Fechtschulen Music?

[Kevin Maurer]

Does anyone have any info on the Reason for Music presumably being played in Fechtschulen of the 15th - 17th Centuries.? Joachim Meyer's
Treatise contains several of these images. I've seen some other German Fechtschulen plates from the 18th century also showing Drum/ Fife/Horns.
My preliminary research into the evolution of Martial Music reveals the battlefield applications of Music. But I wonder why it would be played at a Fechtschule. Furthermore, has anyone read where an Original Master mentions the benefits of Music played during training?
Unfortunately, written Martial Music in Europe doesn't appear till after the Renn. era. or so I think. Sometimes, when training, I will play Music with a 4/4 time. Yet the benefits elude me, as this causes an established Rhythm. Whereas fighting, is a staccato event, without clearly defined Tempos. Am I overlooking something?

[Jaron Bernstein]

Does anyone have any info on the Reason for Music presumably being played in Fechtschulen of the 15th - 17th Centuries.? Joachim Meyer's
Treatise contains several of these images. I've seen some other German Fechtschulen plates from the 18th century also showing Drum/ Fife/Horns.
My preliminary research into the evolution of Martial Music reveals the battlefield applications of Music. But I wonder why it would be played at a Fechtschule. Furthermore, has anyone read where an Original Master mentions the benefits of Music played during training?
Unfortunately, written Martial Music in Europe doesn't appear till after the Renn. era. or so I think. Sometimes, when training, I will play Music with a 4/4 time. Yet the benefits elude me, as this causes an established Rhythm. Whereas fighting, is a staccato event, without clearly defined Tempos. Am I overlooking something?

Not all music has a set tempo. We often spar with some form of modern broken rhythm (loud and fast) music playing. Gets the blood going. Sparring to "easy listening" might not be so useful. One interesting example is in traditional Muay Thai matches there is a small ringside orchestra that plays along with the fighters, varying their music with the intensity of the fight.

[Kevin Maurer]

Thank you for the input, During training, I find Music adds a certain Chaos, as does sparring with dissimilar weapons, this assists in breaking up any "fixed" patterns or other bad habits. Your reference to the Muay Thai orchestra varying its' tempo is interesting. I've been reading work by a Prof. Kate van Orden, Berkeley MIT. In her book Music, Discipline and Arms in Early Modern France, she asserts that, "Music became a Disciplinary agent of the Absolutist state, both on the Battlefield and Off."
Maybe instead of "Getting the Blood going" the musicians might have kept the Blood from Boiling. I'm looking for written martial music now and hope to learn more of it's purpose(s). Thanks again.

[Jaron Bernstein]

Thank you for the input, During training, I find Music adds a certain Chaos, as does sparring with dissimilar weapons, this assists in breaking up any "fixed" patterns or other bad habits. Your reference to the Muay Thai orchestra varying its' tempo is interesting. I've been reading work by a Prof. Kate van Orden, Berkeley MIT. In her book Music, Discipline and Arms in Early Modern France, she asserts that, "Music became a Disciplinary agent of the Absolutist state, both on the Battlefield and Off."
Maybe instead of "Getting the Blood going" the musicians might have kept the Blood from Boiling. I'm looking for written martial music now and hope to learn more of it's purpose(s). Thanks again.

In organized period armies (think pikes, muskets and close order drill) drums, fifes and bugles were used as troop signals more readily heard than verbal commands. Call it the early version of tactical radios. It also serves as a morale builder (i.e. "get drunk and follow the bagpipe player across Culloden field"). I would much rather spar with Mastodon playing in the background than in silence.

[Bill Welch]

I have some military bagpipe music, with drums. That music really makes you want to kill something.

[david welch]

I have some military bagpipe music, with drums. That music really makes you want to kill something.

Yeah... we had to quit listening to that stuff because practice was getting a little too violent.

[Mike Cartier]

Jaron i was just thinking of listening to Mastodon and training.. good call

John Farthing has some cool German bagpiper music, i'll get him to post some links

[Jeremiah Backhaus]

Going against the grain here, I like to listen to Celtic music whilst I train. I find it puts me in the mood of a medieval warrior. Call me a romantic but it feels cool. Of course, Aaron and Kevin have a really cool selection of some hopped up stuff that is helpful too, I think some of it actually comes from the last of the mohicans movie.

-Jeremiah (GFS)

[Will Adamson]

I keep wondering how long it's going to be before someone mentions ABBA!

Oops!

[John Farthing]

I listen to alot of International music with many of my favorite bands coming from Germany. There are some great bands who play 'Mittlealter' and/or a Mittlealter/Rock fusion which I feel lends itself well to certain training enviroments. Most of these bands feature the 'Dudelsack' the German variation of the Mediaeval bagpipe.

One band which to my mind has a sound which might be somewhat indicative of early 'fechtshule' music, is the group known as 'Cultus Ferox'. They are my personal favorite for background training music due to my perception of them as a bit more 'pure'. Those of you who favor a little heavier sound, aggressive beat, or more 'modern' sound (such as those of you listening to Mastadon) may also enjoy such bands as 'Tanzwut' & 'In Extremo'.

[Will Adamson]

Thanks for those very specific recommendations. I'm going to look for them on iTunes, but if I can't find them there where might one look? I live up in the hills, and there is no Virgin Megastore for a few hollows in any direction.

A couple of months ago we played some Istanpitta during training for background feel. How does something like that compare?

[Aaron Pynenberg]

Oh man- ABBA! That's funny- I love Loreena Mckennitt the celtic influences in her music pump me up. The rythms are good to for broken timing training etc..we should pool our resources and do a "best of ARMA training music CD"- I volunteer to coordinate if you gals/guys send me specific song ideas. I'll put them on a disc and mail them contact me at iceman9108@yahoo.com for ideas- ! - ARMA members only though please-(so, they can buy me beers at events for the effort-ha,ha)- AP

[John Farthing]

Will,

Being that the aforementioned bands are from Germany they are difficult to find in American music stores (i.e.- Virgin, etc.). I do not know about I-tunes but, I have had some successes on 'Limewire'. Also, I find many of these 'mittlealter' bands have pages and/or links to their pages via the phenomenon we have come to know as 'myspace'.

I am personally unfamiliar with Istanpitta, I will have to check them out!

[Will Adamson]

Istanpitta is New York's ensemble for Early Music. My wife was quite involved with early music groups while in college, so she steered me toward them when we've discussed appropriate music to play while training. They don't really have the blood boiling effect of bagpipes or rock, and there are more instruments at work than what are seen in the likes of Meyer. It's just decently high tempo dance music. I'm no music historian, not to mention nearly tone deaf, so I wouldn't know the difference.

http://www.amazon.com/Istanpitta-Vol-1- ... 028&sr=1-1

[Gene Tausk]

Well, it's definitely not period and it certainly is not designed for fechtschulen, but I enjoy the "Podrunner" mixes by DJ Steveboy (download for free, although donations are welcome). They pump you up, especially at oh-dark thirty and some of the mixes at 180 bpm or higher can really get the blood going.

Good move, Aaron, re: music mixes. I'll try and send some in.