Wood, Skin, Leather, and Rope
H 41.2 cm, D 40 cm
Portugal, 19th/20th century
MAH.R.1993.0938
Drums were used to enforce discipline during military marches, which is why they were designed to be carried on the waist so they could be played while marching.
The orders given by bugles and trumpets, along with the drum cadence, needed to be clear and precise, as they were vital for commanding and controlling troop movements and operations. When they ceased to be used in warfare by Infantry and Artillery regiments, military drums were absorbed into popular music.
This example, belonging to the Musical Instruments Collection of the Museu de Angra do Heroísmo, stands out for its excellent state of preservation and the beauty of its decoration, featuring a colorful crowned Portuguese shield flanked by coats of arms and banners, from which the Cross of Christ hangs.
Text | Carla Ferreira
