Peter Manzi

July 6, 2012
American Music History
18
th
Century Fife and Drum Corps
The first time fife and drum were recognized together was in Switzerland in the 15th
century (drummajor.net). During the Revolutionary War, fife and drum corps, or field music,
began in the United States. In 1777, General George Washington issued an order requiring
every officer, for the credit of his corps, to provide Military music to American Troops.:
(Ferris, 64). These first American military bands consisted of only drums and fifes. A fife is a
small cylindrical transverse flute, but with a narrower bore which created a louder, shriller sound
than the flute. Fifes were usually made from a single piece of wood, which sometimes had
ferrules of wood, cord, leather, brass or other metal at both ends, and had six finger holes
(Oxford-fife). During the Revolutionary period, the military drum was a snared side drum
between 38 & 41 cm in height and diameter. The drums were a two-headed cylindrical wooden
shell with two or more gut cords stretched across the bottom membrane, and was normally
emblazoned with the crest or arms of the king or colonel, and later the American Eagle (Oxford-
military).
The principal function of fife and drum corps was to sound the camp duties., a system of
musical signals and commands which all personnel were expected to recognize and instantly
obey, and which regulated military life. (Oxford-military). In America, the corps used
Friedrich von Steubens Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United
States (1779). This ordered the nine beats of the drum to use: The General, The Assembly, The
March, The Reveille, The Troop, The Retreat, The Tattoo, To Arms, and The Parley. "As the
Regulations contained no music, the Continental Army's musicians depended on British practices
and regimental drum-majors (Oxford-military music). The following is a transcription of fife
and drum music used during the Revolutionary War period. This example of the "To Arms" call
is from The Entire New and Compleat Instruction for the Fife and Young Drummers Assistant
by Longman & Broaderip (1780)

Although this music was written in London, the same melody would have been performed in
America. Many times the music was learned and performed by rote.
Regimental drum-majors were an important leader of the corps during the Revolutionary
War. The drum major of the unit was distinguished from the other musicians by his headgear, a
light-infantry hat. "In contrast to modern Army bands, and as an indication of prominence, he
carries an espontoon" instead of the standard mace which we see in marching bands today
(fifeanddrum.army). The espontoon is an 18th century weapon that often had a pair of smaller
blades on each side, giving the weapon the look of a military fork. (wikipedia.org). The
espontoon was used to give silent commands to the Corps.
The fife and drum corps were essential in the day to day routine as well as in battle for
the American Troops. The tradition still lives on strong today. The United States Army, as well
as various other groups around the national, dress up and re-enact the music and marching of
18th century fife and drum corps.

References
Ferris, J. (2010) America's Musical Landscape. (6th edition). New York,NY: McGraw Hill
Publishing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espontoon
http://www.fifeanddrum.army.mil.about.html
http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com:80/subscriber/article/grove/music/44139 (Military Music)
http://drummajor.net/Fife/1FilesHistory.htm
http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com:80/subscriber/article/grove/music/09610 (fife)
http://www.fifedrum.org/resources/music