For those who wonder why this hits such a chord, songs like this one were played in the heat of battle to keep units marching foreword in formation as bullets and bombs were literally flying into them. A song to keep playing even as the drummer or fifer next to you drops dead because they took a musketball to the face.
I went to colonial Williamsburg as a kid in 1993 with my grandmother and the fife and drum corps began playing, marching down the street during our colonial dinner. I ran out in pure excitement. I’ve never forgotten it, 30 years later.
This is part of Colonial Williamsburg. One of the largest living history museums in the world. I’m very certain they know what they’re doing. They’re constantly making new discoveries, and contributing wonderful information vital to the American Revolution.
Sounds inspiring for going into battle and keeping your courage up. Blessed be our colonial ancestors and those who fought for our nation throughtout the history of America.
Historically they didn’t wear red coats according to the army, they wear them today as a “luxury” bit of a slap in the face to the people who died for “america” suck on the flag and pass oldy.
America is ran by red coats, the military acknowledged that the continental army couldn’t afford to wear red coat, and that they do today as a luxury. America is the new red coats… bawl all you want commy
@Dreagostini more like saying no to a corrupt government. I recommend opening a history book and learn about taxation without representation. Move to Canada.
@@cavalierfan2008 first the colonials were less heavy taxed as the general englishman. Second the Empire fought a war FOR the colonials. Third when they had to pay the bill they got mad. Fourth there are still people in the US who are taxed but aren't represented, hypocracy much. So be gone, you ilitaterate "PaTrIoT".
When you understand that such marches were played during battles, when cannonballs and bullets were literally flying at these musicians and everyone around, it becomes really scary, it makes your blood run cold, as people marched to their death.
american history does a lot of effort hiding that they were willing to kill many thousands to dodge taxes and keep slavery. so, this isn't THAT far off XD
I’m not sure this is a time piece during the war. It might be just a showcase for modern ears. The drum and fife would have been used to call men from the bars, for lights out, morning wake up and of course in line up for battles. Usually one drummer and one fife player not a parade. It’s still cool
Yes it is. They also didn’t wear red coat, though it was a British custom to wear opposite colors for the fife and drum regiment, the White House says they couldn’t afford to wear red coat, and that they do today as a luxury…. Skip to 11:00 ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-h4rS4SCGv5s.htmlsi=TMLLeSPP04_nKA_g
@@davidwarner3326WRONG, British drummers wore yellow or gold. The guy in charge of the American military band regiment says the continental army couldn’t afford to wear red coat, and that they do it today as a “luxury”, of the ideal situation….. He goes on to say the British wore gold or yellow.
@@gaymermoment The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), is the oldest active infantry regiment with direct lineage to George Washington's original Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The Old Guard wears uniforms patterned after the Soldiers of 1784. They resemble the continental musicians' uniforms, and they are different than the continental Soldiers' uniforms. "When you see the Fife and Drum Corps marching smartly by, you are struck that they are wearing red coats like the British Army," said Kim Holien, JBM-HH historian. Holien explained how during the Revolutionary War, the fifers and drummers wore the opposite colors of the regiment to which they were a part. "Since the Fife and Drum [Corps] wear red coats with blue facings (facings are the elongated lapels that stretch from the collar all the way down the front of the coat), the regiment to which they were attached were wearing blue coats with red facings. By wearing the reversed colors, the fifers and drummers would hopefully not be deliberately shot by the opposing side since they were in effect unarmed and during the battle would often act as medical personnel to take care of the wounded," said Holien. "Many Revolutionary War battles were fought at a very close range-since the vast majority of Soldiers used smooth bore Brown Bess muskets whose accuracy was such that they could not hit the broad side of a barn door standing next to it," he added. Holien said it was hoped the opposing Soldier would not shoot the fifers and drummers for that reason. The military musician of that time was the signal on the battlefield. When the commander wanted to communicate and give an order to part of his command that was all the way across the field, he grabbed one of the musicians to give the signal to do whatever he wanted. Because there's a lot of confusion on the battlefield, in order to grab the musician quickly, they identified him with a different colored coat. "Fife and Drum Corps members get their custom uniforms here," said Anthony Williams of the JBM-HH Central Issue Facility. "The [wool] uniforms are custom ordered and include the tricorn [hat], shirt, pants, greatcoat, waistcoat [vest], sash, shoes epaulettes and white wig." Williams said the CIF also issues the Continental Color Guard uniform. "These Old Guard uniforms were supplied by a vendor from West Point, N.Y., until they closed. We were able to find a vendor at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., so we could continue supplying these historical uniforms."
@@christopherross9509and that historically the continental army did NOT wear red coat, due to funding issues, and that they wear red coat today as a “luxury” of the ideal situation…..
@aureliancaesar7285 oh that's cool! I didn't know that. Old Fritz was awesome! I know the story about the potatoes and what Napoleon said about "if this man were still alive, gentlemen would not be in Berlin!". I remember visiting Sanssouci when I visited family in Berlin, but I was a dumb teenager back then.
I couldn't make it out, either: The tune is BLACK BEAR, a famous bagpipe tune often associated with calling the troops in to their barracks for the night. The Scots just give a shout.
These are actually American musicians. Musicians wore inverted colors so instead of blue coats and red facings like American troops they had Red coats and blue facings.
@@kontech8138WRONG buddy. Historically they couldn’t afford to wear red coat. Wearing the opposite color was a British custom anyway, the very thing the Americans didn’t want, British customs…. Skip to 11:00 and learn for yourself from the White House. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-h4rS4SCGv5s.htmlsi=TMLLeSPP04_nKA_g
@@americancowboyfromwyoming6720 It was a civil war between Brits. All the subsequent waves of immigration have overwhelmed the British influence in America. However the shadows of Britain still hang heavy over America if you look hard enough
Because during the Revolutionary War (and, later), the coats of the musicians would be reversed colours so as to be easily identifiable by officers when the musicians are required. The Americans wore reversed coats of the British; not sure whether facings playing a role in the Continental Army or not, but in the British Army, musicians' coats would be opposite the troops' facings. Take the 54th Regiment of Foot in the British Army as an example; their facings were green, so the musicians would wear green coats faced with red (red, because the troops' coats were red).
@Bluegrass Banjo not quite... there was no qualm paying taxes- everyone knew that taxation was fair and necessary. The point of contention was about having representation in England about HOW they were taxed. The Declaratory Act was clear that the American Colonies had no right to representation in parliament, and that they could tax the colonies without their input on what those taxes looked like. Many people in the colonies were frustrated by the lack of representation, and that the taxes seemed to not go towards furthering the empire, but instead went to lining the pockets of a few members of Parliament...
From the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation website: "The Field Music of the Virginia State Garrison Regiment, as the Fifes and Drums of Colonial Williamsburg is formally known, has its precedent in 1778 when the General Assembly established a regiment to protect the capital city of Williamsburg during the Revolutionary War." "Period-accurate uniforms are authentically detailed to the last stitch, with every button and pocket added only after research confirms it belongs there."
@@sirisaacbrock798That was a British custom pip squeak…. The continental army did NOT wear red coat. Skip to 11:00 from the White House ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-h4rS4SCGv5s.htmlsi=TMLLeSPP04_nKA_g
