198 WAR MUSIC 



sort of melody that suits the dauntless spirit of 

 our allies. As I watched these men, so soon to 

 fight for their country, I was reminded of that 

 white-faced boy pictured by Stevenson, striding 

 over his dead comrades, the roll of his drum leading 

 the living to victory or death. Drums are said 

 (incorrectly I believe) to be made of donkey's skin, 

 and Stevenson imagines how, after death, the poor 

 beast takes this magical revenge for the blows 

 received in life, by leading cruel man to destruction. 

 The old English military music seems to have been 

 played by drums alone. King Charles I issued a 

 warrant in the following words^ : "Whereas . . . 

 the March of this our nation so famous in all 

 honourable achievements and glorious warres of 

 this our Kingdom in forraigne parts was through 

 the negligence and carelessness of drummers . . . 

 so altered and changed from the ancient gravity 

 and majestic thereof as it was in danger utterly to 

 have been lost and forgotten. . . ." He therefore 

 wills and commands drummers to play only what 

 is recorded in the curious old notation of that day. 

 It must be remembered that drums and trumpets 

 had something of the sacredness of Royalty in the 

 17th century. No one was allowed to play them 

 in public without a license from the Sergeant 

 Trumpeter,^ an officer who certainly existed a few 

 years ago, and may, for all I know, still survive. 



* DicHonary of Miisic, s.v., March. 



' DicHonary of Music, s.v. Sergeant Trumpeter. When the 

 office was revived in 1858 it was given to a clarinet player and then 

 to a bassoonist. Before this date it was not even necessary to be a 

 musician to hold the office. The salary is ;£ioo per annum. 



