Title: Fifes and Drums of Yorktown at Fort Ticonderoga
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqMryyZN4kE
Instrumentation: fifes, drums
Cultural context: Fifes (a relative of the flute/piccolo) and drums were used throughout the Revolutionary and Civil Wars as a signaling device for each regiment, such as to when to go into battle and when to move out, as well as an identifying factor for each separate group of soldiers. Each regiment had its own fife and drum corps that accompanied them at every battle. In modern times, there are still fife and drum corps that compete and give performances, obviously not in the context of war, but in a new context. They serve as a historical window into our own culture back in the days when America was new.
A good friend of mine, who now lives in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (famous site of the bloodiest battle in the Civil War) is a member of a fife and drum corps. Since hearing more and more about her participation in this, and my strong interest with early American history, I decided that it would be a great thing to create a blog post about. Here, we see that music had very specific meanings in new America. Each specific tune they would play had a specific context and instructions to go along with it, and everyone had to know the music well in order to follow orders. The concept of still having fife and drum corps around is extremely beneficial when thinking about our own culture. In having these performances with everyone in traditional uniforms, on authentic instruments, we truly see a fascinating area of our history. I believe it is very important to understand our musical and historical past, in order to compare this to the present and future of our musical culture. More importantly, we must examine the cultural conventions and history of our nation, which I believe is our duty as Americans.
This is a really awesome video. I'm an American history buff myself so I may be a bit biased. However, this video is a perfect example of people in our country today not forgetting the history of our nation and re-creating it. We have talked a lot about performance authenticity. I think this video does a great job of achieving authenticity. It is music being performed close to its homeland and everyone is dressed in costume to truly feel like we are back in the American revolution. I think this is proof that performance authenticity is worth striving for and can be re-created when done correctly.
ReplyDeleteThis video reminds me of the conversation from last class in regards to scottish bagpipes leading troops into battle. It is interesting to see that two different cultures decided music was the best way to communicate during battle. Of course, each culture uses their respective instruments, but the concept of music in war is common.
ReplyDeleteThere have been times that I thought that if I ever hear a fife and drum corps again it will be too soon, but this really changed my mind about that aspect. Fife and drum corps seem to pop up in New England like wildflowers, but I seldom see one as precise and consistent as this, and I never have seen one break formation, perform a field show with harmonies, follow the leader and gate turns. That was very impressive, and I have never seen a group that uses that sort of mark time technique.
ReplyDeleteExcellent video. I would love to see more of this group.
This example would not have come quickly to mind, but what an interesting sub-culture of American music...such a variety of sounds within this country that it is difficult to identify what is the quintessential American sound.
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