Cavalry Trumpeters and Kettledrummers

Cavalry Trumpeters and Kettledrummers: The Birth of the Mounted Band is a comprehensive history of horse-mounted musicians and their influence on military ceremony and communication. This music category volume examines the evolution of these performers from the Middle Ages through the 20th century. Author Bruce P. Gleason utilizes archival records and art to show how musicians transitioned from battlefield signalers to enduring symbols of power and prestige.

The text traces the origins of this tradition from Middle Eastern performers during the Crusades to the development of fanfare ensembles and brass bands across Europe. By blending musicology and military history, the book details the operational roles and ceremonial functions of these units. Cavalry Trumpeters and Kettledrummers provides a researched account of how mounted military music shaped both civilian and martial traditions within Western culture.