Today, most drummers recognize the Pataflafla the strange Swiss rudiment in the 40 PAS Rudiments. In reality, this is a Basel rudiment that appears to have French origins.
Performed:
Like the Patafla, this rudiment is an onomatopoeic French name that means: right stroke (pa), left stroke (ta), flam (fla), flam (fla).
Pataflafla in French Music:
The rudiment definitely does not appear in Philidor’s manuscript. We know this because of the distinctive rhythm and use of flams in the Pataflafla.
It also does not appear in the 1754 or 1831 ordonnances.
The Pataflafla may first appear in Niocel (1863) as the “Cataflaflaas”. In this instance, the ‘ca’ probably indicates a stroke in the same way that ‘pa’ does.
Later, the modern name first appears near the end of the 19th century (see Broutin, 1889, 23; Reveillé, 1897, 4). However, without more drum manuals, it’s impossible to tell how much earlier it was in use .
Additionally, they are seen in marches throughout French manuals in the 19th century. Stylistically, they appear in a similar manner as the American use of Flamacues.
Pataflafla in Swiss Music:
While often regarded as a Swiss rudiment, the Pataflafla doesn’t appear in Swiss marches.
This study included the following Swiss ordonnances:
Verzeichnis derjenigen Ordonnanz-Streichen, nach welchen die Tambouren Teutsch- und Welschen Landes Bergebiets sich richten und selbigen Exercieren sollen (1728); Peter Stocker, Verzeichnis der Ordonnantz Steichen, darin die Tambouren überall solen underwiesen warden (1759); Tambour-Ordonnanz für die eidgenössischen Truppen (Zurich: 1845); Tambour-Ordonnanz für die Schweizerische Infanterie (Swiss Military, 1889); and Tambour-Ordonnanz für die Schweizerische Infanterie (Swiss Military, 1917).
Pataflafla in Basel Music:
Instead, the Pataflafla likely enters the Swiss style via Basel drummers. Grieder claims the Basel style imported the drum rudiment from the French in the late 19th century (148).
More Info:
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