The fife is a diatonically tuned instrument commonly consisting of a tube with 6 finger holes and an embouchure hole that produces sound when blown across.
Fife (instrument)
Crosby-style fife made by George and Frederick Cloos | |
Woodwind instrument | |
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Classification | Wind Woodwind Aerophone Edge-blown aerophone |
Is a fife Irish?
Irish you had a whistle, but this is what would commonly be called a fife. Whistles are typically end-blown instruments played vertically while fifes are side-blown and played horizontally. Fifes are a type of flute specifically pitched an octave higher, usually in the key of B flat.
What was the Fife used for?
Fifes and drums played from sunrise to sunset and served as a primary mode of communication from commander to troops during battles. The high-pitched sound of the fife made it the perfect instrument to be paired with the drum, as it could be heard over the noise of combat.
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.
Is a fife and a flute the same thing?
The fife, most accurately described, is any cylindrically bored transverse flute, usually in one piece (but sometimes two), usually somewhat longer than the piccolo and having only six fingerholes with no keys.
Did the Vikings come to Fife?
During the 9th Century Viking pirates from Norway and Denmark invaded religious settlements all round the coast of Scotland, including Fife.
What is the oldest town in Fife?
The historic town of St Andrews is located on the northeast coast of Fife. It is well known for the University of St Andrews, the most ancient university of Scotland and one of the oldest universities in the world.
Fife.
Fife Fìobha | |
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Country | Scotland |
Lieutenancy area | Fife |
Admin HQ | Glenrothes (formerly Cupar) |
Government |
What does fife mean in Scottish?
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.
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”.
What is the history of the Fife?
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 fife Mean 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
What do you call people from fife?
In the city of Dundee, which is on the edge of this region, the Scots dialect of the city is known specifically as Dundonian. People in Fife sometimes call their speech Fife Scots, and you may also hear the term East Neuk Scots.
Is it hard 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 do the Irish call a flute?
feadóg mór
I also play the Irish (wooden) flute. My dictionary says the word for this is feadóg mór, which just means big whistle.
Is there a fife in America?
Fife is a city in Pierce County, Washington, United States and a suburb of Tacoma. The population was 10,999 at the 2020 census. Fife is contained within the Puyallup Indian Reservation.
Is a piccolo A fife?
One of the easiest differences to spot between the piccolo vs. fife is the structure. A piccolo has keys, while most fifes simply have holes. This applies to cheap fifes, like the Yamaha fife, and other models.
Do Scots have Viking DNA?
Scotland and Norway share strong links that stretch right back to Viking times. Northern Scotland, was, at one time, a Norse domain and the Northern Isles experienced the most long-lasting Norse influence. Almost half of the people on Shetland today have Viking ancestry, and around 30% of Orkney residents.
Are Scots Nordic or Celtic?
Nordic countries include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and, depending on mood, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland. Celtic countries aren’t all countries, but include the Brittany, Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Isle of Man, and, possibly, some parts of present day Portugal.
Is there Viking DNA in Scotland?
Some Scottish people are descendants of Vikings, though not as many as in the Scandinavian countries. Furthermore, most Scottish Viking descendants are from the Northern Isles of Scotland. People in regions farther south don’t have as much Viking heritage.
Who is the king of Fife?
Today the dukedom of Fife is held by his son, the 4th Duke, David (b. 1961), who is at present #80 in the line of succession to the British throne. His son and heir is known as the Earl of Southesk as his courtesy title.
What is the most deprived area in Fife?
Mid Fife
The majority of Fife’s most deprived areas continue to be concentrated in Mid Fife, across the Levenmouth, Kirkcaldy, Cowdenbeath and Glenrothes areas. Fife sees an increase in the number of datazones in 20% most deprived, reflecting increases in Levenmouth and Dunfermline areas.