Sam Hodgen

Sam Hodgen, a pioneer of pipe band drum design and manufacturing and the owner of Andante Percussion of Northern Ireland, died on February 4, 2009. He had suffered from a lengthy illness.

Hodgen started Andante in 1986 as Pipe-Major of the Moneygore Pipe Band of Rathfriland, Northern Ireland, a group that had experience dissatisfaction with existing drum technology. He designed and built the new Andante snare drum, as well as a range of drumming accessories.

Hodgen built Andante Percussion into a leader in the pipe band market, competing directly with Premier and Pearl. Among the prominent bands currently playing Andante snare drums are Vale of Atholl, Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia, Tayside Police and Lothian & Borders Police.

Andante has also been a sponsor of the RSPBA's World Solo Drumming Championships for more than a decade.

On behalf of the piping and drumming world, we express our sympathy to Sam Hodgen's family and many friends.

WTF is happening this week??

2 sad losses in one week.. not good

RIP

Yes indeed Robbie, two greats from our wee necks the woods in one week. Sam was indeed a great man, always at every bands beck 'n call. Never too busy to help out or get yer drums sorted at a short notice.

Tragic, a quiet, polite and very warm person. Big loss to all.

Just heard that John Moneagle will lead a drum salute with a corps of local drummers including our L/D Roy Ferguson.
John 'n Sam were very close, and this tribute to Sam will be no easy task for John and the guys who will pay tribute to a true great in the drumming world.

Good to see someone of John's stature pay his respect in this way.

He was the most warmhearted guy you could meet. He always found a minute to speak to anyone and especially the kids. He worked closely with my L/D Gordon Brown through Andante and had a lot of friends in Boghall and all over. Playing outside the Andante tent to him and the audience will always be a great memory. He will be sadly missed but another whose name will live on.
R.I.P Sam

P.S. Funeral is on Saturday at 2.00pm

Just a few of the drum corps that paid tribute to Sam at the grave side playing the first part of Alex Duthart's salute. ( excuse the poor quality, it was freezin'.)


This is them arriving at the hotel wi the Mourne mountains in the background.


This was an assembly of the worlds greatest drummers in one corps, a one off, maybe never to be seen again, indeed a great tribute to someone who was held in the highest regard by all.
Just some of the people I knew were, John Moneagle ( L/D on the day ), Jim Kilpatrick, Gordon 'n Tam Brown, Lee Lawson, Paul Turner, our own L/D Roy Ferguson, wee Barney ( Ballycoan L/D) the L/D of Lothian & Borders Police and bass drummer was Ex FMM.
John and I were talking afterwards over a pint, and there was a total of 21 world championship drumming titles there on parade.
There were people there from all over including a strong turn out from SLOT,( was nice to see Terry Tully there all the way up from Dublin, givin' the atrocious weather conditions ) FMM, all bands had representatives there.
Great tribute to a great man.

Probably not ideal, But I would have paid to wtch and listen to those boys play that salute, even thinking about it, brings the hairs on the back of my neck up. A very sad occasion, but what a wonderful tribute.

Sorry this is a bit overdue.
Here is the photo of probably the greatest ever assembled drum corps paying their final tribute to Sam.

Many thanks to L/D John Moneagle for the photograph.