Brandywine Colonials
Fife and Drum Corps
Our Music
Voices of the Revolution
The Fife and Drum Tunes of the American Revolution
In the smoke and thunder of the American Revolution, it was not only muskets and cannons that filled the air — it was music. From the rolling fields of Brandywine to the quiet winter huts of Valley Forge, the sound of fife and drum echoed across the colonies, carrying messages, lifting spirits, and uniting patriots in a common cause.
These were not mere melodies. They were signals of movement, calls to muster, tools of morale — and in many cases, living symbols of identity and resistance. Played by musicians in colorful reversed uniforms, these tunes helped guide columns of troops, mark daily routines, and kindle a shared sense of purpose among those fighting for liberty.
The following selections represent a cross-section of the Revolutionary musical landscape. Some began in the hymn books of New England. Others marched across the ocean from older wars, only to be reborn on American soil. All of them, in their own way, became woven into the soundscape of a nation being born.
Though centuries have passed, these tunes still speak. They remind us of courage in the face of impossible odds, of ordinary people rising to extraordinary purpose, and of a time when liberty had a beat you could march to.
“Nothing is more agreeable, and ornamental, than good music; every officer, for the credit of his corps, should take care to provide it."
~George Washington~
Brandywine
Our Signature Tune
“Brandywine” is a spirited American fife and drum tune named for the Battle of Brandywine, a pivotal and hard-fought engagement of the Revolutionary War fought on September 11, 1777, in Pennsylvania. Though the Americans were ultimately forced to retreat, the battle became a symbol of resilience and resolve — and the tune that bears its name carries that same determined energy.
Typically performed as a quickstep, Brandywine features a lively, driving rhythm and a melody full of forward momentum — well-suited for marching troops and energizing camp followers. It captures the raw, youthful confidence of the Continental Army and reflects the broader Revolutionary spirit of perseverance in the face of hardship.
Unlike vocal anthems such as Chester, Brandywine was purely instrumental, composed to be played by field musicians — fifers and drummers — whose job was to maintain cadence, lift morale, and signal commands. As such, it was likely heard on the march, on the drill field, and perhaps even echoing through the smoke of battle.
While the exact origin of the tune is uncertain, its enduring use by historical fife and drum corps today honors both the music of the Revolution and the memory of those who fought along the Brandywine. Rousing and resolute, Brandywine remains a staple in the repertoire — a reminder of the fire that carried a young nation forward.
Chester
The Unofficial Anthem of the Revolution
“Chester” was one of the most popular and influential patriotic songs of the American Revolution. Composed by William Billings — a self-taught Bostonian often called the father of American choral music — the tune first appeared in 1770 and was later revised with new lyrics in 1778 to reflect the growing spirit of independence.
Though originally written as a hymn, Chester quickly transcended its church roots. With a bold, hymn-like melody and stirring, defiant lyrics — “Let tyrants shake their iron rod, and slavery clank her galling chains” — it became a kind of unofficial anthem of the Revolution, second only to Yankee Doodle in patriotic popularity.
Unlike traditional fife and drum pieces used for battlefield communication or marching cadence, Chester was sung — not just played — in singing schools, public assemblies, military encampments, and patriotic gatherings. Its words framed the American cause as both sacred and righteous, portraying the Revolution as a divine mission against tyranny.
Powerful, unifying, and deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of the time, Chester stands as one of the most enduring musical expressions of the Revolutionary spirit.
Chester Lyrics
Words and music by William Billings, 1778
Let tyrants shake their iron rod,
And slavery clank her galling chains,
We fear them not, we trust in God,
New England’s God forever reigns.
When God inspired us for the fight,
Their ranks were broke, their lines were forced,
Their ships were shattered in our sight,
Or swiftly driven from our coast.
The foe comes on with haughty stride,
Our troops advance with martial noise;
Their veterans flee before our youth,
And generals yield to beardless boys.
What grateful offering shall we bring,
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud hallelujahs let us sing,
And praise his name on every chord.
Yankee Doodle
The Rally Cry for American Independence
“Yankee Doodle” is arguably the most iconic and enduring tune of the American Revolution — a melody that began in mockery and ended in triumph. With its cheerful fife melody and simple, catchy lyrics, it became both a marching tune and a cultural rallying cry for American independence.
