Cell 37

European Drums 18th to 20th Century

The beating of drums and the constant repetition of a rhythmic melody have always served the three following purposes:

1. to make an announcement or to arouse interest,
2. to call people to a gathering point and
3. to encourage and accompany people while they are working.

Nowadays drums are hardly ever used for these purposes. They are however still used to accompany soldiers while they are marching.
Most of the drums which are not from Basel come from the Bernoulli collection; they were used primarily for military purposes. This collection contains a wide variety of rope- and screw-tensioned drums from numerous cantons, from the Swiss army and from Bavaria, Prussia, France and England. There are also a few drums from Russia and Ireland.
The difference between the screw-tensioned and the rope-tensioned drums is based on the way the two skins are stretched.
Both the political purpose of an instrument and its functions are indicated by its paintings, especially by the colors on the hoops, which are determined by a heraldic code.

Introduction cell 37
Two marches (Switzerland)

from the drummers' duty from 1845 for the federal troops

Drummers Inf RS 203/82, dir. Adj. Uof Alex Haefeli

P/C 1983; Gold Records LP 11 183 D
Trommelfeuerwerk

Alex Haefeli (born 1938)
Drummers Felddivision 5

P/C 1996; amos CD5812
Drums in England and France

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Battle, 'First Part' from Wellington's victory or the battle near Vittoria, op. 91
1812

Drums on the English side
The enter English trumpets in E flat, Marcia 'Rule Britannia'

French drums first alone
The enter French trumpets in C, Marcia 'Marlborough'
Schlacht, Sturmmarsch, Andante.

Ensemble Octophoros, dir. Paul Dombrecht
P/C 1988; ACC 8860 D
 
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