Beating a Dead Drum

[shanmonster]

The other day, I can't recall where, I saw mention that drumming has never made a lick of change, politically speaking. Something about this sticks in my craw. Considering the central position of drums/rhythm in religious ritual, calls to war, inducing a trance state, getting people all fired up, etc., I suspect that the use of drums has indeed made a difference at some point over the course of history.

Do you know of any concrete examples?

I'll bet this could make a pretty neat research paper.

Comments

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

Well, drum CIRCLES have never made a lick of change.
But this does bear thinking about.

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

"The sound of the drum drives out thought; for that very reason it is the most military of instruments."

Joseph Joubert, 1754-1824 Pensées (1842)

The origin of the drum is a tool for signalling and for war. The Romans did not use drums to keep step and therefore formation, which was one of their major advantages over thier enemies. However, Asian armies, such as the Parthians and Mongols, did use large drums to make signals or to impress the enemy with their noise. By the 18th century (it might have been Frederick the Great who introduced it) armies were keeping step to drums and fifes.

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

I think poorly-played violins and bagpipes drive out thought, too. ;)

From Benoit

[(Anonymous)]

Here, an interesting result from googling drums + "political change":
http://books.google.ca/books?id=iNy-t3kirw8C&pg=PA107&lpg=PA107&dq=drums+%2B%22political+change%22&source=bl&ots=kEmO03yrCX&sig=Mb8BdYp_lNDdimGL2mbhNYOVkV0&hl=fr&ei=7NuZTtXNEKjl0QGJ_OylBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

B.

Re: From Benoit

[shanmonster.livejournal.com]

Very interesting! Thanks!