The
Drummers
Of the VIGNON Family
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Jacques 1855-1926 |  |
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. His technical capacities
thus result altogether from the area of Chirassimont,
and not from the military band, what is exceptional.
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 |
