Interview: Buck Soistman, 1971
Interview Transcription
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Open Interview TranscriptionTimestamps
| Topic | Start |
|---|---|
| Introductions and Soistman's early drumming instruction | 00:00 |
| History of drumaking in the Soistman family | 01:26 |
| Harry C. Soistman at the 1925 competition | 04:10 |
| Fife and Drum in the National Guard in Maryland | 07:23 |
| Soistman's career in theatre drumming and first meeting Gus Moeller | 12:57 |
| Moeller's playing style | 14:59 |
| Historical recollections of Bruce, Emmett, and the B&E book | 15:26 |
| Baltimore area corps | 18:15 |
| Marie Soistman's background | 21:23 |
| Joe Carter background | 22:12 |
| Banter, Soistman addressing Olsen | 23:10 |
| Soistman's opinions on who he thought the best drummers were | 26:22 |
| Banter and discussion of Moeller's artifacts, equipment, etc. | 27:41 |
| A few newly emergent corps | 31:30 |
| Correspondence and collaboration with Alfons Grieder | 34:16 |
| Soistman's health | 36:34 |
| Soistman on working on the Old Guard drums, restoring the US Army Band's Moeller drums, and drums used at John F. Kennedy's funeral | 38:10 |
| The Virginia Tattoo | 42:39 |
| Boddie aspires for the Company to host a tattoo | 44:33 |
| Similarities between Moodus and English/French grip concepts | 46:07 |
| Side Break | 46:52 |
| Emerging interest in Fife and Drum Corps in advance of the Bicentennial and Company involvement | 47:13 |
| DisneyWorld Fife and Drum Corps (Orlando) | 48:58 |
| Banter | 51:32 |
| Meeting Ed Olsen, Centennial Legion | 52:42 |
| Billy Bischoff, Knickerbocker Greys | 56:38 |
| Moeller making drums, teaching Charles W. Dickerson corps with Classey, Classey forms Mt. Vernon corps | 58:25 |
| Recollections of Moeller's teaching style with Charles W. Dickerson | 1:02:08 |
| Moeller's character/personality | 1:04:47 |
| Moeller's approach to tucking heads | 1:07:14 |
| Moeller's eating and clothing habits | 1:08:28 |
| Moeller's later life, march down 5th Ave at 70 years old, 1930 march to Boston | 1:15:00 |
| The Moeller Book | 1:16:40 |
| Discussing Lyons and Lemley, reminiscing about the passing of Buster Fry(sp?) | 1:21:32 |
| Modifying Sonny Lyons' snare setup | 1:29:36 |
| Discussing plastic drum heads and covers | 1:30:58 |
Archival Notes
Date: ?/27/1971
Interviewed by Dave Boddie with Marie Soistman and Joe Carter
Tape #207
File Length 94 min.