William F. Ludwig Sr. | |
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| Born | July 15, 1879 Nenderoth, Germany |
| Died | July 8, 1973 (age 93) |
| Occupation | Instrument Manufacturer, Percussionist, Entrepreneur, Author |
| Nationality | German-American |
| Notable awards | PAS Hall of Fame |
William F. Ludwig (1879 – 1973) was an American percussionist, drum-maker, and founder of Ludwig Drums. He helped to create the National Association of Rudimental Drummers and is a member of the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
William Frederick Ludwig was the son of German immigrants to America, arriving when he was just 8 years old in 1887. [1] His father was a professional trombonist and Ludwig started taking music lessons upon arriving to Chicago that same year, initially on piano and violin. [2] Ludwig soon switched to drums and became increasingly unhappy with the technology available for drum pedals. Ludwig's first musical gig was at the Wood Brother's Circus in 1895, followed by several other miscellaneous posts. [3] In 1903 he joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. [4] From 1904 to 1906 he performed with the English Grand Opera Co., and in 1909 he became the timpanist for the Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony. [3]
In 1909, with his brother Theobald Ludwig, William set up the Ludwig & Ludwig Drum Company. [5] They manufactured the first modern-style bass drum pedal to meet the needs of jazz, ragtime, and circus drummers of the day. [6] Ludwig played with the Chicago-Philadelphia Grand Opera Company from 1910 to 1912 when he joined the Chicago Civic Opera, a post that would last until 1914. [3] He returned to the Chicago Symphony in 1915 and remained there until 1918 when he resigned to focus on manufacturing. Theobald died in 1918 from influenza, but the Ludwig Company continued to grow with William and was one of the largest drum companies in the world by the 1920s. [7]
In 1933, at the American Legion National Convention, Ludwig and a group of 12 other notable rudimental drummers, including George Lawrence Stone, formed the National Association of Rudimental Drummers (NARD) to promote rudimental drumming. [4] They organized a list of 13 essential drum rudiments, later to be followed by another 13 to complete the 26 Standard American Drum Rudiments. [8] These would be the authoritative set of American rudiments until the Percussive Arts Society published another set in 1984. [9]
Ludwig's company suffered during the Great Depression so he merged with Conn in 1930 and moved to Indiana. [1] In 1937, he left Conn and founded the WFL Drum Company, which his son William F. Ludwig Jr. and daughter Betty would join in 1938. [10] He published his Collection of Drum Solos featuring the 26 NARD rudiments in 1942, [11] his Complete Drum Instructor in 1947 (interestingly, this volume lists 30 rudiments despite Ludwig's involvement in codifying the 26 NARD rudiments 14 years prior), [3] and the WFL Drum Corps Manual in 1948. [12]
In 1955, Ludwig bought the name Ludwig back from Conn (WFL drums had been directly competing with Conn-made Ludwig drums) in order to found the Ludwig Drum Company. [10] [1] He published the book The Ludwig Drum and Bugle Manual in 1956, [13] followed by the Ludwig Tympani Instructor in 1957. [14] He also published The Ludwig Drum Method in 1967. [15] Ludwig Sr. ran his new company until his death in 1973, popularizing his drums through relationships with Ringo Starr of The Beatles and John Bonham of Led Zeppelin.
His son William F. Ludwig II was named president of the Ludwig Drum Company after his father's death. [10] Ludwig's grandson William F. Ludwig III owns his own drum company called WFLIII Drums. [16]
Ludwig performed with the Chicago Marine Band, T.P. Brooke, Max Bendix, Arthur Pryor's Band and several opera companies during his long career, [2] and he was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in its inaugural year, 1972. [17]
The snare drum is a percussion instrument that produces a sharp staccato sound when the head is struck with a drum stick, due to the use of a series of stiff wires held under tension against the lower skin. Snare drums are often used in orchestras, concert bands, marching bands, parades, drumlines, drum corps, and more. It is one of the central pieces in a drum set, a collection of percussion instruments designed to be played by a seated drummer and used in many genres of music. Because basic rhythms are very easy to learn to play on a snare drum even for children, the instrument is also suitable for the music education for young children and a rhythm band.
