Fife & Drum and DRAM in the News

Here's a news article that was included recently in a local paper featuring fife and drum and the Deep River Ancient Muster: http://americanprofile.com/articles/fife-drum-corps/ Plus, we get mentioned at the end. :)

-PB

Early Fife and Drum Recordings

The Corps of Artillery Field Music from Fort McHenry has some of the earliest recordings of fife and drum music (from around 1900) on their website: http://www.fortmchenryguard.org/corps-of-artillery-field-music/51-some-of-the-earliest-fife-and-drum-recordings-.html Pretty interesting...

-P.B.

 Memor!

Recollections of the Fifers' and Drummers' Duties

Here is another quote taken from Drum Taps in Dixie: Memories of a Drummer Boy, 1861-1865 (published in 1905), by Delavan S. Miller, from pages 20-22.

It is hardly to be wondered at that the drummer boys of the 60s got to be very proficient in the handling of the sticks, for when in camp they were having practice from early morn until late at night, and many a time they had to get out in the night and beat the "long roll" for ten or fifteen minutes.

They were the early risers of the camps, too, for at daybreak the fifers and drummers of a regiment would all assemble and sound the reveille, which was several minutes exercise of the most vigorous kind.

The following verses on the reveille were written by a soldier, Michael O'Connor, a sergeant in the 140th New York, and have been pronounced by competent critics as among the "finest lyric lines in the language."

SONG OF THE DRUMS.
"The morning is cheery, my boys, arouse!
The dew shines bright on the chestnut boughs,
And the sleepy mist on the river lies,
Though the east is flushed with crimson dyes.
Awake! Awake! Awake!
O'er field and wood and brake,
With glories newly born,
Comes on the blushing morn,
Awake! Awake!" 

"You have dreamed of your homes and friends all night,
You have basked in your sweetheart's smiles so bright;
Come part with them all for a while again—
Be lovers in dreams; when awake be men.
Turnout! Turnout! Turnout!
The east is all aglow,
Turn out! Turn out!" 

"From every valley and hill there come
The clamoring voices of fife and drum;
And out in the fresh, cool morning air
The soldiers are swarming everywhere.
Fall in! Fall in! Fall in!
Every man in his place.
Fall in! Fall in! Fall in!
Each with a cheerful face.
Fall in! Fall in!"

The next duty of the fifers and drummers was to sound the sick call. The boys made up some appropriate verses which I cannot recall except one line:

"Come and get your quinine, quinine, quinine."

The drummers were active participants in the guard mounting exercises which took place about 9 o'clock in the morning, and usually there was from one to two hours' practice among the musicians in the forenoon, which was repeated in the afternoon unless there was a battalion drill, in which case they took part in the maneuvers of the troops.

Their next duty was at dress parade, where they took a prominent part in what is the most pleasing and spectacular affair of the day.

At 9 o'clock they assemble again and beat the tattoo for the evening roll call, and fifteen minutes later taps are sounded and the day's duties are ended.

In a camp there were always some heavy sleepers and it was the business of the drummers in beating the morning reveille to make noise enough to awake them. Many a time have I seen a fellow rush out of his tent attired in nothing but shirt, drawers and cap and take his place in the ranks hardly in time to answer "here" when his name was called.

The observation he makes at the beginning is one that I have thought on before when some people assume that historic fifers and drummers were bad or amateur musicians. They were professionals! They did this everyday and practiced more than any of us have time to practice. And as you can see, they were also creative.

-Peter B.

 Memor!

The Fife and Drum of the Old Days

The following quote is taken from Drum Taps in Dixie: Memories of a Drummer Boy, 1861-1865 (published in 1905) pages 23-24.

Fife and drum have been heard in every camp and upon all of the battlefields of the world. And for a marching column there is nothing like martial music of the good old-fashioned kind, such as inspired the continental heroes at Lexington, Yorktown and Bunker Hill, and rallied the boys of '61, and later led them in all the marches through the South.

Martial music seems to have gone out of fashion in these up-to-date days, and what little there is, is but a poor apology, with the bugle blasts interjected between the rub-a-dub-dubs of the drummers who hardly know their a b c's about snare drumming.

I have heard but one good drum corps since the war, and that was at the G. A. R. gathering at Buffalo a few years ago. An old time drum corps, who styled themselves the "Continentals" were present. It was composed of veterans over 70 years of age, and, say, they could double discount any other organization present.

