Meaning & Performance
The Vergatterung (alt German: Vergadderung; Swiss: Versammlung / Die Sammlung; French: L’Assemblée) is the Assembly beating and predominately used to form soldiers for Guard Mounting daily or for the march.
When To Beat
When the Vergatterung beats, soldiers meant for the guard form at their company parades as soon as they hear it.
After roll is called, they march to the regimental parade to the beat of the Vergatterung.
A similar process functions to form the regiment for the march. The time for the Vergatterung varies and is decided by the commander.
How to Beat
All drummers beat the Vergatterung at the center of their respective battalion flag.
- Drummers beat Locken, as described before.
- All Drummers commence the Vergatterung 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. 239-40, 272-4, 443, 568
Prussian Regulations, 1750, p. 179
Drum Beatings
Winters’ simple 3/8 beating fits the Prussian regulation tune easily.
The first 3 rolls in Winter are not barred, so it’s difficult to tell exactly how they were performed. They seem to be a short introduction, perhaps like the British use the Three Cheers, and maybe are meant to be interpreted instead as the Locken.
Winters provides the note to play “Quickly, with emphasis”.
Fife Tunes
There are dozens of Vergatterungs included in the Darmstadt MS. Most are ascribed to various units, suggesting that the regulation tune listed could either be substituted or medleyed with unit specific tunes.
Based on the performance of the tune – marching a circuit around the parade grounds – it’s likely that the tune would need to be played several times over.
It’s possible that it was common to perform multiple tunes as a medley, or vary the tunes day to day, like in the British practice of The Troop.
Prussian Vergatterung
Interpretation for Hessian Use
Drum beating is ‘Vergatterung zur Wach-Parade’ from Winters (1777).
Fife part is the Vergatterung listed under the Prussian ordonnance in the Darmstadt MS.
To learn more about other Assemblies:
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.