Keep the Drum Beat Going Strong in Deep River

Help Support the Deep River Ancient Muster

The Deep River Ancient Muster is the largest gathering of Ancient Fife & Drum musicians in the world.

In 1976 the Deep River Ancient Muster set this record and has been recorded by the Guinness Book of World Records making it “The Granddaddy” of all musters. This tradition has brought fifers and drummers from around the country and world every year since 1953. The earliest recording in Deep River was for a Field Day on May 13, 1879, when fifers and drummers gathered to honor the history of fife and drum in America’s Revolutionary War. The first time Deep River referred to this gathering as “muster” was on September 5th, 1953, when 15 corps gathered in Connecticut to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Deep River Drum Corps. This tradition has been enthusiastically handed down from generation to generation to keep it alive today.

The shrill of a wooden fife and the thunderous beat of rope-tensioned snare and bass drums can be heard every 3rd Saturday in July. The festivities start off on Friday evening with a “tattoo” hosted by the Deep River Junior Ancient Fife & Drum Corps. With 5 performing corps and circle of friendship the “muster” begins. On Saturday 1,000’s of spectators armed with blankets and chairs line Main Street in Deep River in anticipation of the parade. The onlookers are treated to a spectacular display of traditionally uniformed men, women and children from all around the country and world, all marching in formation, while exhibiting their skills on their fifes & drums. Have you ever seen the Old Guard Army Fife & Drum Corps.? You know the Presidential escort division, march down the street? They can be seen on certain years marching down Main Street in Deep River. After the parade most of the spectators gather at Devitt Field where there is a Colonial Woodstock vibe. Each corps shows off their own unique musical style “on stand” while onlookers listen, catch up with old friends and make some new ones, while enjoying snacks and beverages. They may even take a moment or two to steal an opportunity to try their own hands at fifing & drumming.

This event is hosted by the Deep River Ancient Muster Committee, which is made up of hard-working volunteers, from all over the country, Connecticut, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, and Indiana who work selflessly for months putting the event together. This event is a huge undertaking with substantial costs involved. Such costs are renting the field for the weekend, field maintenance, providing our parade participants with a muster meal, ribbons for the participating corps, port-o-potties and hand sanitation stations, line painting of fire safety lines, dumpster rental and countless number of little things, down to garbage bags for garbage bins.

We are asking for donations to help keep this long-standing tradition, which is rich in history of its own, alive and running.

In the words of General George Washington “Nothing is more agreeable and ornamental, than good music.”