Many of the crack brass bands of the country were there, but they were not in it with the old martial band. Their music—mind the expression, "music"—caught on with all the swell people of the city who thronged the camp waiting for an opportunity to hear them, and the veterans went wild as they heard again the reveille and tattoo and the old familiar strains of "Yankee Doodle," "The Girl I Left Behind Me," "Rory O'More," "The Campbells Are Coming," "Hail to the Chief," and many other reminders of the old days.

The History of Fife and Drum in Three Minutes

There is much more history of the fife and drum that I could have included, but here's a brief overview. (I only had a few minutes to prepare.) This was at the Parker Civil War Living History Days in Parker, CO last Saturday. We joined forces with the Mile High Fife and Drum Corps for the event.

-Peter B.
Memor!

Junior Fife and Drum Camp, 2012

Last week three of us went to the Company of Fifers and Drummers’ Junior Fife and Drum Camp. This was my (Peter) seventh time at the camp, and the last time due to aging-out, and was the second time for John and Thomas. It was held in Ivoryton, Connecticut the week prior to the Deep River Ancient Muster, the largest fife and drum muster in America (I’ll be posting about the muster next post). The camp had 90-some fifers and drummers from around the states (mostly the north-east, but including California, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, etc...). We had a great time playing, learning, and listening to the fife and drum for the week.

This year we learned some of the music of the Connecticut Yanks Fife and Drum Corps, a corps from the 1960s-70s very influential in the fife and drum tradition. We actually had former members of the corps teach us at camp, as well as tell stories of fife and drum 35-50 years ago. You can see pictures from camp and listen to the original Yanks on their Facebook page. This completed a three-year series at camp where we had also learned music from the Sons of Liberty Ancient Fife and Drum Corps and the New York Regimental Fife and Drum Band (both from the mid-1900s). We have found it helpful to see the way the fife and drum tradition has been handed down from generation to generation, giving more motivation to see it continue to advance in our own time and beyond.

At the end of camp we performed the music at the Deep River Muster on Friday night. Here is video of most of the performance:

Hark! Can you hear the drum resounding? 

Can you hear the bass drum’s mallet pounding? 

Can you hear the fife’s clear melodic shrieks? 

Though the hills and valleys, ponds and creeks?

-Peter

 Memor!

The Titanic 100

Over this last weekend we performed at The Titanic 100: An International Centennial Event, held in Branson, Missouri. As its title says, it was in commemoration of the sinking of the Titanic, one hundred years ago. It sank April 15, 1912 (April 14th Central Standard Time). You might be wondering what our fife and drum corps was doing at an event centered around a time exactly one hundred years after our time period. We also wondered a little at first, but here are a few reasons:

1. Fife and Drum and Celebrations in General

One way I like to say it is that fife and drum is the uniquely American outworking of the biblical principle of Numbers 10:1-10 (see my earlier post concerning this here: http://westernplainsfifeanddrumcorps.blogspot.com/2011/12/fife-and-drum-in-bible.html). Basically, the fife and drum works for almost all events and celebrations as our way of commemoration and festivities. This is especially true for outdoor or larger events where the volume and stateliness of the fife and drum are needed. Not to exclude other instruments, but it really can add a bit to these kinds of event.

2. Fife and Drum and the Time Period of the Titanic

While we reenact the fife and drums of the late 1700s and early 1800s, there were many fifers and drummers active around the time of the Titanic. Fife and drum saw an increase in popularity after the War Between the States with all the veterans coming home with these unique musical skills. Many civilian corps imitating the military style (like us) were formed in the following years. Earlier I wrote about my finding old newspapers that referred to a George W. Cook Fife and Drum Corps from Denver, CO that played in 1900 at the Republican Convention where Theodore Roosevelt ended up being nominated the Vice President (he went on to become President after President McKinney's assassination). 1912 found Roosevelt running again for the Presidency, and he and his rival, William H. Taft, had many friends on the Titanic.

3. Fife and Drum and Our Local Contribution to the Ideals of the Titanic

This was the "International Centennial Event" and I think we added to this feel by representing Missouri and the surrounding areas in our contribution to the virtues of sacrifice and manhood. When we get specific, we reenact the Missouri Territorial Militia of the War of 1812. They were ordinary men from different walks of life that gave up their time, comfort, money, and sometimes their lives, to protect their women, children, and homes from Indian attacks.

