In Philidor’s MS, we see a couple of beatings that include a second part known as “Petite Marsche”. Philidor includes the note:
“All the drums beat the little march to the reserve of one who beats the march there” – “Tout les tambours battent la petite marsche a la reserue dun qui bat le marsche y dessils”
Philidor (36)
Three beatings include the Petite Tambour: New Mousquetaires March, by Lully, c. 1670 (p. 32); Marche du regiment du Roy, c. 1670 (p. 36); La Marche des dragon du Roy (p. 40).
These lines essentially amount to a bass drum part, in which all but one of the snare drummers beat a simple, steady cadence. The notes are always half notes or quarter notes that act to accent the downbeats and occasionally the middle of the measure.
Practical Application of the Petite Marsche
Based on Philidor’s note, the Petite Marsche is beaten by all of the drummers, except one who beats the main march.
This might allow the drummers to take a break during a longer march.
While only a few beatings include the Petite Marsche, in theory, every beating can easily adopt a Petite Marche. If you have a new drummer in your corps, or a more advanced beating that not everyone knows, you could easily write out a simple, bass drum-like beating and still be perfectly within authentic standards.
Muffled Drums?
Muffling refers here to covering the drum with some type of fabric, which dampens the vibration of the drum head, preventing the sound from travelling as far.
There’s no evidence that the Petite Marsche was beaten with drums muffled, but it’s a plausible assumption that merits further research.
I say this based on the English and American tradition of muffling a drum during some of the daily duties. When there are only a pair or so of drummers, such as when marching the guards out after The Troop, it appears that one drummer would muffle their drum, while the other kept theirs “loud”. Several troops and marches survive that describe this style of “duet” between a loud and muffled drum.
For examples, see ‘The Duke of York’s Favorite Troop, for two drums’ in Ashworth, A New, Useful and Complete System of Drum Beating, 26-27, and ‘Troop for Two Drums – Dog and Gun’ and ‘Duke or York’s Troop – two Drums’ in Rumrille The Drummer’s Instructor, 20-24.
performing the petite marsche
Here’s an example of how the Petite Marsche works in Philidor’s “La Marche des dragons du Roy”.
More Resources:
If you want more music from Philidor’s Collection, check out my book ‘Philidor’s Drum Beatings’.
If you have questions or comments regarding interpreting The Philidor Collection, contact me or comment below.