Earlier French resources refer to three categories of strokes, one of which is the Bâton Méle, or Mixed Strokes. It’s unclear in these earlier resources what exactly this refers to – a possible answer is the Single Paradiddle and/or Double Paradiddle.
It does, at least in part, refer to a form of embellishment stick play used in the French and Swiss style.
Performed:
Both Tourte and Berger describe the embellishments as the right-hand stick passing under the left. When done as one pass, the right stick heads towards the body and makes a complete circle; when done several times in a row, the stick passes first towards the body, then away from the body, then in a complete circle.
For a visual explanation, watch the video below.
Bâton Méle in French Music:
The Bâton Méle as an embellishment can be dated back to at least the Napoleonic drum salute ‘Le Rigodon D’Honneur’, a variation on the reveille La Diane.
La Diane, as with some other reveilles, could be performed as a salute to a high-ranking officer or when an award was being presented. It seems logical that, over time, the reveille was augmented to make it more difficult and embellished with stick play to make it a more impressive drum salute, which is what appears to have happened to ‘Le Rigodon D’Honneur’.
Exactly when this rudiment comes into the French repertoire is unknown, and even the existing version of ‘Le Rigodon D’Honneur’ comes from tradition and not period resources.
Bâton Méle in Swiss / Basel Music:
The stick play for this rudiment exists as an embellishment rudiment in the Basel style (see Berger) and may have been imported from the French in the late-19th century, though this is unknown.
The right stick is in the starting position. It follows ‘a’ backwards, then ‘b’ forwards, and then continues into the arc shown by ‘c’.
Want a visual? Check out the video below for a visual explanation:
More Info:
If you have any additional information on the origin or development of this rudiment, please contact me and share your resources. Or, comment below!