The fife is a simple, high-pitched member of the flute family. This instrument came early to the New World as a military instrument with European soldiers and a folk instrument with settlers. In 18th century Europe and her American colonies, one fifer and one drummer were assigned to each company in a regiment. It was of utmost importance that the company fifer and drummer know their signal calls and play them flawlessly; lives depended on the fife and drum calling out the orders on the battlefield and in the camp.