In the Military

Because the army, especially the cavalry, liked the results and quality
of the bugle during the Civil War, the bugle was officially adopted by the US
military in 1875.  This event, however, did not mean that fifes and drums would
no longer be used.  As late as 1917, the fife was still an option for the infantry.
	
In 1927, the 4th Marine Regiment, stationed in Shanghai, China, added a
fife and drum corps, the Fessenden Fifes, to their regiment.  This corps was named
after the American Chairman of the International Settlement, Sterling Fessenden.
Instruments and instruction were provided by a British regiment, the 1st Battalion,
Green Howards, also stationed in Shanghai.  Unfortuantely, shortly before the
outset of the Second World War, field music (including the bugle) was abolished.
Modern radios were much better methods of communication than field music.

In 1960, the army allowed a fife and drum corps to be established in the
3rd U.S. Infantry, but only as a ceremonial corps, not field music.  The Old Guard
Fife and Drum Corps, founded by George Carroll, is still the only remaining corps
in the military.  This corps performs for every Presidential Inaugural Parade, as
well as many other parades, historical events, ambassador events throughout the
world, and many other occasions too.  The Old Guard also hosts a juniors' workshop
for anyone under 20 years of age who plays fife or drum, regardless of skill level.


In the Civilian World
	
After the Civil War, many GAR fife and drum corps were started by veteran
musicians.  The GAR (Grand Army of the Republic) was a veteran organization,
similar to today's VFW.  In 1905, the National Association of Civil War
Musicians, a side organization of the GAR, published a book for the fife, known
as the American Veteran Fifer.  This book is still very widely used today and is
a useful guide for Civil War re-enactors.

There were, however, also many other corps that formed outside the GAR
in the late 19th Century, such as the Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps (formed in
1888).  Over the next several years, the interest in fife and drum spread rapidly,
especially in Connecticut.

In 1965, The Company of Fifers and Drummers was founded to preserve
the history and importance of fife and drum and to unite and create a friendship
of all fifers and drummers.  The Company has not only achieved its goal but
exceeded far beyond it.  There are now corps not only in New England, but all
throughout the nation and the world.  There is a very strong connection that
exists between the US and Switzerland.  Many corps travel back and forth to both
countries for various performances and tours.  One extremely large event, Fasnacht,
held annually in Basel, Switzerland, attracts literally thousands of fifers and
drummers from around the world.  Also, the Company opened a unique museum of
fife and drum related objects in Ivoryton, Connecticut in 1987, that includes, but
is not limited to, authentic instruments, original books and manuscripts, photos,
information regarding past corps, and many recordings.

It was during the Bicentennial, that the next biggest growth of interest
in fife and drum took place.  During those years, countless numbers of corps
began popping up all around the country.  As the years went on into the '80s
and '90s, more and more people began enjoying fife and drum.  There are so many
corps now it's unbelievable, and the number of people becoming fifers or drummers,
whether members in a corps or re-enactors, also continues to grow.  




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