Fifes and drums in the canton of Valais
The impressive sound of fifes and drums conjures up grainy images of soldiers marching into battle. While the roots of this tradition are military and date back to medieval times, this musical practice is still alive and well today in the canton of Valais, and perpetuated by civilian enthusiasts. Together Upper and Lower Valais have 38 fife and drum corps, which boast as many as 2,000 members. All of these corps are themselves members of either theAssociations des tambours et fifres du Valais romand(fife and drum association of French-speaking Valais) or theOberwalliser Tambouren- und Pfeiferverband(Upper Valais fife and drum association), which meet and perform throughout the year at various contests, festivals and local events. It is often hard to believe that the life-affirming music that these instruments produce would have accompanied countless men from Valais deployed as professional mercenaries in foreign armies. On their return home, these men upheld the musical tradition and worked hard to ensure the survival of fife- and drum-playing. By the end of the 19th century, it became increasingly common to hear fifes playing and drums beating during religious ceremonies, or at social occasions or other public occasions that attract large numbers of visitors, such as Corpus Christi. Nowadays, the fife and drum music scene is as inclusive as it is diverse, often accompanied by songs, marching tunes like theAppel au Drapeau(oath of allegiance) and dances like the famousgrande chaîne. In Valais, different types of fifes are still played, while the preferred drums are standard Swiss army issue drums dating from the 19th century, as well as the Basel Drum. In the past, the instrumental technique was passed down orally from generation to generation. Today, standard notation is used, with classes often given by the actual fife and drum corps. Besides Valais, the Basel region is another centre in Switzerland where this musical tradition is preserved