The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps

[Iceman5164]

@Ewolf98

Musicians wore off-set colors so they weren't shot if on the Field of Battle (British wore Red with White trim while the American Musicians wore Red with Blue Trim)

[28foxtrot328]

The musicians wore the colors of the red coats(British) so they would stand out.

[renardgrise]

The uniforms looks strikingly similar to Royal Regiments of foot due to the blue facings. However, there are details that are not easily detected by novices the tell the difference. Yes, musicians coats are the reverse of their counterparts in the rest of the regiment, and all armies had different color facing indicating the region they were from. For example, during the revolution, for the US Buff was New England, Red was Virginia.

[enforcetw]

is that GOD !!!I Oh my !!!

[ReinhardtvonMeinhard]

Too much brass accompaniment, and the WRONG tune. They should be playing Garryowen, Old 1812, Yankee Doodle, Frog in the Well, The Girl I Left Behind Me, and when Johnny Comes Marching Home.

[Frizzyindeed09]

Quick history lesson: The British didn't wear red to "hide the blood". The wore red because it was the cheapest dye you could buy at the time.

[Gramson28]

Thhey are really talented, but I would rather see 18th century drill and drumming, rather than something patterned from a High school band competition. They do themselves a diservice here. We have everything but cheerleaders in miniskirts. But what terrific musicians. Whats with the marking time AND marching, at the same time. This is NOT authentic, or even present day drill.

[infamousraiderh]

These guys are super clean! Sounds and looks awesome!

[drumcorps0junkie]

early drum corps

[FuckYouLetMeLogIn]

This is bullshit. Real rifle companies didn't prance around like this, not even in parade march. This is drum & fife for fags.

[ReinhardtvonMeinhard]

@FuckYouLetMeLogIn Now, now, now. I think you mean that this is fife and drum for those who embrace an alternative lifestyle.

[Iceman5164]

@FuckYouLetMeLogIn

It's called Tradition and what this Country was based off of... I'm sure if you went back to the 1700s you wouldn't see soldiers throwing their Muskets into the Air and tossing them around... that would just seem stupid

[oldbobg]

NIce routine; however, not what the military would have paraded with.. I'd like to see this group taught by Middlesex County Volunteers from the civilian persuasiion. They are quite a bit more military then these folks in the presend day army.

[john3047X]

@oldbobg about 1/2 of the people in this video play with middlesex in their spare time : )

[CJCbassman09]

the best thing in my personal opinion is getting to jam with these guys. its amazing

[waugh2k]

Loved the touch of the Army playing a Quaker song!

[nephilium67]

I saw these guys at Ft. Ritchie MD before the base closed. They are sensational to watch live.

[sodaman1921]

That was superb.

Very enjoyable to watch and listen to.

Thanks.

[DocHoliday1882]

An excellent video, I absolutely love to see a well organise and trained music band, superb. 5 stars. Thank Sodaman fer sharing this video...

[infamousraiderh]

Your musicians wore blue coats with red facings

[SprecheDeutsch]

I'm quite positive the US Army wouldn't screw up on the historical accuracy of the uniforms, and as someone else said, the musicians were dressed apart from the soldiers. And fantastic video btw, 5 stars to the Old Guard.

[radarjason]

isnt one of the parts in here the song "dance said he"?

[ffairlane57]

Ewolf98, musician corp uniforms are different than battle dress.

[TheAmericanSailor]

The American men who fought on the field of battle wore blue coat with red trim, the fife and drummers wore red coat with blue trim. This was because they could not kill fife and drummers and this could easily identify them. The British did the same.

[birthdaymatt]

Thanks for the information. I was wondering. i guess it was like don't kill the messenger. Bad luck.

[zubertish]

Great to see this. I was (like others) always too busy with other TOG responsibilities to actually get to see what my brothers were up to. Nice job! Thanks for posting this video.

