The Music of the His Majesty's Fifth Regiment of Foot consisted of Fifes and Drums. There would have been two fifes and one drum with the Grenedier Company, and then one drum per company within the remainder of the Regiment. These Fifers and Drummers would help to keep cadence on the march, give commands on the field of battle, and help to entertain the troops while in camp.
In camp, the Musicians acted as the time keepers for the Regiment. The "Duty Signals" from the fifes and/or drums would tell the soldiers when to get up, when to assemble, when to eat, when to go get wood or water, when to pack it in for the night, and many more. However, the musicans main role while in camp was to keep the soldiers in good spirits. The fifers and drummers would gatter together and perform "concerts" of various popular tunes for the troops, and the troops would sing along. Some of these tunes include "Yankee Doodle" (Yes - this was a song played by the Crown Forces that actually mocked the colonies in the early days of the war. There are some accounts of the tune being played as the British Column marched on to Concord after the "skirmish" on Lexington Greene.), "Men of Harlick", "Paddy Whack", and "British Grenediers" just to name a few.
While on the field of battle, the musicans were considered non-combatents, and therefore, the rules of war at the time concluded that any killing of musicians was of bad concience, and the most dire of concequesnce would be thus forth coming upon the perpetrator. This rule was not steadfastly followed, due to the fact that muskets were not very accurate weapons, and people realized at a very early stage in the war, that musicians where the ones relaying commands on the field, since the fife and drums, were more readily heard over the sounds of cannons, and musket file, than the human voice. The Fifth actually lost Two Drummers at the Battle of Breeds Hill in Charlestown, on June 17th 1775.
When the British Column was on the march, the musicans of each company would gather together in roughly the middle of the regiment, to play tunes, and to keep cadence for the regiment. This also helped to keep the moral of the troops up, on what could turn out to be a long a very long march.
The Fifers and Drummers of the modern day recreation of the His Majesty's Fifth Regiment of Foot has had the opportunity to march in the Prestegious "Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade" with the Field Music of the American Revolution on November 25th, 1999, the Evening Tatoo at the "Westbrook Fife and Drum Muster" in August of 1999, and the "Grand Illumination Celebration" at Colonial Williamsburg in December of 2001. We were also heavily involved with Battle Road 2000, by participating in over 95% of the events that took place over the weekend of April 14-17, 2000. We particpate in numerous parades, battle re-enactments, and Living History demonstrations each year.
If you are interested in this style of music, fifers and drummers are commodities that are unfortunately in short supply. You will have an opportunity to improve you skills, learn the regimental music, and take part in the battle re-enactments. If you would like more information, on the fife or drum, please feel free to contact Fife Major Russ Moore with any questions or comments that you may have.
