These Miniature Nutcrackers are 5 inches tall. The Miniature Drummer Nutcrackers are wearing a shako style hat with a gold chain and brim and black plume, dark emerald green shirt with gold jewel buttons, gold collar, epaulettes and cuffs, medium rust colored pants with gold cuffs and black boots. The Miniature Drummer Nutcrackers are tapping out a cadence on a red and gold drum attached to their waist. Select this link to view our Wooden Nutcracker Soldiers.
Snare Drum.
Originally, snare drums were military instruments originating from Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. They were commonly called a tabor and were used with the fife in the Swiss military. Today, the snare drum can be found in nearly every form of western music. Snare drums are used by fife and drum corps, marching bands and drum and bugle corps to provide a steady source of rhythm. The sound of a marching snare is a classic military sound. The snare drum was incorporated into European classical music to provide color, or timbre, for march like segments of music. Select this link to view our Slender Drummer Nutcrackers.
Snare drums are now used in popular music styles like rock and roll and jazz to accompany, support, and interact with other musicians. The snare drum is the driving force in samba music where ghost notes are played continuously with accented strokes outlining the rhythm. The snare is also used extensively in Reggae ton, and in extreme metal to provide a blast beat. Select this link to view our Nutcracker Drummer.
Snare drums may be made from various wood, metal, or acrylic materials. A typical diameter for snare drums is 14 inches. Marching snare drums are deeper in size than snare drums normally used for orchestral or drum kit purposes, often measuring in at a foot long. Orchestral and drum set snare drum shells are about 6 inches deep. Piccolo snare drums are even more, shallow at about 3 inches deep. Soprano, popcorn, and firecracker snare drums have diameters as small as 8 inches and are often used for higher pitched special effects. Select this link to view our Short Chubby Drummer.
Military Drummers.
Before motorized transport became widespread, drummers played a key role in military conflicts. The drum cadences provided a steady marching pace, better than often accompanying flutes or bugles and kept up the troops' morale on the battlefield. Military drummers were also employed on the parade field, when troops passed in review, and in various ceremonies including ominous drum rolls accompanying disciplinary punishments. Select this link to view our Soldier Bear Nutcrackers.
Nutcracker History
Nutcrackers originated in the 19th century in the eastern region of Germany. Life was tough for many people, who worked long hours as miners and endured hardships and poverty. Often the miners watched as the fruits of their labor were confiscated by their superiors. Nutcrackers were cleverly designed to resemble the authoritarian figures of kings, policemen, and soldiers. The townspeople enjoyed these caricatures of their rulers, since the nutcrackers were placed at their service to perform the lowly task of cracking nuts. No holiday table can be without a bowl of nuts and a handsome Nutcracker! Select this link to view our Miniature Nutcracker Soldier.
