Why you need to learn more Double Drags
How many double drag beatings do you know? How much do you know about double drag beatings? If you re-enact or portray an 18th or 19th century British and/or American…
Spice Up Your Three Camps Solo With Historic Variations
Did you know there are 8 unique historic variations on Three Camps? The modern version comes from Strube (1869), but earlier manuals show a Three Camps with different rolls (7s,…
Ave Maria: The Origin of The Retreat
The Retreat, or La Retraite for the French, is the opposite of the Reveille. Whereas the Reveille is beaten at the break of dawn to signal the sentries to cease…
Evolution of Drummer’s Call in the American Army
The American army, quite understandably, took most of its original drum music (and military tradition!) from the British. Thus, it’s no surprise that the American’s original Drummer’s Call was taken…
The Long March: The Perfect Rev War Cadence?
At American Rev War events, the most common marching cadence is The Long March as seen in Ashworth (1812). This tradition might have started after the beating was included in…
The Alarm: A Long Roll or To Arms?
For a long time, Revolutionary War re-enactors have assumed that the Long Roll was used as a signal to ‘sound the Alarm’. This assumption is referenced in multiple drum manuals…
Cease Firing: British & French Influence in the American Army
For scholars of American fife and drum duty music, a hugely important question is: Where did American duty music come from? Understanding how the music changed, how to interpret questionable…
The Preparative: Re-enactorisms on the Battlefield
There are two major “re-enactorisms” that, in my opinion, damage the usefulness and credibility of Drummers at battle re-enactments: Prime & Load and Make Ready Firstly, the drum beating re-enactors…
What Does it Mean to be a Functional Duty Drummer?
If you're interested in becoming a drummer for American Rev War reenacting, congratulations! The hobby absolutely needs more dedicated drummers and fifers. It's important to know however that musicians play…
Was the Tattoo played during the American Revolution in North America?
There are some questions whether or not The Tattoo was played in North America. This is an important question to explore as we try to reconstruct the duties of British…