The song’s origins are complex and transatlantic. The earliest versions likely trace back to British military songs or folk airs from the early 18th century. By the time of the French and Indian War (1754–1763), British troops used Yankee Doodle to mock colonial militiamen, portraying them as unsophisticated “Yankees” who thought putting a feather in a hat made them fashionable — “stuck a feather in his cap and called it macaroni.”
But during the Revolutionary War, the Americans reclaimed the song with full force. What was once ridicule became defiance: Yankee Doodle was proudly played by Continental Army fifers and drummers as a marching tune, quickstep, and even a tune of victory. When the British surrendered at Saratoga and later at Yorktown, it was Yankee Doodle that rang out through the ranks.
Musically, it is a classic fife and drum tune, well-suited to military use — bright, rhythmic, and easy to learn. Its infectious melody made it ideal for field musicians, while its ever-evolving lyrics made it a living reflection of Revolutionary wit, satire, and spirit.
Over time, Yankee Doodle became more than a song — it became a symbol of American identity, resilience, and humor in the face of condescension. Today, it stands as a beloved piece of national heritage and a staple in every fife and drum corps repertoire.
Yankee Doodle Lyrics
Chorus:
Yankee Doodle went to town,
A-riding on a pony,
He stuck a feather in his cap
And called it Macaroni.
[Chorus Repeats:]
Yankee Doodle, keep it up,
Yankee Doodle dandy,
Mind the music and the step,
And with the girls be handy.
Commonly Sung Additional Verses:
Father and I went down to camp,
Along with Captain Good’n,
And there we saw the men and boys
As thick as hasty puddin’.
And there was Captain Washington
Upon a slapping stallion,
Giving orders to his men —
I guess there were a million!
And every time they fired their guns,
It made a noise like thunder;
The people ran along the streets,
As if they’d pull’d them under.
The White Cockade
Used As Our Cadence
“The White Cockade” is a spirited and enduring martial tune with deep roots in both Scottish and American military history. Originally a Jacobite song celebrating the 18th-century Scottish uprising, the melody made its way across the Atlantic and became a popular fife and drum tune during the American Revolution — its bold rhythm and uplifting melody making it a favorite among field musicians and patriotic audiences alike.
The “white cockade” itself was a symbol of allegiance: a white ribbon or rosette worn in the hat to signify loyalty to a cause. In Scotland, it stood for the exiled Stuart monarchy. In America, that same imagery was repurposed to symbolize commitment to liberty and resistance against tyranny — another example of the Revolutionaries reclaiming and reinterpreting older traditions to serve the birth of a new nation.
Musically, The White Cockade is a bright, bouncy quickstep, ideally suited for fifes and drums. It was often played during marches, drills, and patriotic gatherings. Its confident tempo and clear-cut phrasing helped keep troops in step and morale high, while its familiar melody gave it broad appeal among both soldiers and civilians.
While many modern listeners associate the tune with traditional Celtic music, during the Revolutionary War it was very much a transatlantic military march — played proudly by American field musicians alongside staples like Chester, Brandywine, and Yankee Doodle.
Today, The White Cockade remains a mainstay in historical fife and drum corps repertoires, a tune that bridges continents and revolutions, carrying echoes of both Scottish rebellion and American independence.
The Brandywine Colonials use The White Cockade as our cadence to honor the tradition where the Brandywine Heights High School Band used it as its cadence while Steve Schwoyer (the founder of the BHHS fife and drum corps) was director.
The World Turned Upside Down
The World Turned Upside Down is an English ballad dating from the mid-17th century that later found enduring symbolic usage in the American Revolutionary era. It originally appeared on a broadside in the 1640s, set to the tune of When the King Enjoys His Own Again, and served as a satirical protest against the Puritan-led Parliament’s banning of traditional celebrations like Christmas.
Though the tune itself pre-dates the American conflict by decades, legend holds that the British band at the surrender of Siege of Yorktown (1781) played The World Turned Upside Down as they marched out — giving the melody a symbolic place in the story of American independence.
Musically, it carries the character of a 17-century broadside—a simple, repetitive melody designed for voice or fife and drum. In a field-music context, its adoption or attribution reflects both the reversal of military fortunes and the idea of “the world turned upside down” when colonial forces prevailed.
Today, the tune is embraced by fife & drum corps and historical reenactors for its association (even if legendary) with the final victory of the Revolutionary cause. It reminds musicians and audiences alike of how the American Revolution inverted established orders and ushered in a new era.