Most likely people only recognized the first reason, but regardless, it was a great event to attend and to perform at. The Titanic represents the power of the progressive era and the coming of modernity, and the heroism of the people on the sinking Titanic represents one of the last stands of the older Western civilization. It is indeed an important historical event to be remembered.

Thomas was a bit tired at the end :)

Driving around the Ozarks

-Peter B.

Memor!

Fife & Drum in Art: The Militia Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch

Here is a painting, titled The Militia Company of Frans Banning Cocq and Willem van Ruytenburch (also known as The Night Watch), which has a drummer in it (the very right of the picture). It was painted by Rembrandt van Rijn in 1642. It shows what a Dutch militia company would have looked like being called to arms by the drummer during that time, and the drummer and his drum are very similarity to what we do in fife and drum today. After the Glorious Revolution in 1688 there was a Dutch influence on Britain, and it is likely that it influenced fife and drum as well.

For more information on the painting, and for several other Dutch militia paintings see: http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/aria/aria_assets/SK-C-5?lang=en&context_space=aria_catalogs&context_id=Term_00027329_en

-Peter B.

 Memor!

Chester (Video)

Here we sing a song named Chester. Chester was used somewhat of a "national anthem" (although they would not have used the word "national") as it was played at least in the Continental army for opening and closing ceremonies and official functions. For many fifers and drummers this is one of the first songs learned on those instruments. It's neat to sometimes see the musical and historical context of the tunes we play on fife and drum. This musical arrangement is typical from that time period and is taken from the Sacred Harp. In the video, we sing the first verse, but here are all the words:

Chester
by William Billings

Let tyrants shake their iron rods,
And Slav'ry clank her galling chains.
We fear them not, we trust in God.
New Columbia's God forever reigns.

Howe and Burgoyne and Clinton, too,
With Prescott and Cornwallis joined,
Together plot our overthrow,
In one infernal league combined.

When God inspired us for the fight,
Their ranks were broke, their lines were forced,
Their ships were shattered in our sight,
Or swiftly driven from our coast.

The foe comes on with haughty stride,
Our troops advance with martial noise;
Their vet'rans flee before our youth,
And gen'rals yield to beardless boys.

What grateful off'ring shall we bring,
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud hallelujahs let us sing,
And praise his name on ev'ry chord!

Lambeg Drums

I stumbled upon another fife and drum tradition that I did not know about before, and it involves really big bass drums called Lambeg drums. They are played by the Protestant Scot-Irish in northern Ireland. From what I can tell the origin of the drums is a little fuzzy, but there is some connection with King William of Orange who saved the Covenanters in Ireland from persecution in the 1680s. They seem to have become more popular in their present state in the early to mid-1800s. While I still like American fife and drum better, its neat to see another fife and drum tradition, especially among the Scot-Irish whose emigrants in America did so much for the cause of liberty.

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

The George W. Cook Fife and Drum Corps of Denver

I found two old newspapers that mention the George W. Cook Fife and Drum Corps, from Denver, CO. They appear to be Union veterans from the Civil War. Here are the mentions:

From the Philadelphia Record, 1900. It appears to be recording the events of the Republican Convention where they were determining their presidential nominee. Theodore Roosevelt ended up being the Vice President, and then President when McKinney was assassinated. This clip has a picture of the corps. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LNBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wEANAAAAIBAJ&pg=1659,1074362&dq=fife+and+drum&hl=en

From the Democrat and Standard, 1902. It mentions the corps in an article on the 36th annual encampment for the veteran's of the Grand Army of the Republic in Washington D. C. It calls the corps "One of the most famous organizations of its kind in the country." http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZxNmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u48NAAAAIBAJ&pg=7195,1914009&dq=fife+and+drum+corps+denver&hl=en

So Colorado does have a history of fife and drum!

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

Fife and Drum Played by...Indians?

And you thought you had heard everything. I came across this reference while reading the book, My Father, Daniel Boone: The Draper Interviews with Nathan Boone. As the title says, it is a series of interviews with the son of Daniel Boone, Nathan Boone, and in the section on the War of 1812, Nathan (who was an officer of the Missouri Rangers during the war) makes an interesting comment during his description of the Battle of the Sinkhole (1815, Fort Howard, near present day Old Monroe, MO) which says that the Indians played fife and drum!