In rudimental drumming, a form of percussion music, a drum rudiment is one of a number of relatively small patterns which form the foundation for more extended and complex drumming patterns. The term "drum rudiment" is most closely associated with various forms of field drumming, where the snare drum plays a prominent role. In this context "rudiment" means not only "basic", but also fundamental. This tradition of drumming originates in military drumming and it is a central component of martial music.
Ludwig Drums is a United States musical instrument manufacturer, focused on percussion. It is a subsidiary of Conn-Selmer.
George Lawrence Stone (1886–1967) was an American drummer and author.
Mitch Markovich is an American percussionist, composer, educator, and clinician in the areas of rudimental drumming, marching percussion, drum and bugle corps, and marching band. He is best known for his intensive marching snare drum solo compositions and record-setting performances, entitled "Tornado" and "Stamina", and for his percussion quartet composition entitled "Four Horsemen". Markovich's contributions to the style, notation, composition, and performance of percussion have endured over the last five decades.
Frank Arsenault was an internationally known American percussionist, teacher, and clinician in the areas of marching percussion, rudimental drumming, drum and bugle corps, and marching band. He was a full-time Staff Clinician and Educational Field Representative for the Ludwig Drum Company. He is also well known in his field for his signature playing style, for his many championship titles, and for his recording of The 26 Standard American Drum Rudiments and Selected Solos.
Ryan Alexander Bloom is an American drummer, author, and teacher. He is known for being a former member of the Colorado-based thrash metal band Havok, member of death metal band Bloodstrike, and the author of several books including the Double Bass Drumming Explained series and Encyclopedia Rudimentia.
Charles "Charley" Wilcoxon was an American drum teacher and drum method book writer. He wrote several influential books on rudimental drumming that are still used by drum teachers today. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame.
The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) is a non-profit organization for professional percussionists and percussion educators. It was founded in 1961 in the United States and has over 5,000 members in 40 American chapters, with another 28 chapters abroad. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Since 1976, the organization hosts the annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) which is the largest convention for drummers and percussionists in the world.
Charles Stewart Ashworth was drum major of the United States Marine Band in the early 1800s and the author of an influential rudimental drum manual.
Fritz Berger was a Swiss drum teacher and drum method book author. He wrote several influential books on Swiss rudimental drumming, or Basler Trommeln, that are still thought of as the authoritative sources for Swiss drumming in America.
Carl E. Gardner was an American percussionist, drum maker, and method book author.
Gardiner A. Strube was an American drum major in the New York National Guard and the author of a fife and drum manual.
The National Association of Rudimental Drummers is an organization created to encourage the study of rudimental drumming. NARD is responsible for the creation of the Standard 26 American Rudiments.
Joseph Burns Moore was a champion rudimental snare drummer, member of the Connecticut National Guard, instructional author, and founding member of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers.
H. C. Hart was an American drum major in the 71st New York Infantry during the American Civil War and an influential fife and drum manual author.
Alfons Grieder was a Swiss rudimental drummer who spread awareness of the Basel Drumming style in America during the mid to late 20th century through his traveling, teaching, and publications.
Jay Wanamaker is a percussionist and the president and CEO of Roland Americas and formerly held executive positions at Fender and Guitar Center. He also worked for Yamaha, Alfred Publishing, and the University of Southern California, and was chair of the Percussive Arts Society rudimental committee that published the 40 PAS Drum rudiments. He has also published over 50 music books and instructional DVDs.
John Sterling "Jack" Pratt (1931–2020) was an American Army drum instructor at West Point as well as a celebrated rudimental book author. Pratt produced several volumes of rudimental solos and instructional materials and was also the founder of the International Association of Traditional Drummers (IATD), a member of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers (NARD), a member of the United States Association of Rudimental Drummers (USARD), and was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) Hall of Fame and the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame.
Edward B. Straight was an American drummer, founding member of the National Association of Rudimental Drummers, and author of several instructional drum books in the early days of drum kit playing.
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