What is a fife?
Where is Fife drum used?
What are fifes made of?
What keys are Fife pitched in?
What finger is used for fife?
How many holes does a fife have?
Why was the fife used in medieval Europe?
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What is a musical instrument called a fife?
fife, small transverse (side-blown) flute with six finger holes and a narrow cylindrical bore that produces a high pitch and shrill tone. The modern fife, pitched to the A♭ above middle C, is about 15.5 inches (39 cm) long and often has an added E♭ hole covered by a key. Its compass is about two octaves.
Is a fife a flute?
The fife, most accurately described, is any cylindrically bored transverse flute, usually in one piece (but sometimes two), usually somewhat longer than the piccolo and having only six fingerholes with no keys.
Which instrument commonly accompanies the Fife?
The Fife is a small flute, usually made of wood. It has a narrow bore, or wind channel, which gives a shriller sound than flutes used in orchestras. The fife was adopted by military and processional bands because its piercing tones could be heard out of doors. It is now accompanied by drums in marching bands.
Is a fife a woodwind?
The fife is a small woodwind instrument known especially for its high pitch and loud, piercing volume. It closely resembles a recorder in that it is typically made of wood and utilizes open finger holes instead of levers like the piccolo or flute.
Is a flute and a fife the same?
Like the Irish flute and the tin whistle, the ancient fife is a six-hole simple system flute. These flutes are unable to play all chromatic pitches, while many of the chromatic pitches which they can play are grossly out of tune.
Is a piccolo and fife the same thing?
fife is the structure. A piccolo has keys, while most fifes simply have holes. This applies to cheap fifes, like the Yamaha fife, and other models. Sure, you can find some simple system piccolos.
What instruments are in a Fife and Drum Corps?
INSTUMENTATION - There are three musical instruments used in the corps: the fife, the snare drum and the bass drum.
Is a fife a penny whistle?
The fife is among the oldest flutes that still get some use, and the fingerings are identical to the tin whistle (a.k.a. pennywhistle, Irish whistle). It has six holes operated by three fingers of each hand.
How do you play fife instruments?
8:0213:07How to Play Oh When the Saints on the Fife - Live Tutorial - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow we're gonna cover holes one two three with fingers one two three and blow three times. And thenMoreNow we're gonna cover holes one two three with fingers one two three and blow three times. And then we're going to cover holes or one to fall with fingers one two four and blow. Once.
What does a fife look like?
A fife is a musical instrument that looks like a very small flute. Fifes are usually made of wood, rather than metal, and are common in military marching bands. A fife is much more high-pitched than a flute—it's also louder and more shrill sounding.
Is it hard to play a fife?
Fife is much more difficult to play than the regular wooden flute - it takes a very strong embouchure. Your lips need to be tight - try putting a piece of dry rice between your lips and blow until it pops out (I'm serious)… this will give you an idea how small the hole in your lips needs to be.
Where did fife and drum originate?
SwitzerlandThe first time that they were used together in a form which we would recognize as "fife & drum" was in Switzerland. The Swiss had won their freedom in 1291, and had become famous for the bravery and excellence of their military.
Fife and drum corps - Wikipedia
A Fife and Drum Corps is a musical ensemble consisting of fifes and drums. In the United States of America, fife and drum corps specializing in colonial period impressions using fifes, rope tension snare drums, and (sometimes) rope tension bass drums are known as Ancient Fife and Drum Corps. Many of these ensembles originated from a type of military field music
Fife - Instruments of the world
Family: Woodwinds: Pitch range: One-and-a-half octaves. Material: Originally boxwood ; now usually African blackwood or metal. Size: About 15 in (38cm) long.
Fife - Coat of arms (crest) of Fife - Heraldry of the world
Official blazon. Argent, a knight armed at all points on a horse at full speed, in his dexter hand a sword erect, all Proper, his surcoat Argent, on his sinister arm a shield Or, charged with a lion rampant Gules, the visor of his helmet shut, over which on a wreath of his liveries with a mantling of the Fourth doubled of the Third, is set a lion rampant, issuing out of the wreath, of the ...
What is a Fife flute?
Fife, small transverse (side-blown) flute with six finger holes and a narrow cylindrical bore that produces a high pitch ...