"Soon after [Captain] Musick's arrival, the Indians broke up. One half of them retreated, while the other half took a post in a large sinkhole about fifty or sixty feet in diameter and some ten or twelve feet deep. Where a lower strata of rocks appeared, there was a cave....Captain Musick ordered his men to surround the sinkhole; however, to his surprise, he discovered the Indians were quite secure there and could fire on him with little or no exposure. He tried cannon fire but with no effect. Then a moving battery was prepared, placed on the foreweels of a wagon, and pushed up to fire through portholes in the battery. When the Indians fired at the portholes, Lieutenant Spears and one or two others were killed and some wounded. Some were shot in the legs, which were exposed by the opening beneath the battery. The Indians took refuge in the cave where they had a drum and fife. They kept playing and shooting. This continued till dusk...all the Indians departed. About seven or eight Indians were found dead on the battle ground and in the sinkhole, but about twelve white soldiers were killed or wounded. This was called the Battle of the Sinkhole." (emphasis added)

It was found out later that this party of Indians was led by none other then Black Hawk (who played an important part in the later Blackhawk War). This was one of the last battles of the War of 1812.

I do not know how to explain how the Indians learned to play fife and drum. Perhaps they learned from the British/Canadians that they were supported by. Perhaps these were stolen fifes/drums from American soldiers. I wonder what music they played. Whatever the case, it is an intriguing incident, and shows something of the commonality of the fife and drum in those days.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

Fife and Drum in the Bible

The fife and drum stand in a long tradition of loud instruments have been used to signal, especially for military functions. In the Bible, while they didn't have fife and drum, silver trumpets were specially made for this same purpose. It is easy to see the same Puritans who used the drum to call the people to church and to war finding these verses and making the connection.

Here in Numbers 10:1-10 we see various signals used. There are different calls for assembling the congregation, or for assembling the rulers. There were different calls to be used to move camp. It was used in a certain way in battle, and it was used in the feasts and thanksgivings, to mark the months and the different sacrifices and offerings. The priests were given the duty of blowing the trumpets. Here are the verses:

"The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. And when both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the entrance of the tent of meeting. But if they blow only one, then the chiefs, the heads of the tribes of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. When you blow an alarm, the camps that are on the east side shall set out. And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out. But when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow a long blast, but you shall not sound an alarm. And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations. And when you go to war in your land against the adversary who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, that you may be remembered before the LORD your God, and you shall be saved from your enemies. On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings. They shall be a reminder of you before your God: I am the LORD your God.'" (Numbers 10:1-10 ESV)

The Bible also mentions using trumpets when the Israelites marched around Jericho (Joshua 6:20), when Gideon fought against the Midianite invaders (Judges 7), when Jehoiada the priest resisted the usurper Athaliah by placing the rightful king, King Joash, on the throne (2 Kings 11:13-14, that's a great story by the way), and in several other places. In 1 Corinthians 14:8 it uses the illustration, "And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?"


It's really amazing how similar this is to the way the fife and drum have been used. What we do when we play our music is not a recent invention, nor is it something that has been regarded as extra. To play the fife and drum, like playing the silver trumpets, is to move the hearts and actions of man and to send a cry to God. This had been something reserved to the descendants of Aaron, but now we have the honor to carry on this tradition.

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

Elizabethan Fife and Drum

Since we live in Elizabeth, CO, and are hence "Elizabethan" I was delighted to see the following quote. It is taken from the book, Connecticut's Fife and Drum Tradition, by James Clark.

"Both fife and drum are recorded among the instruments providing dinner music for Elizabeth I (regnant 1558-1603)...According to a contemporary report, 'Elizabeth used to be regaled during dinner with twelve trumpets and two kettle-drums; which, together with fifes, cornets, and side drums [the military snare drum played on the drummer's left side], made the hall ring for half an hour together'".

-Peter Bringe
 Memor!

The Louisiana Territorial Militia

The following information is the official record of the Militia of the Louisiana Territory from 1811 (which included all the Louisiana purchase except what is now Louisiana, which then was Orleans Territory). It is taken from the American state papers: Documents, legislative and executive of the Congress of the United States ..., Part 5, Volume 1 Take special note of the musicians mentioned (fifers and drummers for infantry, bugles for cavalry).

No. 103, 11^th Congress, 3^rd Session 

The Militia, Communicated to Congress, February 20, 1811.

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States:

I lay before Congress a return of the Militia of the United States, as receives by the Department of War, from the several States and Territories.

