Music

Since our reorganization in 1992 there has been an abundance of printed fife and drum music available. Back in the 1950s fife music was fairly available but drum music was hard to come by. The Veteran Fifer music book was the fifer's Bible.The drummers relied on two good books available on self-teaching drumming by two well known patriarchs and wonderful gentlemen: J. Burns Moore and Gus Moeller. These two books gave a limited number of tunes with drum scores and also included drumline standards such as Connecticut Halftime and the Downfall of Paris. Otherwise, drummers were left to write their own arrangements to accompany fife tunes. Back in the 1950s Buck Soistman would sit through the same movies several times to copy down the drum music for tunes like Gary Owen and Northwest Passage.

Currently Monumental City has adopted the first and second volume of music compiled and printed by the Company of Fifers and Drummers as our first source of music. These books are a wonderful collection of "historical, traditional, and contemporary music". They are a great place for the beginning fifer or drummer to turn to learn tunes that are known from Maine to Florida and everywhere in between. There are also books available that feature only historically accurate songs. There is room in fife and drum for tradition and evolution. Monumental City endeavors to play and perpetuate the Ancient style of fifing and drumming. Accordingly, we strive to stay as close as possible to the traditional meter and arrangements.

Visit one of these sites to look for music, instruments, and other great fife and drum essentials.

The Company of Fifers & Drummers
The Old Glory Drum Shop
Cooperman Fife and Drum Company
Fife and Drum.com
Fife and Drum Online
Be a Fifer