Style, Music, Uniforms, Equipment, History

The Brandywine Heights High School Marching Band is steeped in tradition and history.  The unit is modeled after a Revolutionary war music regiment.  To keep with this style, band members wear reproductions of authentic Continental army uniforms and march with precise military bearing.  The band also includes a Fife and Drum Corps, which was the common form of music and communication in an 18^th century army.  When band members step into their uniforms and put on their tricorn hats, memories of America’s beginning are brought to mind.  This unique style, combined with hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm has helped to make The Brandywine Heights High School Band one of the most successful bands in BerksCounty. 

The Marching Band:

The BHHS Marching Band typically consists of 70-80 musicians.  As part of its colonial style, the band plays patriotic songs.  The parade lineup generally includes two medleys each containing 3-4 well-known patriotic favorites and a fife song.  To maintain its military bearing, the band strives for uniformity.  The goal is to be noticed as a unit, not as individuals.  A “roll step” technique is used to minimize bobbing up and down, and to give the appearance of a unit gliding forward together. Before parades the band also performs the “Drill of Attention” which is a checklist to get band members focused and in the correct posture.  This disciplined bearing has contributed greatly to the success of the band.  On average the band performs in 6-8 parades a year.  Many are local, but several are well known and highly competitive. In the past the band has performed in various prestigious parades including The Miss America Parade (2^nd place 2002), The Hershey Centennial Parade, The King Frost Parade (1^st place 2002), and The Berks County 250^th Anniversary Parade.  The band has also performed in Disney World, and has been selected to represent the state of Pennsylvania in the 2004 World War 2 Memorial Dedication/Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.

Band Front: The band front consists of an honor guard, flag corps, and majorette squad.  The honor guard carries the national and state flag as well as several replicas of revolutionary artifacts.  The flag corps performs routines to the band songs with flags representing the thirteen colonies.  The majorette squad also performs precise routines in synchronization with the band.  The award-winning squad has greatly contributed to the effect of the entire band and has won numerous honors including first place at the Ephrata Fair parade

About the Uniforms

The frock coats and tricorn hats the band and front wear, are adaptations of authentic uniform patterns used during the American Revolution. In 1779 General Washington Issued the General Order of October 2 1779 stating that the Continental Army would have official uniforms. Patterns were made according to Washington's orders, and over 200 years later, copies of these patterns were purchased by the band at a reenactment site at The Battle of Brandywine in Chadds Ford Pennsylvania. The patterns were then passed on to a uniform manufacturer and altercations were made to create a stunning band uniform that would still maintain the style and integrity of the original pattern.

  Changes Made to the Original Uniforms: To make the uniforms our won we have adopted some unique changes. On the original uniforms, pants, knickers, and waist coats (vests) were buff. We have changed these to gray in order to represent school colors. Standard cockades originally were black and white, however we have changed them to maroon and gray, once again to represent Brandywine colors.

Standard and Special Features of the Uniform: Each member is issued a black tricorn hat, the same worn by soldiers of the revolution. Each hat bares cockades similar to those used during the revolution. Around the neck of every individual of the organization is a piece of the uniform call the dickey. Around the dickey is a black ribbon and attached the dickey is a neck ruffle. Each coat has "turnbacks". These would be worn up during hot and sunny weather, and would we worn closed during cold and bad weather. On the turnbacks there are red hearts. These hearts serve as a reminder to lives lost during battle.  Each coat features a mock waist coat built into the coat, however the Drum Major wears an authentic one.

Uniforms of the Front:Washington's General Order of 1779 stated that the Continental Army would wear blue coats faced with various colors, along with buff knickers, and knee high socks. The states would be divided into regions, and each region would have its own facing color. The region that included Pennsylvania was to wear blue coats with red facings. These same uniforms are displayed in our Honor Guard, and Flag Corps.

Uniforms of the Bugles, and Fife and Drum: In the later years of the war, Washington ordered that the coats of the musicians to have reverse colors. For example since Pennsylvania regiments wore blue coats with red facings, Pennsylvania musicians were to wear red coats with blue facings. In the confusion of battle, these contrasting uniforms could be easily spotted to issue orders. The musicians still wore knickers and knee high socks like the troops. Our Bugle Corps, and Fife and Drum Corps wear uniform very similar to these.

Uniforms of the Band: The uniforms of the band are very similar to the uniforms of the Fife, Drum and Bugles'. Instead of wearing knickers however, the band wears gray overalls in order to distinguish them from the specialty groups of the band.

Uniforms of the Majorettes: The Majorettes wear uniforms very similar to the rest of the band. They wear the same red coats as the band, however instead of overalls or knickers, they wear navy blue skirts.

Insignia of Rank & Accomplishment

Each officer/leader in the BHHS Marching Band is indicated by certain symbols of rank on their uniform.  Whether it be represented through cockade color, pins, or uniform accessories, accomplished musicians and leaders are recognized.  The method in indicating each rank is as authentic to the Revolutionary period as possible.

