Arbeau’s Orchésographie, a precursor to rudimental drumming

New resource added to Historical Documents: Thoinot Arbeau’s Orchésographie

The earliest known published work to include descriptions and notations for the drum is Orchésographie, a French dance manual published in 1589. Although authored by the French cleric Jehan Tabourot, the work was released under his pseudonym, Thoinot Arbeau—an anagram of his real name, by which he is now commonly known. The book is structured as a dialogue between Arbeau, the master, and his student, Capriole.

While Swiss military drumming traditions are known to predate Orchésographie, with evidence of their use in battle as early as the 1300s, this knowledge was transmitted primarily through oral tradition for centuries before being formally documented.

In Orchésographie, Arbeau employs syllables such as “tan” and “tere,” along with rhythmic figures, to teach drumming for dance. These descriptions illustrate specific hand movements and rhythms on a single line of notation. This approach influenced later systems, including the “up-down” notation (left- and right-hand strokes) found in 18th-century French and British military manuals. Over time, these systems evolved into modern drum notation, laying the groundwork for rudimental drumming.

Enjoy this incredible piece of history and happy drumming!