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| After a 40-year absence in Maine, a group is forming a new drum & bugle corps to be based in the Greater Portland area. Called 'The Maine Regiment,' the new unit will be open to all age groups. COURTESY PHOTO |
If Charles Thompson has his way, soon the skies
over Maine will be saturated with the bold sounds of brass, the clashing of
cymbals and the persistent thumping of bass drums. Thompson is among the
organizers of The Maine Regiment, a new version harkening back to the heyday of
popular drum & bugle corps in the 1970s.
As originally
conceived, a drum and bugle corps is a musical marching unit that consists
of brass instruments, a color guard, electronic instruments and percussion instruments. Operating as
an independent non-profit, a drum & bugle corps is usually made up of
young musicians who perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and an array
of community events.
When Thompson was 12, he joined the pre-eminent Maine drum & bugle corps of the day, The Defenders of Portland, where he played the baritone bugle from 1967 to 1976.
“Sadly, no drum & bugle corps have been
around in Maine since about 1979 or 1980,” Thompson, a retired school bus
driver from Gorham, said. “It is our goal to revive a sustainable drum and bugle corps community in
the state.”
Years ago, drum & bugle corps participants
were strictly limited to the ages of 12 to 22 and spent much of the summer
touring, training and preparing for upcoming shows. But to get the new program
off the ground, Thompson said all ages and areas in Maine, including from
Windham and Raymond, will be welcome to perform for The Maine Regiment.
According to Thompson, his interest in reviving
a drum & bugle corps for residents of Maine was sparked about five years
ago when he met someone trying to do just that, but that person passed away and
Thompson has organized a small board of directors to promote and make the idea
actually happen.
“The Maine Regiment will be made up of people
who are interested in learning and expanding their knowledge of music and the
performing arts,” he said. “Each corps member will experience the benefits of
teamwork and discipline gained through access to music education and marching
arts. Each corps member will embody the principles of respect, responsibility,
cooperation, and commitment.”
He said that every Maine Regiment participant will
exhibit good citizenship at all times and through the experience will gain a
lifelong appreciation of music.
“Our name, The Maine Regiment, was voted on by
members, and was chosen in part to honor our serving military personnel, and to
commemorate our veterans of all eras, back through the Civil War era,” he said.
“It also commemorates the legacy of two of the last drum & bugle corps to
be active in Maine, The 5th Maine
Regiment, which was named after a civil war unit based on Peaks
Island in Casco Bay, and the
20th Maine Regiment from Oakland.
The actual 20th Maine Regiment had an
illustrious record of service in the Civil War and history and is primarily known
because of the exploits of legendary Colonel Joshua Chamberlain, a Maine
college professor who rose through the ranks to become a brigadier general.
“By building around the military aspect, and
also being an all-age drum & bugle corps with members starting at age 13
and up including adults, we will strive to compete in parades and other events,
as well as competitive events within the abilities of our resources,” Thompson
said. “We hope to instill a sense of patriotism, a respect for both our
flag and what it means, and the military who fought to preserve the freedom
our country is known for.”
Since announcing the formation of The Maine
Regiment earlier this year, Thompson and the board have been lining up
uniforms, musical instruments, equipment and searching for a director.
“We’ve had blue marching uniforms with a silvery
blue sash donated to us already,” Thompson said. “We’re working trying to get
some horns and drums and some have been donated already as have some marching
cymbals.”
Thompson said The Maine Regiment also has had a
band director from South Portland step up and commit to write music for the new
drum & bugle corps.
He expects costs to participate to be around
$25 for a membership fee and in the range of $100 a year for parade corps and
competition.
“For me, the drum & bugle corps was an
amazing experience,” Thompson said. “First off, there is a special camaraderie
among the participants. You get to meet and become friends with people from all
across the country and take great pride in what you can accomplish working
together.”
For more information about The Maine Regiment, call Thompson at
207-409-4460 or visit their website at www.maineregimentcorps.org <