-James Madison 

Louisiana Territorial Militia

General and Field Staff

Brigadier Generals: 1

Adjutant Generals: 1

Aide-de-Camps: 1

Brigade Majors & Inspectors: 1

Brigade Quartermasters: 1

Field Officers and Regimental Staff

Lieutenant Colonels Commandant: 4

Majors: 12

Adjutants: 5

Quartermasters: 2

Paymasters: 8

Surgeons: 1

Cavalry

Sergeants: 22

Musicians: 4

Dragoons: 225 

Infantry

Captains: 45

Lieutenants: 49

Ensigns: 44

Sergeants: 148

Musicians: 13

Rank and File: 1,948

Total number, including officers, non-commissioned officers, and rank and file: 2,540

The State with the most musicians in the infantry was New York with 2,911 (it had 76,195 rank and file). It was followed by Massachusetts with 1,858 (56,090 rank and file), Pennsylvania with 1,466 (80,211 rank and file), and North Carolina with 1,047 (40,595 rank and file).

While we don't have records for the Militia of the Missouri Territory (what the Louisiana Territory was renamed after Louisiana became a state) during the War of 1812, the records of the other states and territories show that the Militias grew during the war, including the fifers and drummers. There were 14,158 total musicians in the infantry in the state militias in 1813. That's not even including the regular army! That is a lot of fifers and drummers in a war that many people forget even happened.

-Peter Bringe

Memor!

Chester

The first song that many fifers and drummers learn is Chester. Chester was used somewhat of a "national anthem" (although they would not of used the word "national") as it was played at least in the Continental army for opening and closing ceremonies and official functions. Here are the words:

Chester 

by William Billings

Let tyrants shake their iron rods, 

And Slav'ry clank her galling chains. 

We fear them not, we trust in God. 

New Columbia's God forever reigns. 

Howe and Burgoyne and Clinton, too, 

With Prescott and Cornwallis joined, 

Together plot our overthrow, 

In one infernal league combined. 

When God inspired us for the fight, 

Their ranks were broke, their lines were forced, 

Their ships were shattered in our sight, 

Or swiftly driven from our coast. 

The foe comes on with haughty stride, 

Our troops advance with martial noise; 

Their vet'rans flee before our youth, 

And gen'rals yield to beardless boys. 

What grateful off'ring shall we bring, 

What shall we render to the Lord? 

Loud hallelujahs let us sing, 

And praise his name on ev'ry chord! 

-Peter Bringe

  Memor!

History of Fife and Drum Music

Below is a link to a fine article on the history of use of fife and drum done by the Kentish Guards F&DC. I'm sorry that I am just linking to articles and not writing them, but its hard to spend the time when there are already good articles out there. Hopefully this is still helpful.

Here is the link: http://www.kentishguards.org/fifendrumhistory.htm

-Peter Bringe
Memor!

P. S. I take issue with the first sentance, but the rest is great.

The Drum of Bunker Hill

Here is an interesting story of a drum that was captured at the battle of Bunker Hill from the book "American Drums of War" by George Carroll:

"The English lad who carried the drum when the British made their first attack on Breed's Hill was shot down by the first volley from the Continental trenches, and the drum itself riddled with bullets. After the second assault, and while the Redcoats were being rallied for their third and successful assault, one of the Rhode Island soldiers climbed over the entrenchments and brought back the drum. When the American ammunition failed and the defenders were driven from the trenches by the British, the drum was carried in retreat over Charleston Neck, and safely brought into the American camp. Whether the original captor had been slain, or [what other arrangement made] is somewhat obscure, but the Rhode Islanders finally drew lots for the drum. The lucky chance fell to Levi Smith, drummer-boy of the Rhode Island Regiment, who had followed General Nathaniel Greene to Massachusetts. On his first furlough he took the drum home to Providence, repaired it, and then carried it through the balance of his service in the Revolution."

After the war the drum was eventually passed down to Levi's oldest son, Israel. When the War of 1812 came around Israel marched off to war like his father, carrying the same drum that had drummed for and against the British before. A great story of muti-generational honor. Reminds me of the following song:

The Sword of Bunker Hill

He lay upon his dying bed;
His eyes were growing dim,
When with a feeble voice he called
His weeping son to him:
Weep not, my boy! The vet'ran said,
I bow to Heav'ns high will,
But quickly from yon antlers bring
The Sword of Bunker Hill.
But quickly from yon antlers bring
The Sword of Bunker Hill.