When was the Fife invented?
Antedating the orchestral transverse flute, the fife is first attested in Europe during the 12th century. From the time of the Crusades it has been played with cylindrical side drums as an infantry instrument, notably in Switzerland and Germany.
How many octaves are in a fife?
The modern fife, pitched to the A♭ above middle C, is about 15.5 inches (39 cm) long and often has an added E♭ hole covered by a key. Its compass is about two octaves.
Where is the cylindrical side drum played?
From the time of the Crusades it has been played with cylindrical side drums as an infantry instrument, notably in Switzerland and Germany. It is a folk instrument in Spain and in the Alps and Carpathians.
What is a fife?
The fife is a wind instrument similar to a flute or piccolo, but without keys and with a higher, shriller sound. Originating in medieval Europe and used traditionally in the military, fifes are still played today in fife and drum corps and for individual enjoyment.
Why join a fife and drum corps?
Joining a fife and drum corps, or another group, is a great way to motivate yourself to practice, get valuable input and advice from more seasoned players, and have fun with it!
How to play a fife with a flat note?
1. Tune the instrument first. Play the same note (you can start with all finger holes open) as another fife player or an electronic or online tuner to get the right pitch. Roll the instrument in toward your mouth if your note is too sharp . Roll it out if it is too flat.
How to blow a fife?
1. Hold the instrument out to your right. Position the fife so that it is horizontal and extending out to the right of your face. The six holes for fingers should be out to the right, while the one hole on its own goes near your mouth for blowing.
What materials are fife made of?
Fifes made from different materials will sound different. A plastic instrument for learning is just fine and less expensive, but you may like to move up to playing a fife of wood and metal to see how the sound quality changes.
How to blow a fife with your fingers?
If your instrument is not the conventional 6-hole fife, you may have more holes to cover with your other fingers, but you can still use this basic hand placement. Position your mouth for blowing. Place your bottom lip against the fife right next to the hole for blowing.
How to get the right angle for breath?
To get the right angle for your breath, imagine some of the air from your mouth is hitting the inner wall of the fife, and some is going past the blow hole outside the fife. Try blowing out air as if you are whispering the word “too,” with lips tightened together and air pushed out sharply by your tongue.
What is a fife flute?
The Fife is a small flute, usually made of wood. It has a narrow bore, or wind channel, which gives a shriller sound than flutes used in orchestras. The fife was adopted by military and processional bands because its piercing tones could be heard out of doors. It is now accompanied by drums in marching bands.
Where was the Fife invented?
The fife was developed in Europe in the 15th century for military purposes. It came to be specifically associated with Swiss mercenary footsoldiers, who were responsible for taking the instrument all over Europe.
What is an aerophone?
Aerophone: an instrument that produces its sound by the vibration of a column of air.
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What is a fife?
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. A fife / ˈfaɪf / is a small, high-pitched, transverse aerophone, that is similar to the piccolo. The fife originated in medieval Europe and is often used in Fife and Drum Corps, military units, and marching bands. Someone who plays the fife is called a fifer.
Where is Fife drum used?
Fife alone, or fife and drum, is also used in numerous European countries, especially in the South of France ( Occitania ): Languedoc and the county of Nice; in Switzerland (notably Basel ); and in Northern Ireland, where it is often accompanied by the lambeg drum .
What are fifes made of?
Some fifes are entirely made of metal or plastic. Military and marching fifes have metal reinforcing bands, called ferrules, around the ends to protect them from damage. A fife used in less strenuous conditions may have a lathe-turned, knob-like decoration at the ends for protection.
What keys are Fife pitched in?
Fifes pitched (i.e., constructed so as to sound) in the keys of D and of C are also common.
What finger is used for fife?
On a 10-hole fife, the index, middle and ring fingers of both hands remain in the same positions as on the 6-hole fife, while both thumbs and both pinkies are used to play accidentals. An 11-hole fife has holes positioned similarly but adds a second hole under the right middle finger.
How many holes does a fife have?
Modern versions of the fife are chromatic, having 10 or 11 finger holes that allow any note to be played.
Why was the fife used in medieval Europe?
In medieval Europe, the fife was used in some folk music traditions to accompany dancing by all social classes.
