Contemporary Fifes

Historical Note:

10 hole fifes (and 11 hole) with all open tone holes are a latter 20th century innovation and not historically accurate for earlier impressions, if that is what is important to you – these were made to meet a growing demand for still better tuned instruments largely for fife & drum competitions, and the development of the fife provided for greater versatility and more artistic expression. While flutes in the 18th century began to manifest extra tone holes and keys in custom form, the norm being six holes with a 7th covered by a key that facilitates a D#, the fife was not regarded as a serious instrument beyond its military and folk purposes. It is in the start 19th century that we begin to find examples of 2-piece fifes and with conical bores (France and Galicia (in Spain); extra tone holes beyond 7 not coming into being until much later; and more noticeably varying tonehole sizes and irregular placement to work towards better intonation. The musicologist David Munrow made a rather convincing argument with data to back it up that the fife (rather than the flute itself) is the direct precursor to the piccolo… The piccolo began to have keys from the early 18th century but the fife – however closely designed – was not to see the same until the late 19th century with still only six open tone holes, the others covered by lever keys. All that said – fife and drum today is a style of folk music and unless you are insistent upon a historically accurate approach, play what suits you!

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“I have followed you as a fife maker since the late 80s when you worked for Pat (Cooperman). I have played the fife since the 60s and I honestly have yet to find any maker as good as you. Quality, playability, caring for the customer. I am always surprised when I meet fifers who don’t know you or play your handiwork. Thank you for the Ralph Sweet model fife and please keep doing your craft!” Frank Riccio, New York, NY.