When my son’s wife and baby took off for the weekend Women’s Conference with their church, he asked me to join him for a day in Colonial Williamsburg to see Drummer’s Call.
Just like old times, we conquered the day in 12,000+ steps…many of which were in tune with the fifers and drummers!
The purpose of the fife and drum corps was to beat out communication signals for the military as early as 15th century Switzerland.
Honoring that tradition, participating groups from around the country included:
1st Michigan Colonial Fife and Drum Corps
Civil War Field Music 1st PRVC
Museum of the American Revolution
The Fifes and Drums of York Town
Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes and Drums
Colonial Williamsburg Junior Fife and Drum Corps
Colonial Williamsburg Senior Fife and Drum Corps
Colonial Williamsburg Alumni Fife and Drum Corps
GRAND MARCH
Arriving from Northern Virginia just in time for the day’s events, my son set up his camera equipment at a strategic location at Market Square to catch the best shots.
Meanwhile I chose a new spot on Duke of Gloucester Street to capture their arrival to the Courthouse from the Capitol.
The Colonial Williamsburg Junior Fife and Drum Corps always leads…
Check this video of the Colonial Williamsburg Senior Fife and Drum parading to the field.
GRAND REVIEW
Behind the Courthouse (in photos above) is Market Square where the demonstrations of drum and fife music are performed.
Since it was Armed Forces week, Drummer’s Call celebrates the military history of the Fife and Drum Corps units, essential for battlefield communications.
After the Star Spangled Banner, we listened to the tunes and watched the intricate marching of the various groups, narrated by one of the historic interpreters.
I love all the banners…and the gusty breezes of the day kept them flying at the pace of the music.
The Colonial Williamsburg Alumni Fife and Drum Corps…
Colonial Williamsburg Senior Fife and Drum Corps…
After my son packed up his camera, we headed to the Cheese Shop for lunch, when he pointed out something new.
The Junior, Senior, and Alumni Corps of Colonial Williamsburg intermingled in organized fashion to march back through town!
INTERMISSION
With two hours before the historic area closes, we enjoyed lunch on a bench in the historic area, just like old times.
Then we visited the tailor, again, like old times!
While visiting the Governor’s Palace we saw this family of geese…
…who came to meet us…
…and led the way for more tours…
Since the historic area had closed for the day, we walked over to the visitor center where my son has always purchased a Drummers Call tshirt for a souvenir. (note the one he’s wearing in the above photos from a past Drummers Call)
Alas, there were no such tshirts this year. In fact, we didn’t even see anyone wearing one. How sad!
TATTOO
Although they are most famous for battlefield calls, the corps also beat out calls in camp to announce the next stage in the day: wake up, breakfast, sick call, assembly, lunch, duty calls, dinner, evening retreat, lights out.
Before evening retreat was called, the fife and drum corps marched past the taverns, beating out the signal to “turn off the taps.”
The origin of the word tatoo is die den tap toe, from the Dutch…which was later called taptoe…which eventually assimilated (changed in pronunciation for ease of speech) to tattoo.
At sunset, the torches were lit to begin the Tattoo at the Governor’s Palace (undergoing renovations)…
JAM SESSION
After following the Colonial Williamsburg Fife and Drum Corps down the Palace Green, to Duke of Gloucester Street, to Botetourt Street, to Nicholson Street, we joined the other units at Market Square where they began the jam session which finishes out the evening.
Check this video of the jam session.
