Heartbeat of Battle
During the American Revolution, communication was not like it is today. There are no radios. So, how does a general communicate his orders to 17,000 troops ready for battle? Music. There is a need for instrumentation that could be heard over large areas. The Fife was chosen because it is a high-pitched sound that the human ear can easily pick up. At the other end of the spectrum, the drum was chosen for its low bass sound that could also be easily picked up by the human ear.
Each command had its own tune. Soldiers would know when to turn right, turn left, reload, fire, and cease fire, all based on which music was playing by the Fife and Drum Corps.
For the general to give his orders to the musicians, he would have tofind them easily among his soldiers. If the fighting soldiers wore blue coats with red cuffs, the fife and drum corps wore red coats with blue cuffs. This made them stand out and easily recognizable. Wearing the colors opposite of the fighting soldiers also alerted the enemy that these people were not armed and of no threat.
Musicians do not get nearly enough credit for the important role they played during the war. They were the Heartbeat of Battle.
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Camera: Cannon Rebel T6
Aperture: F11
Shutter Speed: 1/1250
ISO: 1600
Exposure Bias: 0
Focal Length: 80mm
Mode: Aperture Priority
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All content by
Keith J. Fisher
©2020
Grazie Santangelo.
All Rights Reserved.
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