|
A little about our roots . . .
The present incarnation of the South Jersey Vagabonds Drum and Bugle Corps was resurrected from the pages of history in 2003 when several past members and other dedicated supporters of the Drum & Bugle Corps Movement of the 1950s & 1960s drew up a new set of organizational by-laws and publicly announced,
"The South Jersey Vagabonds is BACK!!!"
Six years later, we are still a relatively young drum corps as we retrace the steps of our fore bearers in re-building their, and now our organization.
Our sponsors:
The Borough of Magnolia, NJ graciously provides practice and rehearsal space in their municipal courtroom when it's not in use on Saturdays.
American Legion Post #252 in Williamstown, NJ helps support us financially, providing funds necessary to buy insurance, uniforms, instruments, music, stands, and the million and one little items that make a BIG difference in smoothly running our organization so that WE can pay attention to making the Music!
Marrick Design & Development Services in Stratford, NJ helps by supplying our web presence and is the focal point of our website design efforts.
These three sponsors have partnered with us in our quest to make it possible for dedicated people who love the Drum and Bugle Corps form and the particular kind of music that is performed on bugles in the key of G, and we are immensely grateful for their generous assistance.
The unique style of music and showmanship of the classic American Drum and Bugle Corps quickens the pulse of many Americans in a way none other can quite achieve. It is forever linked with the military necessities of our nation's founding and the honor we feel in celebrating and defending our God given liberties. To even the casual observer, the United States of America is truly the "Home of the Free" because of the brave.
We believe that many private, public, civic, and cultural organizations would find their own ideals clearly expressed by what we do in the South Jersey Vagabonds Drum and Bugle Corps. We invite you to make a difference in the contemporary Drum and Bugle Corps movement in the Southern New Jersey Region by considering how you might lend a hand in what we do.
Limited sponsorship opportunities are available for the right people and groups.
Send email to SponsoringCoordinator@SJVagabonds.org and we'll be in touch!
The origin of the South Jersey Vagabonds Drum and Bugle Corps has roots all the way back into the 1950s when this particular form swept the nation and the world. When competitions sprang up, the "S. J. Vagabonds" (as they became known) was at or near the top in every classification for which they qualified for their entire history.
Those of us in the present Corps hope to build back to an award winning level of performance, but our present focus is somewhat more relaxed. Our belief is that the intensity and expertise required for winning in competitive appearances will build over time as experience is gained by the newer members, and we haven't been disappointed.
These days, we're more interested in enjoying the music we make, and this enjoyment is paying handsome dividends. We're now competing on an annual basis at the Bugler's Hall of Fame. The "new folks" are having some of the "new" rubbed off by those "more experienced" members at regular rehearsals which involve a lot of playing, team-building, and even specific technique instruction by our "old" pros. We're beginning to win recognition for our work, and since our dedication is fueled by the enjoyment of what we do, there's practically no other way to put it than to call it for what it is: Just plain FUN!
The design and use of the "bugle" originates in the 14th century, B.C. (see Numbers 10:1-3, &ff). Their piercing, authoritative call found strategic military use down through the intervening 3500 years of human conquest to our current time, and is still a clarion call to marshal the thoughts and the rush of emotions that has marked the entire history of the use of the bugle.
This clear, demanding call that has come to us, nearly unchanged, down through the full stretch of history, is clear testimony to the bugles glorious sound that stirs the soul of those who can play them and the hearts of those who hear their call. Maybe this is the reason why the lowly bugle is chosen to signal the opening of the final chapter of human history, as recorded in Saint John's book of the Revelation (see Rev 1:10)
Today's primary focus on the enjoyment of the "Drum & Bugle Corps Sound" (rather than exhausting ourselves with an excess of "military bearing"), a sound that is considered 'Signature Americana', is why we refer to ourselves as an "Alumni style" Drum and Bugle Corps.
When the original 'Vagabonds' reigned, the evolution of the bugle into a more flexible instrument had recently been completed. The addition of first one valve, and then later, a second, progressed gradually through the era of World War I, the Depression, then World War II and the Korean Conflict.
The original Vagabonds played two valve bugles in the key of G, and today, this is the primary form we use. This allows us to play "period" music on "period" instruments, in keeping with the style and technology of the former 'Vagabonds' as well as many other Drum and Bugle Corps which performed in our geographical area. To preserve this sound, we've chosen to restrict ourselves primarily to the technology and sound made by two valve bugles playing in the key of G. Since this is the domain of the original 'straight' (non-valved) bugle, the period music we play today is surprisingly consistent with the "Vagabonds Sound" of bygone years.
A very interesting and extensive article can be found on Wikipedia which traces the origin of the bugle and the history and evolution of the Drum an Bugle Corps from their beginning after World War I. Also included is an overview of the evolution of the bugle from a straight horn into a more flexible instrument by the addition of valves and slides, along with numerous other aspects of the 'culture' of both the Classic and Modern forms of the Drum and Bugle Corps.
Here are several links to these Wikipedia articles:
The general topic of 'Drum and Bugle Corps'
The Bugle
The Classic Drum and Bugle Corps
The Modern Drum and Bugle Corps
In 2010, the S. J. Vagabonds is gradually growing in numbers, and our people are growing and developing their talents with every practice, parade, and concert appearance. Those who are the 'ressurected' Vagabonds are not only those who participated previously in the former S. J. Vagabonds, but also other Drum Corps throughout the nation. We're even attracting some who have never played in a Drum Corps before, and even a few who have never played an instrument before coming to us. We've seen our drum line return, and all the 'noise' has prompted the addition of some very good top soprano players as well as a First Baritone player who was recently inducted into the National Bugler Hall of Fame.
In between performances and parades, we do Bugler help for American Legion Post 252 in Williamstown, NJ, and are constantly on the lookout for new members, for all positions, whether playing, or in support of playing, and all the support functions that make playing this extremely cool genre of music so enjoyable to us and our audiences.
If you're still reading, there's probably a 'Drum and Bugle Corps' gene somewhere in you that hasn't had the opportunity to express itself. We would love to offer a place for you to do so, or at least to check it out. Please refer to our schedule page for rehearsal dates and times (visitors are always welcome) and those of upcoming performances, and "C'mon - Join the FUN!"
If any doubt remains, this IS your invitation!
(We hope to see you very soon!)
When asked why we do the Drum and Bugle Corps "thing" we tell anyone who will listen,
"For the love of the activity!"
Joe Basciani, Director
THINK ABOUT IT: You can't spell Bugle without the G, and it is the heart (center) of the word. "Bb" spells Bubble.
We are a "Traditional style" Drum and Bugle Corps using bugles in the "only" key: G.
Click here to contact us.
|
