THE FIFE AND DRUM...
an essential part of the Revolutionary War
On the battlefield the fife and drum corps had the responsibility to keep order and make sure the soldiers functioned as a unit.
Every command that needed to be carried out would be signaled by a fife and drum.
Drummers would play "beatings" telling the soldiers to turn left or right, as well as to load and fire their muskets. There was a tune called "Cease Fire" and one called "Parley" that meant surrender.
This information was found on the United States Army Fife and Drum Corp website...
an essential part of the Revolutionary War
Colonial Williamsburg website
It is widely recognized that the fife and drum came from the armies of Switzerland hundreds of years before the colonization of America. During the Revolutionary War the music of the fife and drum was essential as it became the armies best means of communication over long distances. The fife was used because of its high pitched sound and the drum because of its low pitched sound. Not only can these instrument be heard from far away, but the music transcends the sounds on a battlefield."
Most musicians would have been boys too young to fight in the war or old men who were no longer able.
On the battlefield the fife and drum corps had the responsibility to keep order and make sure the soldiers functioned as a unit. Every command that needed to be carried out would be signaled by a fife and drum.
Drummers would play "beatings" telling the soldiers to turn left or right, as well as to load and fire their muskets. There was a tune called "Cease Fire" and one called "Parley" that meant surrender.
"Tunes were used to tell soldiers to wake up, eat meals and do camp chores." Whenever a command needed to be spread a fifer and drummer played the appropriate tune. Soon other fifers and drummers joined in until the whole army knew what was expected.
This information was found on the United States Army Fife and Drum Corp website...
The Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg began in 1958 and is an elite performing group drawn from a waiting list of young applicants. They begin their training at age 10 and practice weekly for the next eight years, keeping a piece of the history and traditions of the American Revolution alive.
There are several songs in this clip... it pauses between each one.
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