Ruffles and Flourishes

"Ruffles and Flourishes" is a fanfare, which is a brief musical piece originally played on brass instruments like trumpets and horns. It was used for signaling in battles, hunts, and court ceremonies. While early fanfares were simple, by 1600 they featured distinct rhythms and repeated notes. Fanfare-like music has been incorporated into various musical genres, from medieval vocal music to operas and modern compositions like Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man." "Ruffles and Flourishes" specifically is a drumbeat and fanfare played to honor a high-ranking official during ceremonial receptions, often preceding the march "Hail to the Chief" when the U.S. president arrives.12