A Muster...What's a muster???

This has been a few BUSY days here...you already saw the run up to the weekend, and yesterday we spent the entire day at a muster...what's a muster?? Well, it's a music festival of sorts...for Fife & Drum Corps, that is. Every summer, our calendar is packed with parades and musters to go to...it can be a lot of work, but it's a ton of fun too. I've even met people from Switzerland who have come to the states to perform.

It's a bit different now that we have kids, but it's a great day for them to be outside enjoying the music, and fresh air. There's a great variety in the styles of music and uniforms that you see throughout the day, and it can be a great history lesson...well, if you want it to be.

The musters usually start out on Friday night, when they hold a mini-version of what's to come the next day...they call this a 'tatoo'. Everyone gathers around the muster field, and watches the performances of the host corps and perhaps a few others...then everyone jams. Anyone and everyone heads out to the field, and they play common songs that everyone knows...WHAT a feeling...the drums just pounding in your chest...there's nothing like it.

People bring campers and pitch tents (we haven't camped since before we had kids) and the jam lasts well into the night, until the local law 'quiet hour' and then people head back to their camps, and hang out before going to bed. The next morning starts off with a parade through town...drum coprs only, not your usual fire trucks and girls scouts kind of parade. Then back to the field for more. Each corps comes out and does a performance for the audience. Some corps have great showmanship - The Ancient Mariners being one...they are pirates, and they have a big cannon and a 'prisoner' (usually a newbie that wants in) and they drag him around the field... here's a clip of them marching on stand yesterday...

Here's a few shots of some of my corps mates...

This is a good portion of our drum line...and that guy in the different uniform? He's my Brother-in-law who plays with another group...

This is Eileen, she's in our colorguard, and will drum major for us when my brother-in-law Joe isn't around...

And this is Leslie - she's our newest addition to our drum line, and she's awesome...she fits right in with our crowd of misfits ;)

Well - I think I've bored you enough for one day...today is my hubby's birthday - so we'll be celebrating later...and hopefully I'll get some 'stamping candy' up either later tonight or tomorrow...

Thanks for stopping by!!!