Fife and drum corps

Fifes originally accompanied companies of soldiers, providing music while on the march and in camp.

It became customary for each company of 100 or so men to be assigned 2 fifers and 2 drummers to sound signals, hours and alarms, as well as play popular music on the march.

This is referring back to the segregation of the fifes and drums as a separate entity from a military band.

They signaled when the troops should rise in the morning and retire at night, when to eat, when to assemble, and to sound an alarm.

They are a fine representation of what a fife and drum corps would have looked and sounded like during the mid-eighteenth century when company fifers and drummers came together as a single unit for marches, trooping of the colors, and parades.

Modern non-military Fife and Drum Corps are organizations with volunteer or paid performers.

[citation needed] Revenue is obtained through fundraising and by performing in town and city parades.

Songs are chosen based on a number of criteria, and can include both historically significant music and new pieces specifically composed or arranged to be played on fife and drum.

Most fife and drum corps march in parades, perform at concerts, in festivals and state fairs, and expositions.

[citation needed] Some fife and drum corps focus on interpreting a specific time period and portray field musicians of the era at living history events and reenactments.

Uniforms often consist of tricorns or cocked hats, waistcoats, knickers (knee breeches) or gaitered trousers, ruffled cuffs, neck stocks, and buckled shoes similar those by the Continental Army or Marines.