[Vikings1953]

This is just good solid rudimental drumming. The only difference that I would make is for them to put calfskin heads on the drums and to use cat gut snares. This would give them the opportunity to sound like they have tom toms when they play flams or back stick. If you want to play like they do you have to learn drum rudiments. There are 26 standard rudiments in American snare drumming. Out of these there are 13 essential rudiments that you need to learn in order to play like the Old Guard.

[brayton34]

I was hoping this would be a real fife and drum concert like the "old" days when I was in drum and bugle. They had to mess it up with orchestral sounds. This is a beautiful piece of American music but this is not a fife and drum performance. It's fife & drum & horns. Great musicians.

[b3441bryan]

Does anybody know where I could find the drum sheet music for any of the songs found in this video? It would be cool to play along with this video.

[john3047X]

watch it a few times its not hard, its the only way if you really wanna learn it, but their music is copyrighted

[orpheo660]

Hello, I just can tell you the name of the piece at the beginning, "Apalachian Spring",,,it's really beautiful

[Nashcountryboy]

Actually the first piece is the shaker tune "Simple Gifts". Aaron Copland included it in his Appalachian Spring Suite.

[SoNofThundeR89]

I'm not sure about this particular song, but they do have sheet music in the library section of their website.

[triplexxxsatyr]

I have goosebumps.

Five stars!

[mathproof]

I wonder if the snare are former PR guys?

[john3047X]

one of them is

[mathproof]

I'm not surprized. The way they play is exactly the style we used at PR, at least 1987-1991.

[dskate40]

na there not the ancient mariners and ya i was at all da mustards it was sick!!!!!!

[john3047X]

i know this the old guard, some guy back there said he used to be in the og, and alot of former old guard join the mariners...

[Boofa125]

you have to be super good to be in this. my drum instructor tried and didnt make it and hes really good. im in the Tryon Palace Fife and Drum corps

[CJCbassman09]

whats that song called? the first song its from blast....

[jsudrum78]

Shaker Melody from Copeland's Appalachian Spring

[Britshgirl26]

i luv watching these guys perform!!! i go 2 like all the musters they r at!!!YAY!! they r wicked good!!!

[Boofa125]

4:00-4:45 is AWESOME!!!!!!

none of the music is period but its still awesome

[john3047X]

ahh true, but you cannot deny the talent.

[lexcabguy2004]

Will be seeing them this Saturday in Augusta Ga. Can't wait!!!!

[GOOBANANAS]

That is a great video. The music is fantastic. For me there is a sense of heritage and pride listening to it. Thanks to all the men and women who help keep it alive in this country.

[lajselot]

Great! What's the name of the first tune that they play?

[nidbit]

the name of the first tune is 'Tis a gift to be simple i believe

[bogeybabb]

You got it... it's an old shaker tune.

[NamVet70Mike]

"Simple Gifts" from the Shakers ( I know I'm a nitpicker!) Great rendition though I always loved watching the Friday tattoo when I lived in Maryland.

[john3047X]

yeah josh dukes!!!!!

[chutdigadut]

BADASS

[joshuadukes]

One Eye, unfortunately you are wrong buddy. Muggsy1776 and Greenberetsgt1 are correct. I am the Drum Major on this video. Sorry man.

[Muggsy1776]

In the times of the Rev War the military musicians wore "reversed colors" of the regiment in which they belonged. In this case the blue coats with red facings became the red coats with blue facings which you see here. And not all uniforms in America were blue coats- a large number of them were brown (America purchased both blue and brown uniforms from France).

[OneEyedPony]

I don't care if this is ceremonial and RED looks nice, the British redcoats are the uniforms the American states fought for our independence.

the full length pants are correct, which was requested Washington and approved by Congress.

The U.S. Army should know better... put the BLUE COATS on and represent the correct Revolutionary circa in America.

The REDCOATS are for the Imperial Empire of England and their King/Crown, not the American Republic founded by OUR forefathers.

