Interview: Earl Sturtze 2/11/1977
Interview Transcription
A transcription of the interview is available in PDF format below. Once you have the PDF file open you may search for specific content inside the file.
Open Interview TranscriptionTimestamps
| Topic | Start |
|---|---|
| Opening banter, introductions. Sturtze's efforts to get his book published | 00:00 |
| Changes in Sturtze's teaching method over time. Modern drummers and modern writing. Use of the Sturtze code. Other notation systems- Swiss, Strube, etc. Sturtze's composition process | 03:09 |
| Carl Frolich (Sturtze's first teacher), his notation. Humphrey corps | 10:16 |
| Enmity with Burns Moore. The 1940 World's Fair competition. His students. Corps taught | 13:40 |
| George Gallagher. "Old style" technique for playing drum rolls | 19:01 |
| GAR corps | 21:58 |
| Frank Fancher. J Burns Moore | 22:26 |
| Jimmy Ryan | 27:36 |
| Dan English | 28:15 |
| George Lawrence Stone (Larry) | 30:07 |
| Change in drumming styles over time. Music of the M&M corps | 31:09 |
| Sturtze appeals for a common repertoire. Teaching the "standard beats" | 34:05 |
| Modern drummers' skills. M&M instruction. Plastic vs skin heads | 39:01 |
| Judging M&M corps,. Vince Mott. Bob Van Deck. WWI veteran players | 42:50 |
| Changes in judging over time. Bob Ward judging. Max Welker judging Bugles | 47:14 |
| Fifing in NY vs drumming in CT. Outstanding NY corps. St. Anselm's and St. Benedict's. Instruction by Ed Classey (Snr) | 50:20 |
| Al Moffat (Snr) | 53:08 |
| Joe Hathaway | 54:38 |
| Odell Chapman | 57:07 |
| Doc Wheeler. Johnny Began (Worcester Continentals) | 57:32 |
| Ted Kurtz | 01:00:01 |
| Frank Howard. George Cook [tape distortion last minute of side] | 01:00:53 |
| Side Break | 01:02:24 |
| Frank Martin. Ed Lemley. Ruth O'Neill | 01:02:50 |
| Ruth O'Neill and Sturtze competing against Frank Fancher | 01:05:44 |
| Joining Lancraft, later Yalesville | 01:06:55 |
| Sturtze's best students. Tommy Mannion(sp?). Johnny Bodner(sp?). Sonny Lyons joining the Mariners | 01:08:48 |
| Stratford. Ziggy [last name?]. [Alan?] Brozek. Drake | 01:11:58 |
| Howard Keneally. Bob Redican | 01:17:06 |
| NY drummers- George Ripperger, Ginger Ploeger, Eric Perrilloux, Les Parks | 01:19:12 |
| Strutze's memories of old local (New Haven) corps. Piccolo Flute competition class | 01:20:48 |
| Jimmy Gomperts. Rising competition standards | 01:27:02 |
| Howie Kling. Limitations of older players (particularly Fancher) | 01:28:55 |
| Variety of teaching styles/techniques. Risk of CF DA destroying rudimental drumming (Charlie Poole). Making competition easier to attract numbers. Loss of fundamentals in American culture. | 01:30:45 |
| Les Parks's style and education ("Regimental style") | 01:33:14 |
| An appeal to return to strong fundamentals. The need for better instructors | 01:36:06 |
| Definition of "Ancient". Ronnie (female drummer). Art Gomperts playing Organ. Sturtze's teaching horse | 01:38:33 |
| Father Matthew's corps. Noah Webster corps | 01:44:21 |
| Improvements in fifing | 01:46:34 |
| McDermott judging. Ginger Ploeger | 01:48:15 |
| Jimmy Woods | 01:53:12 |
| Stories of Johnny "Smitty" Smith drinking. Lancraft's partying exploits. [first name- FX?] O'Connell | 01:53:43 |
| Friendliness among the Ancient corps | 01:59:21 |
| Mattatuck. Impressions of Swiss corps and drummers. Ken Lemley learning Basel style. Robert Goute. Stepping off with the left foot | 02:00:12 |
Archival Notes
Date: 2/11/1977
Interviewed by Ed Olsen with Sonny Lyons, Ed Classey Jr.
Tape #243
File Length 124 min.