With fife and drum : music, memories and customs of an Irish tradition

The rattle of the Lambeg drum, with its distinctive rhythms is a sound unique to Ulster.

Primarily associated with the Orange Order, it was also played to a lesser extent by the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

These huge drums - around 3ft in diameter, 2.5ft in breadth and weighing up to 40lbs - can achieve an ear-splitting volume of 120 decibels.

Elaborately ornamented and boasting names like "The Cock of the North", "The Pride of South Antrim" and "The Ballymakesh Ship", they were traditionally played to the accompaniment of a fife.

In search of the stories, facts and myths of Northern Ireland's 200-year-old fife and drum tradition, Gary Hastings interviews instrument makers, drummers and fifers.

He learns how the mighty drums were made and the customs surrounding the drumming marches and processions.

He has also collected over seventy airs and tunes, the musical notation of which are included in this book along with a CD-ROM of musicians' reminiscences and the traditional music of fife and drum.