Embarassing

[Greenberetsgt1]

Those are the uniforms the Revolutinary bands wore...Military Bands used to wear the off colors of the normal infantry...thus if you look at American uniforms from the revolution they were blue and red thus the blue on the outines and british uniforms were red and white no blue on them at all...So its not embaressing...Its what they really wore ..just clarifing things thats all >.>

[dalanebigsexy]

@Greenberetsgt1 plus no one wants to shot a band member so it was a good idea to wear the other colors. im sure they still got shot its war after all

[castlerock302]

you are not a smart person....the red distinguished them on the battle field so they would not be shot down...this is the color of our for fathers...washington virginia blues regiement had blue coats with red facings

[laerwen]

Except, that's not what is historically accurate. You can be embarrassed all you like, but - that's what they wore.

[MattCockburn]

those revolutionaries still considered themselves british. it's part of our heritage that we broke away from them. i see your point but Muggsy1776 has it right

[musikplayer610]

..oh...my...god...that's amazing!!! i wish my fife corps did that

[redstrat8]

DO AGUALUNG

[cowgirl23jlm]

I'm the veterinarian at Fort Myer, VA and these Soldiers practice in the building right next to my clinic. I get to see/hear them quite frequently. It's awesome. I have the best job ever - supporting The Old Guard. I was percussion in high school/college and it's nice to hear this again.

[tavadon777]

This kicks the ass of the marine corps silent drill squad...these ppl have to do silent drill as well as play instruments

[IIAIRBORNEII89]

ya but the marines have nothing to do with spirit of America. This whole show is run by the united states army

[Arondeus]

Are these our guys? The US? Why aren't they wearing the blue of the continental army? Just curious.

[ericintohistory]

yes.

[Pipezilla]

Military musicians usually wear opposite colors. So their cuffs are blue and the rest is red. The spainish and french armies did the same. It helps seperate them from the regular infantry (which is good for them in battle!).

[Arondeus]

I see, thanks for answering!

[indianacheckers]

Pretty good for a bunch of Army guys. Ok ok, thats pretty good for anybody. Old Guard is AWESOME! Well done

[ndnsurfer]

The shaker melodies were very nice!

[sinbadvett]

Great drum corps. Very tight and very clean drumming. Enjoyed the overall band aswell. Would love to see this performance live.

[xxVampirePenguinxx]

These guys came to my school today. They told me to look this up.

[magehunter978]

are fif's fingering the same as a flute's?

[partylikeCKMx3]

what do you use are they coopermans?

[stathamross]

Superb performance- including the Troop in Review at the end. Go FDC! (A biased OGFDC Alum, 1976-1980)

[john3047X]

are you by chance in the ancient mariners? i was at your muster if so...

[gcfdc]

love fife and drum

[asdffd]

Wow, that drumming that kicks in at around 3 minutes is absolutely unreal. That was AWESOME!

[Nevermann]

What a thoroughly, thoroughly uplifting performance! And the drumline is nothing less than stunning: control, dynamics, scoring... it's all there in one drop-dead neat package.

[wolf8503]

a tradition that should go on forever!!! Happy 4th to All! God has blessed us with the greatest nation!

[agcolonialman]

I was there for this performance!!

Oh it was even MORE amazing than you THINK!

However, a fife player whom I got a signature from didn't know how to spell 'piccolo' =(

[laceyf53]

Man.. I want to do this so badly!!

[hotstix12]

"Man.. I want to do this so badly!!" It's active duty military which means you yave to go through basic training, and its audition only. i think my sisters in this exact show. i dont remember. it was a long time ago

[bassmaster234]

hooorahhh the redcoats!

[HoosierRN]

Think they practice much? :)

[Jerstef]

did you know that the fife and drum corps drum major is the only person that is allowed to salute with his left hand? i only know that b/c my dad was in charge of all the army bands before he retired.

[hicon]

Acctually acording to the cadet drill manual section 2 page 46 paragraph 02181 " a cadet who has injured his right hand or arm will salute with the left hand"

[hicon]

sorry i didnt realise this was a USA band lol sorry im from scotland and we are prob different

[Panzergredi]

Why they're wearing the Grenadier's uniforms?

