The Historical Ensemble of the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps performed music of the 18th century in the Great Hall of the Library's Thomas Jefferson Building. The performers used period instruments and uniforms to offer a window into musical lif...

A fife is a small, high-pitched, transverse aerophone, that is similar to the piccolo. The fife originated in medieval Europe and is often used in fife and drum corps, military units, and marching bands. Someone who plays the fife is called a fifer.