militare

Army bands play a variety of music styles to inspire soldiers, foster the support of citizens and promote national interests at home and abroad. Founded by Congress in 1798, the Marine Band is America's oldest continuously active professional musical organization.

Traditionally, military bands would play music on the battlefield to boost the morale of the troops. Furthermore, drummers would summon men from their farms and land to call them to service. Military music also played a vital tactical role during battle, giving certain instructions to soldiers.

Most military musicians participate in several groups and perform at a host of military functions, including ceremonies, parades, dinner receptions, concerts for troops, and holiday celebrations.

Military Field Music: The United States In the hazy fog of battle, visual command was impossible and musical instruments were the only way to convey orders to the troops. The combination of the fife and drum became known as military field music.

drum major The drum major is often dressed in more ornate clothing than the rest of the band or corps and is responsible for providing commands to the ensemble, leading them while marching, and directing them what to play, when to play, the dynamic or volume of playing, and what time to keep.

In military bands twirlers march the same drill as the band members do, where the color guard in a corps band is generally a separate unit, doing their own drill and routine. Color guard members also may incorporate dance movement.

It does not necessarily prevent war, but it helps us survive it and look to the future, to a time when division does not manifest in suffering. Music in fact redeems the quality of humans that fuels violence.

American music. American troops had regular access to radio in all but the most difficult combat situations, and not only did soldiers know specific songs but also specific recordings.

13 Musicians Who've Served in the US Military

• Maynard James Keenan. Martin Philbey/Redferns, Getty Images /
• Jimi Hendrix. David Redfern, Getty Images.
• Ice-T. Christopher Polk, Getty Images.
• Elvis Presley. Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
• Fred Durst. David Klein, Getty Images.
• Ray Manzarek.
• Phil Labonte.
• John Fogerty.

Music and the military go back a long way, from Elvis getting drafted into the Army at the height of his career to Pvt. 2nd Class Jimi Hendrix of the 101st Airborne playing his red Silvertone Danelectro guitar in the barracks at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

Soldiers would sing songs in the trenches or while marching to keep their spirits up, and many times on the Western Front, marching bands would accompany the troops. Not only was music used to boost morale, it was also used as a sneaky way of complaining about the war and the conditions they were currently in.

Lucky soldiers who could sing a song, perform a skit, or pass as a “lady,” were taken from the line and put onstage for the benefit of their soldier-audiences. The intent was to bolster morale and thereby help soldiers survive the war. The Dumbells' popularity was not limited to troop shows along the trenches.