Fife and Drum music is as American as baseball, apple pie and… well, Yankee Doodle. Although we regard it as uniquely American, this patriotic style of music is actually loved world-wide. Like the shot heard ’round the world, the sound of American fife and drum music echoes around the globe.
Connecticut is the heart of fife and drum corps activity and home of The Company of Fifers & Drummers, a nonprofit organization formed in 1965 to perpetuate the historical significance and folk traditions of fife and drum music and to foster the spirit of fellowship among fifers and drummers everywhere.
The Company has extended the boundaries of the fife and drum community, known as the Ancients, far beyond New England. Their roster lists corps, individuals, and institutional members all across the United States and in Europe and Great Britain as well.
The Company owns and maintains The Museum of Fife & Drum at its headquarters in Ivoryton, Connecticut. Here you can see many artifacts displayed, some dating back to the 18th and 19th Century.
Among the resources available to its members are a Music Library, Archives, Company Store, Video Library, and various committees that provide expertise and assistance to it members as well as coordinating and organizing events to kindle interest in and increase public exposure to American field music.
We hope you enjoy your visit here. We invite you to tour The Museum of Fife & Drum in Ivoryton, stop in at the Music Library, sign our Guestbook, and come back often! Feel free to contact us with your questions and comments about fifing and drumming. Check us out on Facebook and Twitter!