Like most armies in 18th Century Europe, the Prussians were very religious people and church services played a role in their daily lives. It seems that multiple signals were used to conduct prayer services.
Kirchen-Parade: Meaning & Performance
Kirchen-Parade (Austrian: Kirchen-Streich; Swiss: Zum Gottesdienst) signalled for the men to form by company, where they would be marched to the regimental parade.
An officer called roll and inspected the men, and then they were marched to the service’s location.
When To Beat
Church services were held every Sunday and on religious holidays.
When near a church, they commenced beating when the Church Bells first ring. When in the field, or not near a church, they beat at the appointed hour.
How to Beat
All drummers beat the Kirchen-Parade assembled at the guard post or regimental parade.
- Drummers beat Locken, as described before.
- All Drummers commence the Kirchen-Parade together.
- Begin at the center of the battalion parade.
- March to the right down to the end of the parade.
- Turn around and march to the other end.
- Turn around and return to center.
- End back at the center, in front of the battalion flags.
Hessian Regulations, 1767, p. 272, 417-8, 510
Drum Beatings
Winters provides a short piece in 2/4. The style of the piece lends itself easily to 3/8 or 6/8 to match the tunes in Darmstadt.
He notes that this piece should be played slowly and with deliberation, which matches its use.
Fife Tunes
The Prussian Ordonnance includes a fife tune for both “Kirchen-Parade” and “Zum Gebätt”.
Note: Kastner doesn’t include a Kirchen-Parade, but instead has ‘Zeichen zum Gebet’ and ‘Nach dem Gebet‘ (Signal for Prayer and After Prayer, respectively). His tunes and beatings are very short, more ruffles or cheers than tunes.
Prussian Kirchen-March
Interpretation for Hessian Use
Drum beating is ‘Kirchen-Parade’ from Winters (1777) adapted to 3/8.
Fife part is the Kirchen-Parade listed under the Prussian ordonnance in the Darmstadt MS.
Zum Gebätt: Meaning & Performance
In addition to church services, prayer was held twice a day in the Prussian and Austrian armies, and at least once a day in the Hessian army.
Zum Gebätt (To the Prayer; Austrian: Bethstunde [Prayer Hour]) appears to be the signal for these less formal daily prayer services.
At the signal, soldiers formed on the company parade, roll was called, and then the men were marched to the regimental parade, where they formed a circle around the chaplain.
Soldiers were required to wear hats, but did not need gaiters or to be fully dressed.
When To Beat
The Prussians held prayer at roughly 8am, following guard mounting, and at 6pm. (The
Austrians were about the same, with morning prayer at 8am and evening prayer at sunset.)
How to Beat
It seems that only the Guard Drummers beat Zum Gebätt, located at their respective guard tents.
- Drummers beat Locken, as described before.
- All Guard Drummers commence the Zum Gebätt together.
- There’s no indication that the drummers marched the circuit while beating.
Regulations for the Prussian Infantry, 1754, p. 197-8
New Regulations for the Prussian Infantry, 1757, p. 4-5
Hessian Regulations, 1767, p. 327
Austrian Regulations, 1737, p. 38
“No service, singing and praying both included, shall be allow’d to continue above a quarter of an hour; and, as often as the Chaplain exceeds that time, for which the Adjutant is to be answerable, he shall forfeit one six dollar to the invalid-fund; but on Sundays, a sermon is preached, and the service lasts an hour.”
Regulations for the Prussian Infantry, 1754, p. 198
Prussian Zum Gebätt
Interpretation for Hessian Use
Drum beating is ‘Kirchen-Parade’ from Winters (1777) adapted to 6/8.
Fife part is the Zum Gebätt listed under the Prussian ordonnance in the Darmstadt MS.
Beatings During Church Services (Austrian)
Austrian regulations describe the use of drum beatings during mass to announce the next part. These were likely used only when mass was conducted in the field, without the ceremony of a real church.
- Beginning [of Mass] – three Rufs;
- Gospel – three Rufs;
- Sanctus – three Rufs;
- Omen to Transubstantiation – three Rufs;
- Transubstantiation – three Rufs, three Single Strokes, and one Ruf;
- Communion – a Ruf, three Single Strokes, one Ruf;
- End of the Mass – three Rufs;
Austrian Regulations, 1807, p. 241
Kneel Down to Pray
- With your right hand, place the sticks next to the other in your left hand, so that the ones in the left hand are upside down and hold them firmly.
- Usually kneel down with your right knee keeping body and head upright grab the ropes with your left hand and use this to keep the drum flat on your left knee, so that it doesn’t fall down to your left.
- Grab hold of the hat brim with your right hand, take off the hat, and place the hat with the inner hollow of your right thigh as far down as the knee as the right arm can bear freely and hold your body and head straight.
Stand Up from Prayer
- Put the hat on your head with your right hand, with the [point] over the left eye. Let your right hand come off the hat and sink onto the top of the drum.
- Stands up straight and put your right foot the correct distance from the left one again.
- Release your left hand from the ropes. Grab the stick placed in your left hand with your right hand and hold each stick with both hands over the batter head, and be ready to be able to beat at any time.
Austrian Regulations, 1749, p. 77
To learn how to play the other major Prussian duty calls, check out:
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