Aux Champs is probably one of the most essential beatings to know for any French impression from at least 1754 (French and Indian War era) through to the mid-19th century.
Translating to ‘To the Fields’, Aux Champs was the signal to ‘Forward March’ and a standard marching cadence. You’ll want to know this beating to use as a cadence at any event.
Aux Champs is also great to know for many American impressions. This beating (with some slight “American-izations”) appears in all late-18th century drum manuscripts and many 1812-era drum manuals. It’s a great beating for a formal march or ceremonial salute for Rev War or 1812 American impressions.
A variation of Aux Champs also appears later in the Civil War-era Bruce & Emmet manual, called Quick Step No. 1.
Continue reading to learn more about the historic function of Aux Champs, as well as practice tips for learning how to performing the beating.
- Important Note: You will need to comfortably play a Ra Simple / French 4-Stroke Roll and alternating Flams in order to perform this beating.
Main Purpose of Aux Champs
Aux Champs is played to keep the ordinary cadence on the march.
In order to begin the march, the Regiment or Batallion must move from en bataille (in line) into columns.
To do so, only one drummer will begin the march, Aux Champs, on the side that the maneuver into column will take place. If the column is to wheel to the right, for example, the drummer on the right beats Aux Champs, indicating the order to wheel into column.
Most likely this initial signal was beat only by the Grenadier Drummer (on the right) or Piquet Drummer (on the left).
Once the men have completed the wheel, all the drummers take up the march and the column advances forward.
For more information, see:
- Guignard 1725, 695
- Ordonnance … sur l’Exercice 1755, 168
Secondary Purposes of Aux Champs
Aux Champs had multiple additional meanings, besides acting as a marching cadence.
Forming for the March
When only part of the garrison or camp needed to form for either the march or for drill, then Aux Champs (in this context, called Le Premier) replaced La Diane. It was beaten at daybreak by all the drummers of that Battalion or Company and was performed on the parade ground of the Company or Battalion that was to march.
For more information, see:
- Ordonnance…service de l’Infanterie en Campagne 1753, 56-7; 59
- D’Hericourt 1756, vol. 2, 86-88; Guignard 1725, 695
Closing the Gates
In a gated town or fort, Aux Champs was beaten while the doors were being shut as a last warning to get inside the walls.
In this context, Aux Champs was beaten an hour after La Retraite, which was the signal that the day was over and guards should be more vigilant. In this case, Aux Champs was beaten by the drummers of the port guard, who would stand up in the ramparts so they could be heard from outside the walls.
For more information, see:
- Ordonnance … Concernant les Gouverneurs … 1750, 46
Drum Salute
Aux Champs, as a formal march, could also be used as a salute for members of the Royal Family and other high-ranking individuals, such as the Commandant or Marshalls of France.
For more information, see:
- Ordonnance…service de l’Infanterie en Campagne 1753, 63; 87
Battlefield Use of Aux Champs
Aux Champs on its own meant to march forward. It could also be used in collaboration with other battlefield signals to form the line into various columns or to bring the columns into a line.
To reform the Line of Battle when perpendicular to the enemy, the Drummers beat Le Drapeau.
To form as a column, the Drummers beat L’Assemblée for the Column of Attack or La Retraite for a Column of Retreat.
Break from Line into Column
To make it easier to maneuver around the battlefield, French forces often quickly maneuvered from a Line of Battle (en bataille) into a column. Columns could be formed by battalions, sections, platoons, divisions, or halt-battalion.
A certain combination of Rolls and Strokes indicated how to form the column and Aux Champs indicated the order to commence the movement.
The Rolls and Strokes were performed by the guard drummers, who were positioned on the flanks. After the signal, all the drummers beat Aux Champs together.
Performed:
# Rolls + # Strokes + Aux Champs
| Direction: | Division: | ||
| 1 Roll | Move to Right | 1 Stroke | Break by sections |
| 2 Rolls | Move to Left | 2 Strokes | Break by platoons |
| 3 Strokes | Break by divisions | ||
| 4 Strokes | Break by half-battalion | ||
| 5 Strokes | Break by battalion |
Note: To return to a Line of Battle, the Drummers beat Le Drapeau.
For more information, see:
- Instruction sur l’Exercice de l’Infanterie 1753, 24; 49-50
- Ordonnance … sur l’Exercice de l’Infanterie 1755, 170; 178
To Double or Triple the Division
If a column is marching perpendicular to the enemy, the drummers can beat Le Drapeau, signalling for the divisions to wheel into a line. The line now faces the enemy.
However, if the column is marching straight at the enemy and wants to form a line of battle, they must Double or Triple the Division.
Doubling the Division is when the column marches in larger orders, such as by half-battalions or battalions.
Tripling the Division is best for when the column marches in smaller orders, such as sections or platoons.
Like Breaking in Column, the signal is beaten by the guard drummers and Aux Champs by all the drummers to initiate the movement.
