History of the 41st Regiment of Foot Fife & Drum Corps It was up to these professional musicians to act as a communication system and as musical entertainment for the army. They played music to inspire the men, remind them of home, and to help them deal with the hardships of military life.
What was the duty of the fife and drum corps?
From the days of the American revolution through the 19th century, fifes, drums and bugles were vital to military order and discipline. Field musicians were used to issue commands during battle and to regulate the duty day, signaling when to rise, when to eat, and when the day ends.
What role did fife and drum music play in the American Revolution?
The music in General Washington’s continental army consisted of fife and drum corps. What was the music’s purpose? During the Revolution, the army used fifes and drums not only to boost morale but also for communication and regimentation.
What is a fife used for?
Some regiments had full bands for use in parades and as entertainment away from the battlefield. The fife was an old instrument, basically a flute with a limited range of notes, and useful on the battlefield because it was pitched so high that its sound carried over many of the sounds of battle.
What was the purpose of fife and drum bands in Colonial America?
“These military musicians played loud drums and shrill fifes (small wooden flutes) to communicate officers’ orders over long distances and to large groups of soldiers.” said Skic. “The specific tunes they played regulated daily life in military encampments and conveyed commands to troops in battle.”
What do you call a fife player?
Someone who plays the fife is called a fifer.
How is fife used in military?
Fifes have always been an infantry musical instrument. Assigned at the company level with 1-2 fifes and 1-2 drums per company (or formed as a band at the regimental level), fifes and drums were used to regulate the daily activities of the troops.
What was a fife in the Revolutionary War?
Most fifes were crude wooden instruments, often made of boxwood. Some iron fifes were found. Trumpets were often used by cavalry and bugle horns by light infantry.
Why did they play drums during war?
Revolutionary War drummers and fifers were used in battle to signal the soldiers to fire. In the hazy fog of battle, visual command was impossible and musical instruments were the only way to convey orders to the troops. The combination of the fife and drum became known as military field music.
Why did slaves use drums?
In America, slaves played drums of all shapes and sizes in the tradition of both eastern and western Africans. The drumbeat not only accompanied chants and dances, but was also used to send messages. By striking and holding the drum in certain ways, drummers could replicate tones of speech almost exactly.
Why is it called fife?
Fife’s existence as a distinct entity can be traced back to the Pictish Kingdom of Fib in the centuries after the departure of the Romans. It is for this reason that Fife is commonly referred to as “The Kingdom of Fife”, or simply “The Kingdom”.
When was the Fife used?
Antedating the orchestral transverse flute, the fife is first attested in Europe during the 12th century. From the time of the Crusades it has been played with cylindrical side drums as an infantry instrument, notably in Switzerland and Germany. It is a folk instrument in Spain and in the Alps and Carpathians.
What does the name fife mean?
Fife Origin and Meaning
The name Fife is both a boy’s name and a girl’s name of Scottish origin meaning “place name“. Musical choice that might work great in the middle. Alternative in all its forms, Fife and sister name Fifer are Scottish names for girls that can make a new twist on Piper.
Why did the British use drums while fighting?
Soldiers marched to battle to the sound of the drums and used the beat to regulate the loading and re-loading of their weapons during the battle. Drummers were also used to raise morale during the fight.
Did fife and drum corps include African Americans?
The African American fife and drum tradition in north Mississippi stretches back to the 1800s and is often noted for its similarities to African music. Its best known exponent, Otha (or Othar) Turner (c.
Where did fife and drum originate?
Switzerland
Fife and Drum music has very ancient roots. The fife has been played for centuries in Switzerland and Western Europe. Tradition holds that the fife and some of the music for it had its origins in the music of the Turkish Janissaries who invaded Europe in the Middle Ages and were the target of the crusades.
How hard is it to play the fife?
Fife is much more difficult to play than the regular wooden flute – it takes a very strong embouchure. Your lips need to be tight – try putting a piece of dry rice between your lips and blow until it pops out (I’m serious)… this will give you an idea how small the hole in your lips needs to be.
What does fife mean in Old English?
pipe
Old English pipe “simple tubular musical wind instrument,” also “tube for conveying water,” from Vulgar Latin *pipa “a pipe, tube-shaped musical instrument” (source also of Italian pipa, French pipe, Old Frisian pipe, German Pfeife, Danish pibe, Swedish pipa, Dutch pijp), a back-formation from Latin pipare “to chirp or
How much is a fife?
Prices range from $190 – $220 depending on the wood.
What are Scottish soldiers called?
The Royal Regiment of Scotland (SCOTS) is the senior line infantry regiment and only Scottish line infantry of the British Army.
What does Fife mean in Scotland?
FIFE, n. 1. The name of the eastern county of Scotland, lying between the Firths of Forth and Tay. See Kingdom. Hence (1) Fifan, adj., belonging to Fife: only in poetical use; (2) Fifer, a native of Fife, sometimes used opprobriously to denote a greedy, rather unscrupulous person.