The sword was brought, the soldier's eye
Lit with a sudden flame;
And as he grasped the ancient blade,
He murmured Warren's name;
Then said My boy, I leave you gold
But what is richer still,
I leave you, mark me, mark me now,
The Sword of Bunker Hill.
I leave you, mark me, mark me now,
The Sword of Bunker Hill.

Twas on that dread immortal day,
I dared the Briton's hand,
A captain raised this blade on me
I tore it from his hand;
And while the glorious battle raged,
It lighted freedom's will
For, boy, the God of freedom bless'd
The Sword of Bunker Hill.
For, boy, the God of freedom bless'd
The Sword of Bunker Hill.

O keep the sword, his accents broke
A smile and he was dead;
His wrinkled hand still grasped the blade
Upon that dying bed.
The son is gone; the sword remains,
It's glory growing still;
And eighty millions bless the sire,
The Sword of Bunker Hill.
And eighty millions bless the sire,
The Sword of Bunker Hill.

-William Ross Wallace

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

The Drumme in the 30 Years War

Here are some quotes from the book "Monro, His Expedition with the Worthy Scots Regiment Called Mac-Keys", written in 1637 as part history of the Regiment in the 30 Years War, part instruction for "all worthie Cavaliers favouring the laudable profession of Armes."

Part of "our Fight at Leipsigh"

"... but the smoake being great, the dust being raised, we were as in a darke cloude, not seeing the halfe of our actions, much less discerning, either the way of our enemies, or yet the rest of our Briggads: whereupon, having a drummer by me, I caused him beate the Scots March, till it cleered up, which recollected our friends unto us, and dispersed our enemies being overcome; so that the Briggad coming together, such as were alive missed their dead and hurt Camerades."

"the exercising of the Squadron of Pikes"

"Your Squadron of Pikes as they ought to march with the Drumme; so they ought to obey the Drumme beating a Troope, a Charge, a Call, a Retreate. As also to traile their Pikes, to make reverence with the Pike being shouldred: and your Squadron of Pikes being but six deepe in Rancke, your Files may be so many, as can well heare your voyce in Command, providing there be no odd File; and thus well orderd at their open order of six foote distance, command to mount their Pikes, then calling for a Drumme beside you, let him beate a march, then they are to shoulder their Pikes, flat or slaunt carried, and then to marcha little, let your Drumme againe beate a Troope, then they mount their Pikes and troope away fast or slow, as your passe leades them stopping, or advancing as you doe, then let your Drumme beate a Charge, then they charge their Pikes and advance fast or slow, as you lead them, and retire also backwards, their Pikes charged as you will have them, then troope againe, and they mount their Pikes, march and shoulder; and halting, let the Drumme beate againe, and they order their Pikes on the ground as first, being at their distance, and trooping againe they mount their Pikes, so that you can command them to Battell order or closse order, for Wheeling or Counter-marching at your owne pleasure."

"The forty-two Observation; being the last."

"To conclude then this Observation; since God hath made me poore by the want of my Friends, I finde no other remedie, but to inrich my selfe in being content with his will; being perswaded, as they have gone the way before me, I must needs follow, and then others by my example must learne to be contented to want me: And though I leave them poore, they can be rich in God being content; For, we are neither rich nor poore by what we possesse, but by what we desire."

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!

The Fife and Drum and... Cowboys?

Here is an old Cowboy ballad that originates in a British folk song of the late 18th century called "The Unfortunate Rake". Because of its origins, it mixed fife and drum with cowboys. 

The Streets of Laredo

As I walked out in the streets of Laredo

As I walked out in Laredo one day,

I spied a young cowboy, all wrapped in white linen

Wrapped up in white linen and cold as the clay.

"I see by your outfit, that you are a cowboy."

These words he did say as I slowly walked by.

"Come sit down beside me and hear my sad story,

For I'm shot in the chest, and today I must die."

Chorus: "Oh, beat the drum slowly and play the fife lowly,

And play the dead march as you carry me along;

Take me to the valley, and lay the sod o'er me,

For I'm a young cowboy and I know I've done wrong."

"'Twas once in the saddle I used to go dashing,

'Twas once in the saddle I used to go gay.

First down to Rosie's, and then to the card-house,

Got shot in the breast, and I'm dying today."

 Chorus

"Go bring me a cup, a cup of cold water.

To cool my parched lips", the cowboy then said.

Before I returned, his soul had departed,

And gone to the round up - the cowboy was dead.

 Chorus

-Peter Bringe

 Memor!