Military Music in Antiquity?

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 08-26-2009, 18:24

Hey there,

was there some kind of military music in antiquity, like we know it today?

I don't mean marching bands exactly, but more instruments that accompanied the troops in battle or on parade. I know there were many kind of horns and trumpets, like the Roman Cornicen. But were there drums too, for example? Did they have any kind of written or formalised music that they played more or less in the same way everytime?

Thank you.

P.S. I especially recommend 7:30 and beyond in the video.

**Kevin** · 08-27-2009, 03:08

The Chinese used to bring drums to the battlefield to increase morale, intimidate the enemy, give orders throughout the battle, and to set a pace when marching. Plus, the sound of a bunch of drums beating would make any soldier eager to rush the enemy.

**Antonivs Silvicola** · 08-27-2009, 03:29

I believe I read somewhere that the Parthians used drums to unnerve their opponets before battle. I'll see if I can find the source...

The Parthians have hollow drums of distended hide, covered with bronze bells, and these they beat all around. The instruments give forth a low and dismal tone, a blend of wild beast's roar and harsh thunder peal-Plutarch

**MarcusAureliusAntoninus** · 08-27-2009, 07:22

The modern concept of marching with music came about in the French Revolutionary armies.
I don't think even in ancient parades armies had much more than horns.

**Urg** · 08-27-2009, 07:42

As for the Romans, Vegetius says (de re militari, book 2, 5th century ad):

LEGIONARY MUSIC

The music of the legion consists of trumpets, cornets and buccinae. The trumpet sounds the charge and the retreat. The cornets are used only to regulate the motions of the colors; the trumpets serve when the soldiers are ordered out to any work without the colors; but in time of action, the trumpets and cornets sound together. The classicum, which is a particular sound of the buccina or horn, is appropriated to the commander-in-chief and is used in the presence of the general, or at the execution of a soldier, as a mark of its being done by his authority. The ordinary guards and outposts are always mounted and relieved by the sound of trumpet, which also directs the motions of the soldiers on working parties and on field days. The cornets sound whenever the colors are to be struck or planted. These rules must be punctually observed in all exercises and reviews so that the soldiers may be ready to obey them in action without hesitation according to the general's orders either to charge or halt, to pursue the enemy or to retire. F or reason will convince us that what is necessary to be performed in the heat of action should constantly be practiced in the leisure of peace.

**Urg** · 08-27-2009, 07:56

I had a quick look around and everybody seems to agree that the Roman army did not use drums.

I'm sure a comprehensive search of Livy/Plutarch/Appian etc might turn up something. However there is no need since those learned historical scholars, the Las Vegas Firefighters, state that the Roman army did in fact adopt the use of drums (and pipes) after their conquest of North Africa and Pakistan.

**Ibrahim** · 08-29-2009, 00:07

Originally Posted by MarcusAureliusAntoninus

The modern concept of marching with music came about in the French Revolutionary armies.
I don't think even in ancient parades armies had much more than horns.

no-that is actually a feature of professional armies that began appearing in the late 17th century onwards; it started off as a means of signalling troops in the smoke and gunshot ridden battlefields of the 15-16th centuries, but quickly moved on to marching, camping, and other activities. its just that the more popular songs were from the french revolution. the british marched to their death at the monogahela in 1755 playing the british grenadiers (yeah, not exactly a wise decision). and the prussians in the seven years war played the hohenfriedberger marsch, both while marching (heck, just read the name), and on the battlefield.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkhOxFtj7Eo (hohenfriedberger marsch; written it is said, by Fredrich II himself. this version has the song with it)

I think most people know what the british grenadiers is, but here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLc-bvcdNTw

and there are a few more as well.

**Centurio Nixalsverdrus** · 08-30-2009, 00:23

So, what we know is that we don't know much. Most likely they use flutes on the battlefield, but then again it's possible that they didn't. Drums were most likely not used, right?