Revolutionary War Drumming

with the Massachusetts Bay Drummers

Photo of a man in historic costume, including a brown hat and green vest, playing a large rope drum worn with a leather strap across his chest

Event Details

Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 11 am to Noon

Grounds of Historic Northampton
46 Bridge Street
Northampton MA
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  • Free, donations accepted
  • No registration required
  • All ages welcome

During the American Revolution, drums, drumming, and drummers played a critical role in field communication in both the American and British armies. Drumming was not only heard over long distances, but the rhythms conveyed specific messages to the troops–to assemble, to keep pace, or to hold fire for a conference with the enemy. 

In this special demonstration, the three members of the Massachusetts Bay Drummers–Lance Piantaggini, Joe McSweeney, Chris Mulqueen–will use rope tension drums like those used during the Revolutionary War to play specific rudiments and rhythms that were used during the War. The drummers will share information about the history of the rope drum, compare past drumming to contemporary marching snare drum performances, and take questions from the audience. The trio will be dressed in uniforms inspired by Captain Jacob Allen’s company of Colonel Bailey’s Massachusetts 2nd Regiment.

More about the Massachusetts Bay Drummers
Established in 2025 to mark the nation’s 250th, the Massachusetts Bay Drummers includes Joe McSweeney, Chris Mulqueen, and Lance Piantaggini. The three have been friends for more than twenty years and have been a part of the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps and the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums. Members of the trio have also played with the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps, the Boston University Indoor Percussion Ensemble, and the New England Patriots Drumline. 
Individually, they have worked as percussion instructors in high schools across New England, where they have also focused on high quality marching arts education. In addition to drumming instruction, Chris now works as a pharmacist, Joe is in finance, and Lance, whose great, great, great grandfather was a fifer in New Bedford, is finishing his Ph.D. in teacher education at UMASS Amherst.