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Military Fifes

French Fife

 

French Fife in D

Folk Fifes
Especially for French re-enactment groups,  the design for our new French model fife was taken from measurements of a Napoleonic Era fife in a private collection in Paris,  then slightly "tweaked"  for the 20th century ear.   This fife is ideal for a late 18th/early 19th century European impression.  Key of D with the intent of playing in the 2nd and 3rd registers,  as were all historic fifes.  Blackwood with brass ferrules.  

Fife & Drum Colonial style Military Fifes

   

Colonial Fife in "C"

Based on a Klemm fife at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts; holes sized and spaced for accurate intonation. An authentic Revolutionary period fife, with brass ferrules and high, bright, tone.
Note: this was the most common pitch at that period. However, today, fifes in Bb are the most common.

Colonial Fife in "Bb"

Same revolutionary period styling as above, but in Bb, the most popular key today in reenactments, Fife & Drum Corps, etc.

 

"Cloos" Reproduction in Bb

Our most popular fife, with nickel-silver ferrules and especially easy 3rd register.  This is the most traditional drum-corps fife, authentic for the Civil War period.

 

M-1 Model Fife

Good low register, easy 3rd register to high "B" or even D4! Good for Fife & Drum corps, Irish, and Contra Dance music. NIckel-plated brass rings. Two piece, tuneable.

 

M-2 Model Fife

Same basic design as the M-1 model, but larger bore to get even stronger low register for harmony parts. Great for Irish and Contra Dance music. Will reach high B in 3rd octave

 

Plastic Bb Fife

(Not Shown)
Made for Sweetheart Flute Co. and suggested for Beginners

 

 

Colonial Military Fife
Colonial Fife
Cloos model Military Fife
Cloos model Fife

Military Fife
Model M-1 Fife, Rosewood
Military Fife
Model M-1 Fife, Blackwood
Military Fife
Model M-2 Fife


 

Our military fifes play easily up to high B in the third register (even up to the D beyond that) and are authentic for Civil War or Revolutionary War re-enactments.  The Cloos model was the most popular fife from Civil War times until mid 20th century, and the Colonial model is inspired by several fifes from that period in our collection.

Fife & Drum Information:  Click on Bob Castillo's website for complete world-wide information on Fife and Drum Corps, contacts, events, instrument makers, etc.

Sound Samples
Cloos Fife Sound Sample Cloos Model fife for Drum Corps "The Girl I Left Behind Me," played by Walt Sweet
M-1 Fife Sound Sample M-1 Model fife for Drum Corps "Old Saybrook," played by Walt Sweet
M-1 Fife Sound Sample Suffield model fife for Drum Corps "Turkey in the Straw," played by Walt Sweet
Drumcorp Sound Sample Drum Corps Fife Sample from "Complete Music for Fife & Drum" CD by Walter D. Sweet.