Meaning & Performance
In the Prussian army, Grenadier companies were introduced to every infantry battalion in 1735, authorizing 3 drummers and 2 fifers.
Grenadier companies were re-organized into the line companies in 1787, which also removed their fifers. (Only the Guard Companies retained their fifers).
Four grenadier companies were created as an independent battalion from 1799 until 1806 and were authorized to have 1 company drummer each, 1 battalion drummer, and 8 fifers total.
None of the Prussian or Hessian regulations explain when the grenadier march should be beaten. In Die Musik der Spielleute, Marten assumes it was beaten by the grenadier company when the flags were brought out. It was also likely beaten as a march for the grenadier company when marching alone.
Marten also discusses the Prussian army’s use of Grenadier Marches as a reward for special feats, suggesting that Grenadier Marches were beaten when regiments marched in parade or through town, as a way to broadcast their status. A few examples include:
- The Bayreuth Dragoon Regiment of the Old Prussian Army received a royal letter granting many privileges, including: “We have therefore most graciously decided … that the regiment should be authorized to have the grenadier march beat with their drums at any time, whether in the field or on the march, whether in the field or in garrisons…”
- For the Battle of Lobositz on October 1, 1756, Regiment v. Münchow (No. 36) was granted a grenadier march.
- The regiments taken prisoner near Maxen on November 19-21, 1759 were deprived of their grenadier march.
- The Infantry Regiment v. Tettenborn (No. 11) was deprived of the right to beat the Grenadier March because of a bad review in 1772. It was only at the review the following year that this right was granted again following better inspection results.
Marten, Die Musik der Spielleute des Altpreussischen Heeres, 1976, p. 66-7
Drum Beatings
Early regulations state that all drummers should beat the same grenadier march as the Leib battalion, but the fifers should have a different march for each regiment or battalion.
Winters does not include a Grenadier March.
Here, the beating comes from Kastner. His beating is 2-bars repeated, followed by 6-bars. The first 2-bars have been repeated here 3x to match the 6×6 structure of the fife tune.
Regulations for the Whole Prussian Infantry 1714, p. 246
Fife Tunes
The Darmstadt MSs list at least 150 Grenadier Marches, representing nearly all of the old Prussian regiments, as well as many Austrian regiments, German line regiments serving with the French, and compositions written by the Erb-Prinz Hesse-Darmstadt.
Here, I have included the Prussian Grenadier March listed under the Prussian ordonnance. This is probably not the most appropriate tune for general Hessian use; however, we currently do not have Grenadier Marches for the various Hessian units in North America.
Prussian Grenadier March
Interpretation for Hessian Use
Drum beating is the ‘Preussicher Grenadier Marsch’ listed in Kastner.
Fife part is the Grenadier March listed under the Prussian ordonnance in the Darmstadt MS.
To learn how to play the other major Prussian duty calls, check out:
Have more information about Hessian or Prussian music, contact me or comment below.