For many residents of the City of Basel, the drum is a symbol of their identity. There are an estimated 4’000 trained drummers in the region. It takes several years of practice to master the basics of drumming. Schools, which are mainly run by Basel Carnival associations, teach the unwritten phrasing technique, the effect of which is often compared to the “swing” of jazz. In the 1920s, Dr Fritz Berger, known as “Drummel-Doggter”, further developed a drum notation system for the Swiss military that had been in existence since 1819, thereby helping Basel drumming gain international recognition.
The success of Basel drumming can be attributed to its broad social roots throughout history. Since the Middle Ages, the art of drumming in Basel has never been confined to military use but has been refined for a variety of purposes. Today, drumming in Basel takes place on a wide variety of occasions: at Carnival, at the “Vogel Gryff”, at city festivities or at private events. The Basel drumming tradition has had a significant influence on today's drumming and piping culture throughout Switzerland.
