Maine - Fife & Drum Corps

Fife & Drum Corps

Fife and Drum Corps in Maine In Colonial America the armed forces consisted mainly of citizen soldiers. These men would gather -- or muster – periodically to practice their skills. Each community usually had a fifer and a drummer to provide marching music for the local militia. During battle, fifes and drums signaled troop movement. At camp, the music provided entertainment for the soldiers.

Today’s fife and drum corps are still comprised local citizens dedicated to preserving the ancient art and music of the fife and drums. Musical selections are drawn from many sources, some predating 1800, and include marches, dances, and cheerful tunes. Popular selections include “Yankee Doodle,” “The Girl I Left Behind Me,” and “The Road to Boston.”

Uniforms worn by the fife and drum corps are a source of pride and distinction. Drummers and fifers had special status in the militia signalers and non-combatants; their uniforms usually were the reverse of the regiments’ colors. Some of today’s fife and drum corps wear clothing of the 18th century and others wear dress common of the American Civil War period and later.

Fife and Drum Corps perform in parades, reenactments, musters, and encampments. A muster is a gathering of several corps with a parade in the morning followed by individual performances by each participating corps. When all corps have performed, it is customary for some members of each corps to mass and play common fife and drum tunes.

Check the websites of the individual corps for information about their public appearances.

Company A, 3rd Maine Regiment Volunteer Infantry Fife and Drum Corps
Contact: Roger Beverage
Auburn, ME
Phone: 207-846-9616

In the Civil War fifers and drummers, along with buglers, made up the field music of a regiment. It is important not to confuse the field music with bands. The latter was composed of a number of wind instruments, primarily brass, along with drums and the occasional stringed instrument. The field music was an integral part of a soldier's daily life. The fifers, drummers, and buglers played musical pieces which were used as signals in camp for formations and other activities--reveille, assembly, meal calls, to the colors, the troop, the tattoo, etc. The drummers often provided the cadence when the troops were on the march, and the field music was used to relay orders on the field during battle. The presence of smoke and noise often meant that only the musicians could quickly relay orders for any distance.

The musicians of the 3rd Maine Fife & Drum have attained a reputation unequaled among today's Civil War living historians for the quality and authenticity of their portrayal of Civil War musicians. Whether they are preceding the Infantry during parades, urging the men on during battle with stirring period pieces, or participating in musters with other fife and drum units, they are a vital part of our organization. Both novice and experienced musicians are welcome to join.