Connections and Amplification

An impromptu dialogue with Matt Butler over IM leads to some reflection

When I started “Harrowings” - I had a number of ideas in mind. Primary among them was the need I felt in the wake of the death of my late father, Harold B. Gill, Jr., to memorialize him in some kind of ongoing way. Another was to amplify the signals that I am picking up in the course of navigating from cradle to grave over the noise of cyberspace; a daunting task at best but one for which I long trained.

Let’s get to the impetus of this post.

I amplified a story from Matt Butler (the conductor of the Everyone Orchestra). He sent his appreciation over Instant Messenger (IM) and a dialogue ensued. It reminded me of my primary purpose in being in this world - ever since I first got a note out of a fife back in early September of 1974, I have been amplifying signals over the noise. Now, fifers do this over the sound of musketry on the battlefield as the drummers cut through the noise of cannon fire below to transmit orders to the troops where a human voice would be drowned out. Keeping order on the battlefield in the 18th century was a primary consideration and the reason my 11 year old self was fifing was to preserve that particular form of martial music and to use it as a branding instrument at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. That august institution; the inspiration for which came from the Reverend W.A.R. Goodwin in the early part of the twentieth century, was largely funded by John D. Rockefeller, Jr.’s generosity. By the early 1960s, a recent graduate student of William and Mary College was beginning his career in the Research Department there. It would span 54 years and help to “Keep The Dead Alive” by scouring of the records left my merchants, farmers, and tradespeople - those of what was called “the middling sort” - this work was still in progress when he passed away at the age of 91.

As I was writing this, Matt and I were continuing our conversation over Instant Messenger and, just for fun, I shared a video of my last performance “in costume” =

Matt then mentioned that he had good memories of seeing the Fifes and Drums at Williamsburg in 1976 which led me to fishing up a photograph of me marching. in that year, taken by my late father, and one of the few that I have from those times, although I must be in collections around the world as a result of being in that unit.

Myself next to Arthur Revia with Eric Gayer and Darryl Golding in the second rank. Arther and I had just recently achieve the rank of Corporal. The snare drummer behind us is Robert McIver, who, as it would turn out was marking his father’s funeral on the same day (April 12, 2024) when we celebrated mine.

I can tell this photograph is 1976 because we soon had hats without the white trim. I remember these marches vividly. I was 13 years old at the time and by 15 would be an instructor of the younger fifers. I know of no other instituation where one can be a professional music instructor at such a young age. It was formative for us all. There is a really good document about our history in DVD form called “Drummers Call” which is also an annual event celebrating its 20th iteration this coming May 16-18.

The whole point of our being here is to amplify important messages to each other through the noise of cyberspace, as noted before. This effort has led to remarkable connections and many of these were facilitated by making, and appreciating music.

This post will be extended but, for now, I’ll post it as I believe that reading more than a few paragraphs at a time is often not within our capability these days! Onward!