Meaning & Performance
The Zapfenstreich (alt: Zapffenstreich / Zappenstreich / Zappen Strieg; Austrian/French: La Retraite) is synonymous to the British Tattoo or French La Retraite.
The beating tells the soldiers to return to their barracks, where an NCO will take roll and inspect the quarters. While sentries began challenging at 5pm, Zapfenstreich signals an increased vigilance. If in garrison, gates are closed and locked.
Additionally, this beating controls the consumption of liquor. Innkeepers must cease the sale of liquor/beer after the beating. Bier-Patrouillen patrol from Zapfenstreich until 11pm to ensure all soldiers have returned to barracks and arrest those still out.
The time of this beating depends on the time of year:
October 1 – April 1 = 8pm
April 2 – September 30 = 9pm
In camp, in times of war, it’s beaten at nightfall.
How to Perform – in camp
Guard drummers only assemble at the main guard tent.
- The “Stuck-Schuss”, artillery warning shot, is fired as the signal to commence. If no cannon, then Drummers beat Locken, as described before.
- All Guard Drummers commence the Zapfenstreich 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.
How to Perform – in GARRISON / TOWN
Guard drummers only assemble at the main gate. They are led by a Drum Major, sub-officer, and some soldiers.
- The detachment steps off and march as a corps through the main streets, beating the Zapfenstreich 3x.
- After completing the third repeat, the drummers split up and march back to their posts, all taking different roads and continuing to beat after separating.
Hessian Regulations, 1767, p. 469-71, 496, 509-11
The Perfect German Soldier, p. 421, 478
Swiss Regulation, 1764, p. 230
The town performance is speculation based on other German methods, as nothing is specified in Prussian or Hessian sources. The Swiss beat the Zapfenstreich three times; after which, they split up and march back to their post, while beating the Zapfenstreich. For the Saxons, their corps would beat the Zapfenstreich around the market three times before returning to their posts. Like the Swiss, this probably meant that the drummers continued beating while they marched back to their posts.
Drum Beatings
Winters’ version includes a fun, challenging piece that plays a base phrase 3x, then plays an embellished phrase 3x, then a further embellished phrase 3x. These 3 phrases are repeated from the beginning to continue the piece.
This same beating appears later in Kastner, as well as Kruger’s 1950s manual.
The general structure highlights the right-hand dominant nature of Prussian drumming, as well as a theme and variation style that was common in the 18th century.
Unfortunately, this creates an odd 9-measure beating that will not line up with any of the Zapfenstreich from the Darmstadt MS. What appears here is a variation on the original – using the opening roll to fill 2-bars and reducing each phrase to only 2x through.
Fife Tunes
The Prussian ordonnance appears here as the first suggestion. This tune could easily be performed 3x over to fit the regulation descriptions.
While the drummers most likely beat the same regulation beating, the fifers may have played a medley of three (or more) tunes. This would be similar to the British and American tradition of performing a sequence of tunes, broken up by the Singlings and Doublings of the Tattoo.
To learn more about the British and American tradition, check out “The Major Duty Calls: The Tattoo“.
Of all the duty calls listed in the Darmstadt MS, the Zapfenstreich is the largest pool, which seems to support the hypothesis that multiple tunes were performed. In fact, 3 tunes in MS 1225 include a Trio. Stylistically, a Trio tells us to play the tune as written, then the Trio and then back into the tune; aka a medley of three tunes.
Kastner’s music shows two fife tunes, further supporting the idea that fifes could optionally change tunes.
Also of interest are the 6 tunes written in 3/4. In the 19th century, the French perform La Retraite first as a 3/4 while standing; then, stepped off to the same tune in 2/4. It’s worth investigating whether some regiments imitated the French practice with these 3/4 tunes.
Following the Prussian ordonnance, I have included the original Winters version of the Zapfenstreich and a 3/4 interpretation.
Prussian Zapfenstreich
2/4 Interpretation for Hessian Use
Drum beating is a modified ‘Zapfenstreich’ from Winters (1777).
Fife part is the Zapfenstreich listed under the Prussian ordonnance in the Darmstadt MS.
Prussian Zapfenstreich
2/4 Interpretation for Hessian Use
Drum beating is the original ‘Zapfenstreich’ from Winters (1777).
Prussian Zapfenstreich
3/4 Interpretation for Hessian Use
Drum beating is a modified ‘Zapfenstreich’ from Winters (1777).
To learn more about other Tattoos:
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.