Show -- Rehoboth, MA September 26, 2010 |
Hub on Wheels – Boston, MA September 26, 2010 |
Festival of Ale at Higgins Armory Museum -- Worcester, MA September 26, 2010 |
Fine Arts & Crafts Festival -- Lexington, MA September 26, 2010 |
Carnival and Family Fun Day -- Hopkinton, MA October 2, 2010 |
Shaker Suppers at Hancock Shaker Village – Pittsfield, MA October 9, 2010 to October 10, 2010 |
Dance in the Fells -- Medford, MA October 9, 2010 |
North American Sea Glass Festival -- Hyannis, MA October 9, 2010 to October 10, 2010 |
Farm Dinner at Gore Place – Waltham, MA October 14, 2010 |
Archaeology Fair -- Boston, MA October 15, 2010 to October 16, 2010 |
Wellfleet OysterFest -- Wellfleet, MA October 16, 2010 to October 17, 2010 |
Falmouth Cranberry Harvest and Farm Festival -- East Falmouth, MA October 16, 2010 |
Shaker Suppers at Hancock Shaker Village – Pittsfield, MA November 6, 2010 |
History of Tea at Historic Deerfield – Deerfield, MA November 13, 2010 |
Shaker Suppers at Hancock Shaker Village – Pittsfield, MA November 27, 2010 |
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