[teddythebear1234]

that's who they're portraying

is mid 18 century british F&D

[nightwingprod]

they wore the red uniforms because musicians were meant to stand out (in contrast to the infantry blue coats) so they weren't be shot according to old style battle rules...I use to be in the Fife and Drum corp, and that was always part of our P.R. speech

[qtgurl13xoxo]

yay josh!

[b87gr]

wow! awesome Josh!

[PhantomPhire25]

FOPS!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[sheepman232]

i saw them in reel life thay sund grate!!

[Freakincage86]

I've been lucky enough to see these fine musicians many times, even during this recording, and even luckier to say I have played with them, side by side, as a former member of Yorktown Fifes and Drum corps. Awesome performance, as always. Just waiting for a vacancy so I can finally join! lol

[thebloodwontwashaway]

i love how they use traditional sticking... :P I'm a lover of tradition when it come to drums.

[jft886]

Excellent !

[SCVWannabe]

The snare drummers made me really happy... lol

And the high mark time and the high step... that all made me really happy...

Can't stop smiling...

[numba1drummab01]

saw these guys at the tattoo in edinburgh this year

[hector6087]

haha, probably not, we didn't go to edinborough this year, you might mean the Middlesex county volunteers? I think they were there.

[numba1drummab01]

same thing.they wore all white with big feathers and tri hats

[hector6087]

yeah, that sounds like MCV

[tjt169]

Ya i saw these guys in virginia when they recorded this it was really sweet

[justinplyer15]

lumineuz where u see them i saw them in manchester nh

[amongsttrees]

Woo, do those snares look ancient hehe. Very fun to watch though. Takes me right back to the colonial times, it does. I'd still prefer the Top Secret Swiss drum Corps personally.

[u12play2]

Love them Wow! I have seen them in an outdoor field show at Gettysburg, Pa. I even made a video. Love Top Secret also. Been involved in the Drum and Bugle activity for 51 years.

[drums4life24]

yeah top secret is pretty awsome is a cool blend of new and old

[drummaboybob]

love the drum solo!! XTREAME!!!

[DaveUSA]

Majestic really!

[lumineux5]

awesome show, i saw them a few days ago

[OSkyFireO]

awesome performance...whats the name of the tune in which the salute is given? (2nd to last)

[somf4eva]

Ash Grove

[LTCJeffWhite]

When I was a kid - I thought how awesome it would be if our military would leverage some of the fantastic potential of this form of military entertainment. It looks as though we really have!

Well done. This is worthy of the service.

[Postie1]

Now that's macaroni !

[Bender8419]

Very nice, I love the roll of drums. Just to stay next and feel the drums in the stomach is better. The accuracy and precision of the show is impressive!!!

[anilingus]

Impressive... but who would have thought that the US would use British redcoats?

[Postie1]

Red tunics were worn by US continental army as well, not a British only color.

[TheRealHobie]

Yes, musicians wore red, infantry blue. It was the opposite in the British army, IIRC.

[LTCJeffWhite]

Bloody colonials. Heh

[Paradiddle93]

its nice to see old guard on youtube I don't have to wait for freezer jam anymore I love it when the old guard teaches advanced drumming you really learn allot awesome awesome drummers

[flam579]

this show is great! that drumline rocks!

~713

[marredsun]

This is what I want to do. I need to send in a tape...wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. Time to practice!

[gcfdc]

very impressive!!! we have preformed together in the pentagon in 2004! remember? :)

[LividLFC]

Brilliant!

[o1dguardso1dier]

This is our show at Virginia International Tattoo. It was pretty sweet. Some of the acoustics are off because is in an arena. Still Pretty Sweet.

Waterman

[88M325TC]

Hey..is it true that once you join an Army band you get SSG?..GREAT JOB BY THE WAY!!

[o1dguardso1dier]

If you join a special band, you get SSG once you complete training (our unit takes 6-12 months). There are only a select few special bands in the US Military, the ones that require an audition. In the Regular ARMY Bands, I believe you still start out as a SPC(E-4). Either way, everyone goes thru basic training except "The President's Own" which is The Marine Band out of Washington DC. Any more questions, shoot me a line...