Drummer

A drummer is a musician who plays the drums, particularly the drum kit, marching percussion, or hand drums. The term percussionist usually refers to a person who plays classical or Latin percussion.

Military use

Drummers have played a key role in the military in past conflicts, such as the American Revolution, and the American Civil War, before motorized transport became the rule. Drums provided a steady beat to set the marching pace, even more then often accompanying wind instruments suchs as flutes (signal instruments such as bugles have another primary function), and kept morale up through music. Naturally they were employed in various ceremonies, including ominous drum roles accompanying formal floggings on board ships or in penal colonies.

Related Topics:
Military - American Revolution - American Civil War - Signal instrument - Morale - Music

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A curious (Commonwealth?) Army tradition was to have corporal punishments administered by drummers (e.g. ), even by drummer boys, flogging naked adult soldiers (illustration from Canada circa 1820 apparantly showing a cat o' nine tails but probably aiming at the buttocks), under threat, if not hitting hard enough, to be lashed themselves by the drum major (their own senior), who was also charged with branding deserters and 'bad characters'.

Related Topics:
Corporal punishment - Cat o' nine tails - Branding

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