The
Drummers
photos
collection - 
version
en Français
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1st Generation |
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Jacques 1854-1926
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Jean-Claude (photo-1)
1870-1945 |
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2nd Generation |
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Antoine 1900-1967 |
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Gustave 1905-1981 | |
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3rd Generation |
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Robert 1927-1985
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4th Generation |
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Philippe
(photo)
1954 |
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5th Generation |
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Luc 1993 |
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Story
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Jacques
VIGNON
(1854-1926) (photo)
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He
was a son of Antoine (weaver of muslin) and Jeanne-Marie (embroiderer),
born herself Vignon. They had six
children and lived in
Sainte-Colombe-sur-Gand and close in the hamlet of La Sauvetey, in Chirassimont.
These children established
in the villages in the surroundings, including Chirassimont and Panissières, a small town above
Feurs, a place where still are numerous
descendants of our family. In this
branch, the tradition of drummers
was lost.
Jacques, who lived in Montchal,
was the first drummer who is known
in the family, but we have only
one information about his learning,
in the 104th Regimental, which was in Verdun. He is mentioned as a drummer on the 24th of April, 1877. This date can be considered as the beginning of the family drummers story. Jacques
was known as a good "caisse"
that is proved through this story.
Farmer, he worked hard in the way
of giving a farm to each of his
four children.
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Jean-Claude
VIGNON
(1870-1945) |
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Younger brother of the
previous, from who he learned to
play Drum, certainly a little before
going to do his period in the French
Army. He did it, from 1891 November to 1894, September,
in the 152° Regiment in Épinal
(Vosges). Only three weeks after
his arrival in the regimental band,
he became instructor for
the drummers, then Caporal. His technical
capacities thus result altogether
from the area of Chirassimont, and
not from the military band, what
is exceptional. Only a few of drummers,
may be excepted in Paris, owned
at this time his technical capacities,
which still today allow to do it
as a profession. The reputation
of his playing qualities and his
endurance was real. This is from
this period that the dominance of
the Vignon
family for all in relation with
Drum is recognized in the area,
and even farther away.
He mainly had the occasions
of playing during conscript days,
and also religious processions,
frequent in this time. He used to
play up to he was 72. He was of
course also a founder member of
the band in Chirassimont (l'Indépendante)
see text
in 1931. Jean-Claude (or rather
"Jean") put into practice
his lively and ingenious mind in
a lot of simultaneous activities
see
commercial card : watches, sewing
and all sorts machines repairer,
merchant of hats, saddler, weaver.
He owned several motorcycles and
also one of the first cars in the
village. He brought from the regimental
band three marches for Drum, today
named "Marches de Chirassimont",
still played in our Batterie-Fanfare,
but in no other place in France,
as I know. His Drum (photo)
takes of course a big place in the
family
collection, among all the others,
and is often used for playing, bringing
every time a real pleasure see
roulage d'une peau animale. |
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First
son of the previous. He learned
to play Drum from his youth and
so could assist his father for parades
and processions, after the 14-18
war. He quickly got the technical
knowledge of his father and so contributed
efficiently to the continuity of
the familial tradition. He also
was a founder member of the Indépendante. He also played Violin,
often accompanying singers of feasts.
His nice voice was heard every Sunday
in the church during dozens years.
As a true artist, he was him also
in his job, behind his weaving looms,
finding his contentment in the realisation
of complicated articles. |
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Younger
brother of the previous, he learned
playing Drum, in only some months,
as it is said, in the time of the
creation of the Indépendante (1931),
of which he was the first secretary.
This late study (he was 25 or 26)
prevented him from having all qualities
of the other members of the family. However, he inherited from
his father art of repairing watches,
clocks and other mechanical objects. Having stopped his instrumental
practice, he continued exercising
functions in Indépendante, as vice-president,
president, president of honour.
He encouraged it in its success,
with disease, and his advice filled
with wisdom was sometimes very useful
in difficult instants. |
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Son
of Antoine. Man of exception, drummer
of exception. Having begun early
the study of playing Drum in a almost
obligatory way, he participated
in the upturn of the Indépendante
at the end of 1944. He immediately
was a very important and active
member, in any case always a "support". His very asserted qualities
made him pointed out in the beginning
of the fifties, by a regional responsible
of the Federation Sportive et Culturelle
de France. This Federation just
placed at the head of the musical
commission, Monsieur Robert Goute,
young Tambour-Major of the band
of Air-Force in Paris. Assisted
by a small efficient team, he begun
to go, annually and more if necessary,
to the different French regions,
for organizing sessions and individual
exams for the players of the local
bands. My father was one of the
firsts taking profit of these opportunities.
He worked hard and grew up all the
steps, toward the "Premier
Grand Prix Federal" in Macon
(1960). Then, he begun a long activity
as a teacher. First of course in
Chirassimont, and the group of his
pupils, young drummers, was clearly
distinguished, far around Chirassimont,
and brought his important contribution
to the success of the Indépendante
in different competitions see "palmarès"
. A lot of bands could also take
advantage of his knowledge, through
his courses. He did it with regularity
and persistence, and also incomparable
possibility of adaptation to conditions
and local features. A lot of drummers
owe him today their knowledge in
the Drum, who allowed for some of
them to make occupation. His qualities brought him
in examinant function, at regional
or national level, charge that he
always made with a correctness and
a probity acknowledged. That often
caused important displacements,
which were made with a real pleasure,
in a time when it was rarer than
today. His quick and premature
disappearing, while he governed
the destinies of the Indépendante,
left of course a big space in every
one, there are a lot, having gained
advantage from his competences and
from his devotion. |
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Ph.V.
1986-20-03 |
