Join our resident fifer for a musical demonstration and discussion of 18th-century holiday music! 

This activity is included with admission.

 

Add to Calendar 11/29/2021 10:30:00 12/31/1969 America/New_York Holiday Fifing

Join our resident fifer for a musical demonstration and discussion of 18th-century holiday music! 

This activity is included with admission.

 

Greenhouse George Washington's Mount Vernon tickets@mountvernon.org MM/DD/YYYY 15

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Greenhouse

Fife and Drum Music

In his orders to his army during the American Revolution on June 4, 1777, George Washington complained that the "music of the army [was] in general very bad." 

Noting that "Nothing is more agreeable, and ornamental, than good music," Washington directed that "every officer, for the credit of his corps, should take care to provide it." Even during the Revolutionary War, the issue of music was on George Washington's mind.

A Salute to the General

On February 22, during the bitter Valley Forge winter of 1778, the musicians of Proctor's Artillery surprised their Commander in Chief with a birthday serenade outside his headquarters.

Washington rewarded the fifers and drummers with a gift of one pound and ten shillings. He acknowledged the fortitude of the musicians who would perform, without orders, in the subfreezing temperatures.

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