Drum Corps History Book for sale

[judspena]

Echoes in the Valley, a 50 year history of the Watkins Glen Squires, Legion Cadets, Seneca Chiefs and Pages drum & bugle corps.  $27.50 shipping included.  More details below.

 

 

From: Jud Spena

333 Loughlin Rd.,

Binghamton, NY13904

judspena@aol.com

Echoes in the Valley

       Watkins Glen’s Squires, Pages, Legion Cadets andthe Watkins-Montour Seneca Chiefs.  A Half-Century of 

Drum and Bugle Corps Activity in Schuyler County, New York.

 

Echoes in the Valley is a history of the drum and bugle corps activity in Watkins Glen and SchuylerCounty in rural Upstate New York.  It chronicles the development of this unique activity from its beginning in the early 1930’s with a dozen or so Boy Scouts to its pinnacle in the late 1970’s as the ‘corps’ grew to well over one hundred members, crisscrossed the county in a caravan of school buses and became state and national champions.  Further it paints a picture of a small community proud to support its young people in their musical endeavors.

 

The history comes alive with personal anecdotes and reflections throughout from the people who were a part of this history.  From the thrill of that first hometown parade, to war bond rallies and the ‘V-J’ Day celebration in 1945, to winning state championships and tours in the early years of DCI (and almost sneaking into the DCI Finals) from Boston to Denver to Montreal more; it’s all here.  

 

“Echoes” is quite possibly drum corps’ most comprehensive history.  It is paperbound (8/5” x 11”) with 228 pagesand 256 pictures.  Included are scores from over 130 contests held from the 1950s through the 1980s.   “Echoes” is available from the usual on line sources including 

www.buybooksontheweb.com. “Echoes” can also be ordered directly from the author at the above address for $27.50 shipping included. Copies will be happily signed at the purchaser’s request.

 

Reactions and reviews for Echoes in the Valley

“This book is a prize. It captures a storied piece of the history of SchuylerCounty and Watkins Glen that touched so many people in so many ways. Jud Spena has done an amazing job of tracing the history of the drum & bugle corps activity in SchuylerCounty from the very beginning. I lived a part of that history during the Squires’ years in the 60’s and 70’s and never realized what a legacy we were a part of. Drum corps was a major part of the fabric of this community for decades. It’s a fascinating book for a drum corps fan and/or a fan of local history. A masterful job!” 

Steve Rondinaro, Broadcast Journalist & Host of the DCI World Championships on PBS Television

 

      “Jud Spena’s wonderful exploration of the drum and bugle corps activity’s impact on Schuyler County, NY is an excellent example of what the groups meant to a small community and how they related to the bigger movement across the United States over a half century.  The book is well worth the price for a snapshot of one segment of the activity’s history from someone who lived through it in Upstate New York.” 

Steve Vickers, Drum Corps World 

 

“Echoes in the Valley is a loving, in depth look at a half century of drum corps activity in Schuyler County, New York…. an enjoyable look at a great period in drum corps.  It brought back many fine memories.”

Masters of the Marching Arts Magazine

“I've been reading Jud's fine book for the past several evenings. It is thorough and full of insight, and goes beyond a simple recounting of events into the history of the activity in the western part of New YorkState, and the phenomenon of community-based drum corps nationwide. In that regard it's a metaphor for a very important era in the development of the drum corps movement. The photos alone comprise a wonderful documentary. This is a story worth the telling, and it's told very well. I highly recommend Echoes in the Valley.”  Frank Dorritie.

 

            “Echoes in the Valley is very well written by someone with a great knowledge and love of the activity.  The section on what happened to drum corps on the community level and the activity in Upstate NY is the best-written treatment of this topic which I have read.  The book is loaded with historical photos.  A great job of injecting life into the yellowed articles of many years ago”

Geoff Whiting

 

            “Wow. What an incredible piece of research! (This is) an impressive chronicle of a small town drum corps striving to compete and survive during this era of drum corps evolution (or devolution?).  While many have editorialized on this evolution, this book provides a case study rich in detail and revealing in candor.” 

Dennis Morris, Squires alumnus, Schuyler County Assistant District Attorney.  

 

            Wow! Wow! Wow!  What a flood of memories and emotions! Rich Carland, Squires alumnus. 

 

Reading your articles on the history of the drum and bugle corps brought back a flood of great memories.  Joe DelRosso, drum major of the Legion Cadets and Seneca Chiefs.

Authors’ Biography

Jud Spena grew up in Watkins Glen, NY and attributes his interest in music and his career choice to his involvement in the drum and bugle corps activity there in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s.  He is a retired band director and freelance trumpet player.

[Yoshiyuki Davis]

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