That's my Uncle Frank, my mother's brother. Frank Arsenault gained the title of National Rudimental Champion at the New York World's Fair in 1939 after winning the coveted National Solo Snare Drum Championship. Having defended his title numerous times, Mr Arsenault retired from solo competition undefeated to instruct others in the art of rudimental drumming.

@TheDrumslinger

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment. Your uncle is legendary in the rudimental drum world! He trained one of my first drum instructors who marched in the Rosemont Cavaliers when Frank was their instructor.

I had this record in high school back inthe 70's. Used his rudiment break down to help achieve first chair in the state two years in a row at All-State. What a great legacy and such a great resource before computers were around and You Tube became so popular. Thank you Frank!

I'm so privileged to have known Frank and having received some of his instruction. He's made me the drummer that I am today and given me the drive to keep playing and marching.

My 8th grade band instructor took us to the Dick Shory Percussion Spectacular at McCormick Place Aire Crown Theater about 1962. The best drummers in the world were there giving workshops on stage. When Frank took the stage all of the presenters returned to see his performance. I will never forget that single stroke roll and the standing ovation. So pure and clean. I also have his album and I would be honored to give it to his family.

My first band director had this album and told me to "stop listening to Ringo and listen to this." Well I didn't (and haven't) stopped listening to Ringo, but I started listening to Frank way back then and his playing became an inspiration. Now 45 years later I'm telling kids to "stop listening to drummer X for a while and start listening to Frank." Like Haskel Harr, I have a feeling Frank never new how many drummers he influenced for MANY years.

Still the best version of this I have ever heard! Those rolls are what gets me every time

Heard this for the first time here...what an expressive, commanding presentation. The quality of the rolls is astounding.

Unbelievably good!

Frank was one of a few drummers that really used sticking techniques to produced the pulsations of his rolls and sixteenth's. Listen to the pulsations of his stick's! Bravo to Frank Arsenault! I have this album also. Played this and several other solo's in Junior High and High School graded recitals! This is a perfect example of rudimental drumming!

Outstanding!!! Frank Arsenault was a true percussionist that provided many excellent standards for serious musicians.

@TheDrumslinger

7 жыл бұрын

Yes! A student of Earl Sturtze, Arsenault personified the Connecticut style.

I loved to play this when I was a boy back in the 1950s.

It's been many decades since hearing (much less playing) Downfall of Paris. Brings back a bunch of memories...

I get chills from this. no joke. So clean, flowing, perfect~ True master right there

the drum sounds this way because I believe it is a gut snare. you don't see that often now a days. I have combo gut and wire on one ludwig super sensitive (concert). My greatest compliment as a drummer came at a percussion contest and I played DOWNFALL HIGH STICKING LIKE HELL. The judges told me that was not the way modern rudimentalists played. I was shocked. The winner of the contest came over to me and said: YOU PLAY JUST LIKE FRANK ARSENAULT. A nice young man who did one of those TORNADO like solos.

simply the best rudimental drummer of all time

@PeterMosley

5 жыл бұрын

Great player. Not the best of all time. I met Frank many years ago - he came out to watch our snare line. And have met a lot of the rudimental snare drummers from the 50s and 60S til now. Including a group that is 6 time world champions. I played Downfall a bunch of times with Jack Pratt he would agree that Frank was great but no where near the best. Plus this is twice the speed Downfall should be played. And the accents are not as good as they could be. Now that being said I wore out this record when I was a kid. I admire Frank - and told hime so. There have been maybe 20 snare drummers that I have met, watched and played with that could fall into that lofty category.

@redastrachan8978

Жыл бұрын

@@PeterMosley Pratt was in a class by himself

@americanspirit8932

Жыл бұрын

You do not mention, John Dowling, he is a person that developed backsticking. And use it for the first time with the drum quartet of the US Air Force, taking first place, and it blew the socks off the judges that were judging the competition. May he rest in peace, we became good friends when we started the American Spirit senior alumni drum and bugle Corps, in the Tampa Bay Florida area in 1992. Today is October 18th 2022. Oh and I forgot, Bobby Thompson, may he rest in peace.

Awesome! I love the way he interprets this !! Frank was the man!

Never mind about the CD. I found one online. I also found the sheet music. I'm so excited.

Cool !

Lenny Hart, original money manager for the Grateful Dead and father of drummer Mickey Hart absconded with $155,000 of the band's money in 1971and split for San Diego where he was found 14 months later preaching and baptising people. Mickey was so humiliated he quit the band for 3 years. Lenny passed in 1974. Mickey showed up for his funeral, cleared the room, pulled out the snake wood drumsticks that were his inheritance, played Downfall of Paris on his casket, and split.

@TheDrumslinger

7 жыл бұрын

Good story, thanks for sharing.

@s.tepper4030

3 жыл бұрын

Lenny was himself a champion rudimental drummer, it is told. When he abandoned the family, when Mickey was 3, he left behind a practice pad and those snakewood drumsticks. The reunion of father and son and the subsequent embezzlement make for a very sad story.

PERFECTION... Thanks Frank, RIP

Amazing rudiments.

I WOULD PRACTICE WITH THE RECORD, GREAT MEMORIES, THANK YOU FRANK. X SUNRISES DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS, GOLDEN EAGLES DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS, AMERICAN SPIRIT DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS.

WOW !!!

Frank is my uncle (My mom's brother). I grew up listening to him. His hands never were drumming. My 5 year old twin grandson has inherited his amazing drumming gene. He takes drum lessons and I would love to have a copy of this album on CD for him to learn with. I used to have the album (autographed), but am not sure what happened to it. I'm checking around with the family to try to find a copy. Do you know if it has been transferred onto a CD?

Can anyone PLEASE put up the whole cassette ???? Thanks 😊

That's pretty cool. Please let you grandson know that he is related to one of the greatest drummers of all time.

Any chance of posting the entire LP? I would buy it, but it seems to be unavailable in any form.

Does anyone know where Frank was from? Curious as we have the same last name, and I’ve been asked more than a few times if we are related.

@TheDrumslinger

2 жыл бұрын

Frank Arsenault was born May 21, 1919, at Chelsea, MA. He grew up in New Haven, CT. He began drumming at age 10, and studied with Earl S. Sturtze.

@StevesRykerAdventures

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheDrumslinger Oh wow, then we very well may be related. My family is from the N.E. Dad was born in Mass. in ‘23, and I was born in CT. I’ll have to take a look to see if there is a link somewhere. Thanks very much for the info!

It might have the technology of the time but I always thought it was recorded in a basement. The drumming is supurb but the sound quality is not the best. I've heard recordings of Corps on the field where the snare drums sound a lot better,crisper etc. Still a drummers classic much like the Stone book

10,000th viewer.

*were never not drumming. He air drummed while he talked, walked and ate.

Played way too fast....

@TheDrumslinger

3 жыл бұрын

Yes and no. If you're an ancient stylist (fife & drum) then it is too fast and the rolls need to be more open. But, Arsenault was of the modern school (drum & bugle) and they played faster and more closed.

@americanspirit8932

Жыл бұрын

I disagree with you. I purchased that album, when I was about 15 years old, and I would practice with it every single day. I found the temple and sound of the bedroom to be spot on. At the time I was a snare drummer, with the olph Ridge men, from Brooklyn New York, 19 56 through , 1959. 1960 and 61, my flight stay drum with the Floyd Bennett golden eagles, from Brooklyn New York. The marching tempo of these drama vehicle course was about the same as what Frank was illustrating in the recording, with slight variations. Thank you so much for this post. Today is October 18th 2022.