DRUMS

The role of a Drummer within our Regiment.

The role of the drummer is that of pageantry and unity. The drum is the heartbeat of the regiment and to its tune soldiers march to war (well to the battlefield). The drum is used to move the regiment quickly and efficiently by the senior officers. Orders can be passed using the drum, the orders to march at either advance or shoulder, an order to alert the Soldiers to the threat of Horse, and the orders to charge and retreat.

Your role as a drummer is to correctly be able to play the beats and marches at the correct time and also to march in tune to your own playing (not an easy feat at first). In Newcastle’s Tercio we mainly march collectively to either the English March (the favourite of Charles I) or the March of Foot. On the battlefield the Scots March is generally used for the shortness of phrase, and also the French March as an alternative, as it is easy to hear from a distance and pick up at the correct phrase as the aim as per Bariff is for one beat to be passed through the Tercio. Another role of the drummer is to beat for a parley (temporary truce) should one occur in a battle. The colours drums and senior officers of both sides go forward out of the lines and meet in the middle ground to discuss for example terms for a potential surrender.

In the regimental structure the Drums form part of the colour party and the senior officer is Andrew King who is the Regimental Ensign. The Drums will march with the Regimental Colours on parade and also will form the rallying point on the battlefield with the Ensigns. As the drums form part of the display of the colour party, our drummers dress in the reversed uniform colours of the Regiment, yellow coats instead of blue coats, with blue turnbacks and piping.

Some Drummers also learn to play the fife so if you require further details, copies of marches etc please see me on a campsite.

Vicky Murray - Corporal of Drums.