Performed:
# Rolls + # Strokes + Aux Champs
| Division: | Direction (for Doubling) | ||
| 3 Rolls | Double Division | 1 Stroke | 1st division posts on right. 2nd division obliques and forms on their left. |
| 4 Rolls | Triple Division | 2 Strokes | 2nd division posts on the left. 1st division obliques and forms on their right. |
For more information, see:
- Instruction sur l’Exercice de l’Infanterie 1753, 24; 49-50
- Ordonnance … sur l’Exercice de l’Infanterie 1755, 170; 178
Signal to Beat Aux Champs
To signal Aux Champs, the Major (Drum Major?) would use his sword or cane as follows:
- Extend the arm to the height of the shoulder to the right.
- Raise the sword point up.
Performing Aux Champs
Like many Common Time Marches, Aux Champs is written in Cut Time.
As expected, Instruction des Tambours (1754) clearly indicates that Aux Champs is performed at 60bpm.
Advice on Tempo and Rhythm
Many musicians and re-enactors struggle to perform slower marches at 60bpm, but mastering the slower march is mostly a matter of overcoming a mental block!
The Problem: Focusing more on the down beat.
Many musicians set a metronome at 60bpm and try to keep that beat. When they struggle with “rushing”, they blame it on the slow tempo.
The Solution: Master the rhythm, or the “internal tempo”.
Set a metronome that subdivides the rhythm for you. For a Common Time, we’d probably subdivide the eighth notes (1 & 2 &). For Aux Champs, you could even subdivide 16th notes (1e&a 2e&a).
Why does this work?
We often make the mistake of saying that the Tempo is the “Beat” or metronome, when the Tempo is really the entire movement that happens between those clicks.
For example, if you’re too quick to play the next eighth note, then you’ll be too quick to play the downbeat. Now you’re ahead of the metronome!
Another example, if you’re too slow getting into your 16th note paradiddles, then you’ll be too slow getting to the next downbeat. Now you’re behind the metronome!
Getting the internal rhythm down will clean up most of your Tempo issues and make playing at slow tempos like 60bpm feel natural.
Set the Metronome
Let’s start by setting the Metronome to subdivide eighth notes so we can develop our internal rhythm.
- Set the Metronome to 120bpm.
- If you can, set the Metronome to 2 clicks.
- My metronome lets me use different sounds. I prefer a strong click, followed by one soft click.
- The metronome is now playing at 60bpm, but is subdividing as eighth notes (1 & 2 &).
- This means what you hear are eighth notes at 60bpms.
- The strong click is each step and the weak click the middle of the beat.
- Note: you can use this same idea at any tempo.
- If you’d rather work on Aux Champs at 75bpm, set your Metronome to 150bpm.
- If you’d rather work at 80bpm (probably the most common re-enactor marching pace), set your Metronome to 160bpm.
Phrase 1
Aux Champs can easily be broken into Phrase 1 and Phrase 2.
The most difficult part of Phrase 1 is the amount of rest, or space, between the opening notes.
Below, I’ve broken Phrase 1 down into simple exercises to build proper rhythm control and tempo.
Note: In these exercises, every flam will line up with a click.
Special Notes
Use the weak click of the metronome to help mark the full value of the rest in the beginning of this phrase.
To help prevent rushing, lift your sticks before attacking the flams. The movement of lifting and lowering your sticks can help you internalize this rest.
Phrase 2
The trick to Phrase 2 is fluidly moving from the Ra Simple (4-Stroke Roll) into a Left-Hand Flam.
The second trick is not rushing from the flams into the Ra Simple.
Below, I’ve broken Phrase 2 down into simple exercises to build proper rhythm control and develop your Ra Simple.
Note: In these exercises, the Flams and end of the Ra Simple line up with a click on the metronome. Be careful to start the Ra Simple AFTER a click to get the timing right.
Special Notes
The Ra Simple must be a tight, quick movement. It actually starts after the weak beat and ends on the down beat.
Want more help developing your Ra Simple? Check out my Practice Guide for the Ra Simple.
Aux Champs
To play the full beating, we’ll play:
Phrase 1 + Phrase 1 + Phrase 2
Includes notes that divide the phrases for easy learning.
Special Notes
Focus on the amount of rest in Phrase 1 to keep from rushing the tempo.
Keep your Ra Simple tight. To do so, start them after the weak beat.
Conclusion
Aux Champs is probably the first beating any French drummer should learn. It develops your Flams and Ra Simple – two of the most important rudiments in French drumming – and can be used for multiple functions at any event.
Want to learn more about the history of these French rudiments? Check out:
Interested in learning how to perform other important French beatings? Check out:
- Le Drapeau
- La Générale
- La Retraité
- L’Assemblée
- L’Appel
- La Fasçine
- La Diane – Single Drag
- La Diane – Double Drag
Need more help improving your Tempo?