| "Pre 1650's Music for Marching Dancing or Singing" |
This page of our website has been developed to focus on the earliest period of drum and fife playing in England. The fife seems to have been adopted by about 1540, becoming a very popular instrument until being banished from service by Oliver Cromwell after the Civil War.( Fortunately the fife was readopted in 1748 by the Foot Guards and the Green Howards).
We will focus on tunes known to exist and in use before the end of the 17th century. It seems probable that most fifers played by ear rather than from written music which will have led to many variations of the same tune. Where we have found different versions we will publish all variants. The drum parts that we have written are in the style of the English March in the hope that they replicate the sound and style of music played by Drums and Fifes in England in the 16th and 17th Centuries.
Much of the music and research was undertaken by Phil Williams, formally Grenadier Guards and Honourable Artillery Company. Roger Davenport, Honourable Artillery Company and 5th(V)Bn The Queens Regiment, and Carol Jones, Prince Rupert's Bluecoats, The Sealed Knot. Additional music or information for this section of our website is most welcome
We will focus on tunes known to exist and in use before the end of the 17th century. It seems probable that most fifers played by ear rather than from written music which will have led to many variations of the same tune. Where we have found different versions we will publish all variants. The drum parts that we have written are in the style of the English March in the hope that they replicate the sound and style of music played by Drums and Fifes in England in the 16th and 17th Centuries.
Much of the music and research was undertaken by Phil Williams, formally Grenadier Guards and Honourable Artillery Company. Roger Davenport, Honourable Artillery Company and 5th(V)Bn The Queens Regiment, and Carol Jones, Prince Rupert's Bluecoats, The Sealed Knot. Additional music or information for this section of our website is most welcome
1. When The King Enjoys His Own Again
2. Sellengers Round (or The Beginning of The World
3. Newcastle
4. Nonesuch
2. Sellengers Round (or The Beginning of The World
3. Newcastle
4. Nonesuch
Click on Music Sheets
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5. Sir Thomas Fairfax March
6. Ruperts Retreat
7. Col John Gwyns Song
8. Prince Rupert March
9. Trumpet Tune
6. Ruperts Retreat
7. Col John Gwyns Song
8. Prince Rupert March
9. Trumpet Tune
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March Playing is When The King Enjoys His Own No 1 &51.
10. When Cannons Are Roaring
11. We Be Soldiers Three
12. The Owl.
11. We Be Soldiers Three
12. The Owl.
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13. Gathering Peascods.
14. Goddesses.
15. All in A Garden Green.
16. Sedauny or Dargason.
14. Goddesses.
15. All in A Garden Green.
16. Sedauny or Dargason.
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17. Cuckolds All In A Row Or Hey Boys Up Go We.
18. The Fox.
19. Parsons Farewell
20. Childgrove.
18. The Fox.
19. Parsons Farewell
20. Childgrove.
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21. The Twenty Ninth Of May.
22. Nancy's Fancy.
23. London Is A Fine Town.
24. Gather Ye Rosebuds.
22. Nancy's Fancy.
23. London Is A Fine Town.
24. Gather Ye Rosebuds.
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25. Portsmouth.
26. We Be Three Poor Mariners.
27. To Portsmouth.
28. The Armada Song.
26. We Be Three Poor Mariners.
27. To Portsmouth.
28. The Armada Song.
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29. The Buff Coat.
30. Babylon Is Fallen.
31. Soldier Song.
32. Not Available.
30. Babylon Is Fallen.
31. Soldier Song.
32. Not Available.
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33. Rufty Tufty.
34. Nobody's Jig.
35. Indian Queen.
36. A Trip To Paris.
34. Nobody's Jig.
35. Indian Queen.
36. A Trip To Paris.
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37. The Scots March.
38. Hey Now The Day Daws.
39. Bonnets So Blue.
38. Hey Now The Day Daws.
39. Bonnets So Blue.
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40. There Is A Maiden.
41. Amaryllis.
42. Poor Robins Maggot.
43. Green Sleeves or To York For My Money.
41. Amaryllis.
42. Poor Robins Maggot.
43. Green Sleeves or To York For My Money.
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44. Cuckolds All in A Roe
with side drum part.
with side drum part.
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45. Nancy's Fancy with side drum.
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46. London is a Fine Town.
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47. Parson's Farewell with side drum part.
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48. Nobody's Jig with side drum part.
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49. Twenty Ninth of May,
with side drum part.
with side drum part.
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50. Argeers (The Wedding Night)
plus side drum part.
plus side drum part.
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51. When the King Enjoys His Own Again, plus side drum part.
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52. Gathering Peascode.plus side drum part.
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53. Prince Rupert's March with side drum part.
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54. Nonesuch, with side drum part.
The Fifers Companion 17th Century
Webmaster Peter McCarthy BEM