Just Before the Battle Mother

The Excelsior Brigade Fife and Drum Corps plays Just Before the Battle Mother, a sentimental Civil War favorite, during the 2006 Hamlin Beach State Park reenactment, Hamlin, NY. This is a particularly good example of the drum beating known as the "old halftime" or "Connecticut halftime" being beat to a slower melody. Drummers play quietly first time through, and much louder the second time through, playing the first fill. The drummers rush in this rendition, but you'll get the idea of what a standard old tune sounded like.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• ancient
• fife
• drum
• excelsior
• brigade
• rudimental
• civil
• war
• music

[NaziZombiefan82]

does it take sill to play those somgs do you have tp poractice a few times or something?

[excelsiorbrigade]

@NaziZombiefan82 skill and loads of practice. You can play this tune with five rudiments, but learning them sufficiently to play them together enough to make a beating takes some months of directed practice. To be able to play them and carry on a conversation, years.

[24michiganironbrigad]

i dont think this sng was originally played on fife and drum

[excelsiorbrigade]

You are right, the original score is clearly for the piano/voice, but like just about every other tune back then, the field musicians adopted it for their instruments. The song appears in fife and drum music books and so-called veteran's song books published post-war. The same could be said for Year of Jubilo, Swanee River etc, all written for voice/piano and adopted to other instruments.

[24michiganironbrigad]

ok cool what brigade do u guys belong 2 im with the cumberland gaurd

[excelsiorbrigade]

we're an independent unit, but hang out with groups that belong to several of the umbrellas

[10lbsparrott]

this song and group kicks ass

[johnyreb13]

they play the best song of the war well.even if they are wearing blue=)

[kempeitai21]

this video was pretty cool however 1 observation if I may. I noticed you guys pleyed it pretty fast. I understood it was a rather slow ballad type song. that being said I think you guys are pretty talented!

[CJCbassman09]

@CJCbassman09 im not trying to be rude or anything dont get me wrong. what kind of heads are those? they sound like calfskin

[CJCbassman09]

please loosen the bass.. does not need to be cranked that tight at all

[osteopenia]

wow!! coollllllllllllll....

[arrycat]

They are great!

My feets will going on! :D

[lionheartt77]

you're absolutely serious I take it?

[bullyboy1863]

you can see reynolds battery camp in the backround! :D i wit dat unit and these guys are great i know the lead fife player.