Music

[John Legg]

Hi all,

im looking for some Drum Music. I would like to have

-Jaybird/firemans QS
-Chain Cotillion - Harem Scarem
-Columbia
-Adam Bell's March
-British Grenadiers - Prince Eugene's March
-Oyster River Hornpipe

I can already play these, i would just like to make sure i have the right beats down.

Thanks

John

[Hardtack Herring]

Re: Music

You will find the beatings to all the tunes you listed here......

http://www.fifedrum.org/resources/music/

[33rdaladrummer]

Re: Music

"I can already play these, i would just like to make sure i have the right beats down. "

This depends on what you mean by "the right beats." These are "the right beats" if you want to play at an "ancient fife and drum" muster or jam session, but not at a civil war reenactment. Be careful, as most of the beats found in the company of fifers and drummers music books are not in the Civil War style. For the ones you asked about, the following are period or are in the period style:

Harem Scarem
British Grenadiers
Prince Eugene's March

The beats found on http://www.fifedrum.org/resources/music/ for the following tunes are not appropriate for CW reenactments:

Jaybird/ Firemans QS
Chain Cotillion
Adam Bell's March
Oyster River Hornpipe

Some clues that will tell you that a particular beat is not period are:

1. Extended rests on the snare drum
2. Bass drum solos
3. Rudimental combinations not found in the period manuals

There are actually several period drum manuals being reproduced including:

Howe 1861
Hart 1862
Bruce-Emmett 1862(although there is little evidence that very many copies were actually produced during the war)


All of these are available at www.beafifer.com. Some you can view online at www.fifedrum.org. If you can get in contact with George Carroll, he has editions of Hart and Bruce-Emmett which have the interpretations/sticking. His company's name is Carroll's Drum Service.

For the tunes for which there is no period beating available, it is best to use a period beating that goes with another tune or by "cutting and pasting" from period beats. There is a dvd called "Echoes of the Blue and the Gray" that has footage of CW veteran drummers and fifers. They play the Army 2-4 for nearly every tune.

If you need any help locating/adapting period beats, let me know. I will be happy to help.

Will Chappell, drummer
33rd Alabama Infantry
Liberty Hall Fifes and Drums
Fort McHenry Guard Field Music