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Fife and Drum Corps Trivia Quiz

This is world history with a musical twist. How well do you know the importance of fife and drum corps in world history?

A multiple-choice quiz by panhead1992. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
panhead1992

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
266,235

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
218

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What type of flute is the fife? Hint

transverse flute

fipple flute

open-holed transverse flute

closed- hole flute

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. What are the four keys that fifes are made in? (English system keys will come first with the German system keys in parentheses. There are really only two keys.) Hint

D (C) and A flat (G flat)

E (D) and D flat (B)

There is only one key and that is B flat (A flat)

B flat (A flat) and D (C)

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. How many each of fifes and drums were assigned to a regiment? (military, not fife and drum corps regiments) Hint

They weren't

Three each

Two each

One each

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Which instrument (fife or drum) was used primarily for duty calls and which one was used primarily for folk tunes/songs? Hint

The drum was the primary instrument for duty calls while the fife was used mainly for folk tunes/songs

They were both used for the same thing

We don't know

The drum was used as an accompaniment to the fife

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What would a French drum major carry for a director's (marching band) stick? Hint

just a mace

a regular director's stick

a short director's stick with a mace on the end

they didn't carry anything because it was the fife major's job to direct

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Is it a proven fact the English fife and drum corps played "The World Turned Upside Down" at their surrender at Yorktown?

Yes

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Which fife and drum company do most American fife and drum corps buy their fifes and drums from? Hint

Sweetheart

Cooperman

Glasgow

Funny Piggy

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following is true about fife and drum corps in general? Hint

all the other answers

they served as field music

they always wear the opposite colors to the marines of the country

they played songs to keep the men's spirits up

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. What time period is the song "Grandfather's Clock", known for its snare drum doublings in fife and drum corps, from? Hint

War of 1812

Seven Years' War

American Civil War

American Revolution

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. In French fife and drum corps history, what rank did two layers of lace running along the jeust de corps symbolize? Hint

Drum Sergeant

Drum Major

Fife Sergeant

Fife Corporal

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What type of flute is the fife?

Answer: open-holed transverse flute

The fife is a open-holed transverse flute that originated somewhere near Prussia. It can play in three registers with a user who blows a lot of air, but it only has six holes, making playing chromatics hard because of half coverings!

2. What are the four keys that fifes are made in? (English system keys will come first with the German system keys in parentheses. There are really only two keys.)

Answer: B flat (A flat) and D (C)

The key that a fife is most often played in at reenactments is the B flat. For this reason, and the fact that is played in almost every European military as well as the American military, it has earned the name "B flat military fife." The military fife plays primarily in the second and third registers.

The D fife, due to shrillness with the third register, was played only for entertainment if at all in a military situation.

3. How many each of fifes and drums were assigned to a regiment? (military, not fife and drum corps regiments)

Answer: Two each

Don't ask me why this was, my guess is that both of the two drummers and the two fifes could be heard throughout the whole regiment. If anyone knows the answer please send me a mail but do not send as a correction!

4. Which instrument (fife or drum) was used primarily for duty calls and which one was used primarily for folk tunes/songs?

Answer: The drum was the primary instrument for duty calls while the fife was used mainly for folk tunes/songs

The drum was the duty call instrument in a corps; the fife was just an add-on to the duty calls because they were already there to cheer the men up.

5. What would a French drum major carry for a director's (marching band) stick?

Answer: a short director's stick with a mace on the end

My drum major likes this part the most. Unfortunately, due to safety issues, he has to direct with an English style director's stick.

6. Is it a proven fact the English fife and drum corps played "The World Turned Upside Down" at their surrender at Yorktown?

Answer: no

This detail is from a diary of a preacher who wasn't even at the surrender of Yorktown who heard from a friend who heard from someone else that "The World Turned Upside Down" was played at the surrender. The evidence points largely against the song being played, though American history books say that it is.

7. Which fife and drum company do most American fife and drum corps buy their fifes and drums from?

Answer: Cooperman

Cooperman fifes and drums are known for the exceptional quality and sound. Sweetheart is an okay company though the quality, in my experience, isn't as good. The other two I just made up.

8. Which of the following is true about fife and drum corps in general?

Answer: all the other answers

I just had to throw this in here. The wool for the colors can get mighty hot though.

9. What time period is the song "Grandfather's Clock", known for its snare drum doublings in fife and drum corps, from?

Answer: American Civil War

"Grandfather's Clock" was Civil War song that my fife and drum corps can't play at reenactments because we're a French F&I and Rev. War group even though its really cool, particularly the snare drum parts.

10. In French fife and drum corps history, what rank did two layers of lace running along the jeust de corps symbolize?

Answer: Drum Major

Only the drum sergeant would have to rows of lace, nearly everyone else below him would only have one row of lace.

Source: Author panhead1992

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