The Drummers
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Of the VIGNON Family
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1st Generation |
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Jacques 1855-1926 |
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Jean-Claude (photo) 1870-1945 |
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2nd Generation |
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Antoine
(photo)
1900-1967 |
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Gustave
(photo)
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 (1855-1926) |
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He was a son of Antoine and Jeanne-Marie, born herself Vignon, both native of the village
Sainte-Agathe-en-Donzy, in the area of Feurs. They had six children and lived
in a farm of the hamlet of La Sauveté, in Chirassimont. Main of these
children established in Panissières, a small town above Feurs, a place where
still are numerous descendants of our family. In this branch, the tradition
of drummers is lost. Jacques was the first drummer who is known in the family, but we have
no information about his learning. I met myself two of his children, Claude
and especially Joannès. This one, questioned in 1980, stayed without memory
on this subject. 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 sons. |
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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, for three years, in the 152° Regiment in Gerardmer (Vosges). Only three
weeks after his arrival in the regimental band, he became caporal-instructor
for all the drummers. 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. He put into practice his lively and ingenious mind in a lot of
simultaneous activities : watches, sewing and all sorts machines repairer, solder
of heats, 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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Antoine VIGNON (1900-1967) |
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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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Gustave VIGNON (1905-1981) |
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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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Robert VIGNON (1927-1985) |
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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. 1986-3-20 |
