Martial music, also known as military music, is a distinct genre designed for military environments, performed by professional soldiers known as field musicians. This type of music is often composed to signal military events with bugle calls and fanfares, accompany marching formations with drum ensembles, or commemorate special occasions through military bands. Historically, music has played a role in battle for centuries, serving to intimidate enemies, motivate troops, and aid in the organisation and timing of military actions. Various percussion and musical instruments, including drums, fifes, bugles, trumpets, bagpipes, cymbals, and even full orchestras, have depended on cultural traditions. While some martial music is notated, others, bugle calls and drum cadences, have been passed down orally, relying on collective memory for coordination.
