Historians and musicologists have contributed very little to the heritage of military music in America. Professor Raoul Camus in his work Military Music of the American Revolution has traced the development of early American military, which was patterned after the British drum calls and drill manuals. The book is a virtual encyclopaedia of interesting facts and examples.
Dr. Raoul Camus is professor emeritus of music at Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York and director emeritus of the Queens Symphonic Band, a community organization. He earned his Ph.D. in music administration from New York University, and spent a number of years teaching instrumental music in secondary schools. Prior to teaching, he managed a major music-publishing firm, and performed professionally on the french horn. For many years he was director of New York's famed 42d (Rainbow) Division Band, and is a retired army reserve bandmaster.
A past president of the Sonneck Society for American Music, he is active in many band organizations, including the College Band Directors National Association, the Association of Concert Bands, the International Military Music Society, the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, and Windjammers Unlimited.
In his book Professor Camus describes how the Continental Army had bands from it's inception The bands in early America had drummers and fifers who played signals to keep garrison activities on time and signalled the troops in battle. Brisk marches and quicksteps kept soldiers moving together in cadence and specific drum beats or tunes were used to send messages to all the troops within earshot. These musicians were referred to as the "field music," never as a band or band of music. Most of the time, they played alone or in pairs for their own companies. For special reviews or ceremonies, all the drummers and fifers would practice the same music and play together. Drummers and fifers were paid by the army and performed other military duties as well as playing their instruments. They were soldiers first, then musicians.
Much later Bands of music, on the other hand, were professional musicians who agreed to become part of an army although they were not expected to carry guns or participate in battle. The officers of the regiment supplied their pay, uniforms, instruments, and music privately. They supplied music when and where the officers wanted them to play, usually for ceremonies in which the troops were massed for review and for private parties and dances at which the officers of the regiment associated with the local citizens.
Professor Camus has researched the historical progress of military music from the European and |British Traditions and the impact that the "Red Coats" had on American music. The book has numerous illustrations and re-introduced extant musical examples. Another highlight of the book is his closely aligning the major battles of the American Revolution with military music. In chapter 3 he lists the Preparations For War, the Siege of Boston and the Continental Army of 1776 and 1777.
The role of military music is shown in the Surrender of Charleston, the Arrival of Rochambeau and the world turned upside down at Yorktown. His scholarly treatment of the bands of music and the appendix are an excellent historical resource for further study in this art form. One of the musical examples is the famous Rogues march which is no longer employed but is historically priceless, The Grenadiers march which also is featured as an example is amazingly still in use today by military bands and may be heard every day during the summer months in Ottawa Canada for the Guard Changing on Parliament hill by the Ceremonial Guards band.
The book, which was originally published in 1975, is available from Amazon or .No school or historical society should be without this book it is a historical testament to America's past.
