Salvation Army History >
The History Of The Timbrel
The
History Of The Timbrel
From humble beginnings, the timbrel is now
synonymous with The Army and it started with just one
|
|
from the past..... |
The Timbrel & The Army
Having proved how useful musical instruments
were in attracting crowds to open air meetings, William Booth, in
the War Cry dated 27th March 1880, stated his wish that as many
officers and soldiers as possible should learn to play
instruments.
The musicians of those days were not as proficient as might have
been wished, but a great variety of instruments were pressed into
service.
The War Cry of 17th February 1881 carried a picture of
"Miriam, a Forerunner of the Prophetess of The Salvation
Army" with timbrel in hand.
Up to this time nobody in The Salvation Army had ventured to beat
a tambourine, but the picture inspired Captain Charles Rothwell
who was stationed at Mansfield, Nottingham.
|
|
|
Seeing a tambourine in a pawnbrokers shop he lost no time in
buying it, and Mrs. Rothwell played it in the processions which
"filled the devil with disgust, the newspapers with comments,
the barracks with people and helped sinners into the fountain!
When Mother Shepherd, accompanied by her two youngest daughters
Polly and Sally, took charge of West Bromwich Corps in June 1881,
soldiers and people alike took no notice of them. Sally, noticing
her mothers distress, and having heard William Booth state that he
would even wear a red coat for Jesus, turned her red lined white
coat inside out and headed their small procession beating a
tambourine with immediate effect.
The use of the timbrel spread quickly. In the War Cry of 7th
October 1882, George Scott-Railton noted that 1600 had been sold
in the space of six weeks and warned the Army's timbrelists that
they should not beat their tambourines without at the same time
singing!
|
...to the present
|
|
|
When conducting meetings in Scotland, Catherine Booth boldly
claimed that tambourines and fiddles were as sacred as organs. The
General suggested that when tambourines were used, there should be
something to balance them, "such as clappers, bones, fifes or
banjos!"
Nearly 120 years after the introduction of the timbrel into
Salvation Army music the majority of Army Corps feature a Timbrel
Brigade in their music sections, although now no one would ever
suggest that the timbrelist lacks talent!
|
|
Disclaimer
This is not an official Salvation Army site. The views expressed
here are those of the author and contributors and may not
reflect the position of The Salvation Army. We are pleased to
acknowledge the valuable support of the Web Major and Webmaster
at United Kingdom T.H.Q.
|
|
|
|
|
copyright ŠASM
Web Design 2000-2004
For permission to use any material contained within these pages
please email webmaster@sacollectables.com
|
