Alexandre Raynaud (1876–1958) was a distinguished French military drummer, educator, and composer. Trained from childhood by prominent Imperial Guard and naval drummers, he enlisted in 1894 and rose through the ranks, serving notably in the Engineer Regiments, the Republican Guard, and as drum major of the 31st Infantry Regiment. Mobilized during World War I, he served throughout the conflict, earning the Military Medal and other honors. After a distinguished career as a drummer, Raynaud retired from active service. He became an influential teacher, developing an unpublished but innovative drumming method and training many leading French military drummers. In the 1920s, he played a crucial role in preserving France’s regimental drum heritage by transcribing a vast, previously forgotten repertoire, including the first comprehensive collection of French infantry regimental refrains. A prolific composer who continually pushed technical boundaries, Raynaud left a lasting legacy in military drumming through his pedagogy, compositions, and preservation efforts.

You can read more about Alexandre Raynaud here. (It’s in French, so you’ll have to translate it. Google does a good job with this.)

Alexandre Raynaud’s unpublished drum method, “Methode compléte du tambour en 2 parties” (Complete drum method in 2 parts), circa 1900-1930, is available on the Books and Manuals page.