Old Barracks Museum
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • French and Indian War Outfittings Project & Grant
    • Operation: Restoration 2016 >
      • Officers' House Restoration
      • Barracks Restoration
    • "Necessary and Proper for the Public Good" World War I Exhibit >
      • A New Century, A New Barracks
      • President Wilson's Call for Red Cross Aid
      • Red Cross Operations Expand
      • "Revolutionary Relic Used as Red Cross Headquarters"
      • A Close-Knit Community
      • The War Effort Winds Down
      • Dispute over Departure
      • Onward + Sources
    • Space Rentals
    • Fifes & Drums
    • Photo Gallery
    • Board
    • Supporters
    • Bibliography
    • Opportunities
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Second Saturdays Family Fun Day
    • May Tea
    • Summer Day Camp
    • Taptoes
    • Tavern Night
    • Patriots Week >
      • Colonial Ball
      • Battle of Trenton Reenactment
      • Puppet Shows
    • Beulah Oliphant Award
  • Visit
    • Hours, Admission, Etc.
    • Group Tours
    • Camp-Ins
    • Plan Your Visit
  • Join
    • Membership
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    • Email List
The Fifes and Drums of the Old Barracks are looking for new recruits! All able-bodied young men of middle or high school age are encouraged to join our ranks. Though encouraged, no prior musical experience is necessary.
If you want to be involved in an exciting and unique musical experience, or if you would like to book The Fifes and Drums of The Old Barracks for a performance, please feel free to email shudak@barracks.org, or call (609) 396-1776 for more information. 

Video of the 2014 Taptoe Concert by Exit 7A Productions

About the Fifes & Drums of the Old Barracks

    The Fifes & Drums of the Old Barracks are a group of musicians who perform late 18th-century music that would have been performed by a military corps of music during the Revolutionary War. Beyond their well-researched repertoire of colonial music, their uniforms are those that would have been worn by the musicians of the 2nd New Jersey Regiment. Four of the eight companies of this regiment were raised at the Trenton barracks in December of 1775. The Fife & Drum Corps made their debut at the Old Barracks Association’s 2004 Capital Ball. Comprised of middle and high school students and professional musicians from the Trenton area, they have been organized and trained under the direction of Stephen Hudak, Andrew Wierzbowski, John Lane, James Fultz, and Timothy Ross.

History of Fife & Drum Corps

    During the American Revolution, each company of a regiment provided a fifer and drummer to create a Fife & Drum Corps to represent the entire regiment. The Corps was comprised of 20 musicians, usually boys in their teens. Chief among their duties were the playing of “calls” or “duties”, which are distinctive beatings accompanied by short tunes. A soldier’s entire day was dictated by calls for reveille, assembly, and performing fatigue details. Calls were also used on the battlefield to direct loading weapons, firing, marching, and more. In addition to their signaling duties, musicians adapted many contemporary dance songs for the entertainment of soldiers, officers, and visiting dignitaries. In order to distinguish these critical and unique members of the military, musicians typically wore regimental coats with the reverse color combination worn by their regiment. A regiment with soldiers who wore blue coats with red facings, for example, would field musicians wearing red coats with blue facings. 
The Old Barracks Museum | 101 Barrack Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 | 609-396-1776 | info@barracks.org
Open Monday - Saturday 10 AM - 5 PM | Tours begin on the hour, last tour begins at 4 PM
Closed Sundays, Jan. 1, Thanksgiving, Dec. 24, Dec. 25
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • About
    • History
    • French and Indian War Outfittings Project & Grant
    • Operation: Restoration 2016 >
      • Officers' House Restoration
      • Barracks Restoration
    • "Necessary and Proper for the Public Good" World War I Exhibit >
      • A New Century, A New Barracks
      • President Wilson's Call for Red Cross Aid
      • Red Cross Operations Expand
      • "Revolutionary Relic Used as Red Cross Headquarters"
      • A Close-Knit Community
      • The War Effort Winds Down
      • Dispute over Departure
      • Onward + Sources
    • Space Rentals
    • Fifes & Drums
    • Photo Gallery
    • Board
    • Supporters
    • Bibliography
    • Opportunities
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Second Saturdays Family Fun Day
    • May Tea
    • Summer Day Camp
    • Taptoes
    • Tavern Night
    • Patriots Week >
      • Colonial Ball
      • Battle of Trenton Reenactment
      • Puppet Shows
    • Beulah Oliphant Award
  • Visit
    • Hours, Admission, Etc.
    • Group Tours
    • Camp-Ins
    • Plan Your Visit
  • Join
    • Membership
    • Donate
    • Email List
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