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Tippecanoe Ancient
Fife & Drum Corps |
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From Humble Beginnings... The ancient art of fifing and drumming has been kept alive in New England throughout the years -- passed from generation to generation since colonial times. It was from this heritage that James Palmer Smith came. His family had been active in fife and drum corps in New York. When he arrived at Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) to study in 1969, he was surprised to find there were no fife and drum corps in the Midwest, which otherwise was so enveloped in history. |
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Smith organized six of his private drum students into the Tippecanoe Drum Band, dressing them in non-specific colonial uniform. This group was encouraged by their success in local parades and fairs. A few friends of the members were persuaded to learn to play fifes, and in 1970, the newly renamed Tippecanoe Ancient Fife and Drum Corps made their initial appearance at the seasonal opening of Fort Ouiatenon, a few miles from Lafayette. When Smith left Purdue that year, the enthusiasm of its members persisted. Mrs. Ardith Spies, whose son was a drummer, served as the corps director for the next several years. Robert Schlatter, a local high school band instructor, volunteered to work with the fifers. Mr. Roger Oest, a seasoned military drummer, agreed to instruct the drum section. The corps began to grow. That year a few of the Corps members attended the Deep River Ancient Muster in Connecticut. They decided to accept the challenge of trying to match the precision and quality they witnessed of the East Coast corps. At that time the members would hardly have guessed that in the coming years their own Tippecanoe Ancient Fife and Drum Corps would receive standing ovations and the highest honors and praise from these same Eastern corps. |
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Les Compagnies Franches de la Marine
recreated in 1969 on the banks of the Wabash by
The Tippecanoe Ancient Fife & Drum Corps |
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