Cockades:  Every marching band member wears a cockade (a circular ribbon) on the left side of their tricorn hat.  Regular band members wear a maroon and gray colored cockade because they are the school colors. Section leaders are indicated by a green cockade.  Yellow cockades signify lieutenants, while white signifies captains and the drum major.  Band council members wear their appropriate cockade, but are indicated by a red ribbon running across the diameter of the cockade.

Epaulettes: High-ranking band officers are also indicated by epaulettes, as was the custom in the Continental army.  The drum major wears two epaulettes, each with two stars.  The assistant drum major wears two epaulettes, each with one star.  The First Sergeant (President) and first clarinet wear two epaulettes with no stars. 

Pins:  For their achievements and service to the band program, band members are awarded pins at the end of each year.  The pins are worn on the left breast and can represent any number of accomplishments.  Organization pins display the different performing groups the band member is in.  Service pins are awarded after each year of service in each of these organizations.  Rank pins are also awarded to officers such as drum major, band council members, captains, and lieutenants.  Band members who have made, district, region, or state band also wear medallions signifying their accomplishments.  Some pins are also given to members who participated in special performances.

Marks of the Drum Major:  As the most important leader in the band, the drum major wears and carries several accessories that indicate his or her rank. 

Mace- The mace is a pole topped with a halberd, or double-edged spear.  In revolutionary times the leader of the music section would carry such a spear to protect his musicians from the enemy.  Today, the drum major uses the mace along with a whistle to issue commands.  Tied to the top of the mace are ribbons representing past drum majors.

Sash- The drum major wears a crimson silk sash around the waste, as was typical of an officer in the Continental army.  The crimson color of the sash represents the blood spilt in battle.

Canteen- A cylindrical shaped wooden canteen, typical of the American Revolution.

Plume and Dickey- Every band member wears a feather plume at away parades, but the drum major’s is larger.  The ruffle of the drum major’s dickey is also larger and more embellished than on the typical dickey.

Drum Harness and Sticks- The drum major wears a drum harness like those found on the rope snares, complete with a pair of drum sticks.

Equipment of the Front

Equipment of the Honor Guard:

Brown Bess Musket: This standard style British musket was favored by the Continental Army early in the war. It could be fitted with a bayonet for hand to hand combat. It is carried in the Honor Guard along with a powder horn.

Modern American Flag: Modern American flag with 50 stars and 13 stripes.

Modern Pennsylvania State Flag: State flag of Pennsylvania.

Betsy Ross American Flag: The first American flag to be made, designed by Betsy Ross of Philadelphia. It has 13 stripes and 13 stars in a circle on the blue field.

'76 American Flag: A takeoff on the Betsy Ross American flag. It has 13 stripes and 13 stars however "76" is written within the circle of stars.

Saber: Preferred sword of officers during the Revolution. It was carried by many foot officers and all cavalry men. It is worn on a shoulder belt with the scabber (holster) attached. This was the style of belt preferred by the cavalry. The saber was considered a sturdy efficient weapon.

Equipment of the Flag Corps: There are 13 flags used in our Flag Corps to represent the thirteen original colonies. Each colony did not have their own colors during the Revolution; regional symbol and slogans were used instead. Flags of the Revolution fell into three basic groups, those found at sea, garrison flags flown over forts and buildings, and military colors. Three official types of military flags were employed in the American Army, 1) the national colors which have no evidence of ever being carried into battle by a unit of the Continental Army 2) The line regiment flags, and 3) The individual regiment flags.

Each of the flags used in the Flag Corps has a special meaning and history behind it. Although some of these flags were not part of colonial America, they do play a part in American history,

1.      French Fluer de Lis: was flown over most of the French forts and settlements in America

2.      Columbus: was the first flag seen in the New World

3.      Washington Cruisers: was symbolic of the Sons of Liberty who rallied under a large tree in Boston, which came to be known as the Liberty Tree

4.      Fort Moultrie: was carried by Colonel William Moultrie's South Carolina Militia in SullivanIsland on June 28, 1716. The British were defeated that day.

5.      Taunton: was an example of the colonists modifying the British flag. It was raised on the Liberty Pole in Taunton, Mass on October 21, 1774.

6.      Continental: was believed to have been carried at the battle of Bunker Hill.

7.      First Continental Regimental: served in each of the thirteen colonies. Their banner was carried during the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Monmouth, and Yorktown.

8.      British Union Jack: was the most common used flag in the English colonies until the beginning of the Revolutionary War in 1775.

9.      Rhode Island Regiment: is symbolic of the state in which the anchor represents RI's seafaring activities and thirteen stars represent the thirteen original colonies.

10. Culpeper: represented a group of a hundred minutemen in Culpeper Virginia.

11. Gadsden: with its rattlesnake and "Don't Tread on Me" underneath, first became popular in Rhode Island. A colonel from South Carolina, Christopher Gadsden copied the flag and presented it to the Continental Congress.

12. Bedford Flag: (captain's flag) was present at the battle of Concord on April 19 1775. It was carried by Nathaniel Page.

13. Philadelphia Lighthouse Troop: represented a group of gentlemen in Philadelphia. They later carried their flag in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown, Princeton, and Trenton.