Hi all,
Got a couple of fifing gigs and am thinking of buying a fife instead of borrowing one from a friend of mine here who used to be a fifer in the Old Guard at the White House. Looking to spend about $100 or less. Would like something that looks colonial in Bflat and plays well in the first two octaves (will demo 3rd octave but not play there for tunes).
Thanks. PM me if interested.
Jason
What kind of fife did did you barrow? Was it a Healy or a McDonagh (I think those were the maker’s fifes used by the old guard)? How may holes did they have?
What registers do you normally play in? Do you use the third octave often?
Are six holes enough, or do you prefer more holes or keys to be fully chromatic?
6 holes are enough. I prefer to play in the first 2 octaves. That 3rd octave is just too deadly, i.e. too hard on the hearing and I don’t like wearing ear plugs. I’m doing a demo, short performance for 5th graders having their “Colonial Day”, so I’m not doing full reenactment nor am I in an official fifer corps. My friend’s fife is a replica from the 18th century, don’t know the maker. First octave was not great, but screamed in the 3rd octave.
PM sent 