Drummers

The evocative atmosphere of the Palio dell'Oca has always been announced by the companies of drummers (tamburini) who, with their suggestive rhythms, manage to bring the parade to life. There is no doubt that without their mastery, an adequate festive spirit would not be created.

It is exactly them who, dressed in the colors of their district, announce the arrival of each contrada to the sound of percussion, with wooden beaters and sticks. The figure of the drummers, together with that of the clarions (chiarine), constitutes the musical part of the historical parade: their role is to keep time with precise rhythms, accompanying it through the various streets of the historic center of Cagli.

The members within each group of drummers vary from ten to thirteen; from a young age they learned to play and love the drum and make its sound an exciting and indelible memory.

Evocative echoes re-emerge from the past. Deep sounds spread following the energetic blows that the sticks land on the drum skins. Spectators hear the overwhelming rhythms and are pleasantly captivated by the power of the sound expressed by the musicians.

The drums announce the passage of the historical figures and the arrival of the brave player pages who will honor the name of their district for the entire duration of the event; their rhythmic cadences are repeated multiple times, announcing the imminence of the festival and drawing the attention of visitors.

The roll of the drums, the growing excitement, the filling historic center, the echo that bounces in the mind and heart of those witnessing the reenactment, allows one to spend two magical days suspended in time, in a village rich in history.

Compagnia dei Tamburi dell’Oca (The Goose Drummers Company)

The Compagnia dei Tamburi dell’Oca was founded in 2024, born from an idea by Marco Vagnarelli (known as “Brisigo”) and brought to life in collaboration with the Associazione Giochi Storici di Cagli (Cagli Historical Games Association).

The project immediately brought together drummers from the city’s four quarters (San Francesco, Sant’Andrea, Sant’Angelo, and Sant’Agostino). By transcending historical local rivalries, they created a single, unified group that represents the entire Cagli community.

The primary objective is to join forces with the existing companies of Archers and Crossbowmen to promote the Palio dell’Oca (The Goose Palio) well beyond the walls of Cagli.

In a short time, the Company—designed to perform in parades and drumming competitions throughout Italy—has participated as a guest in various historical reenactments, including:
- The Palio della Rana in Fermignano
- The Palio della Rocca in Serra Sant’Abbondio
- The Trionfo del Carnevale in Fossombrone
- The Mercatino del Feudatario in Montefelcino

Beyond their performances, the Company also operates as a small artisanal workshop. Its members are dedicated to the restoration and maintenance of the older drums used for the Palio, providing concrete support for the renewal and preservation of the event.

In 2026, looking toward the future, the Company established the Compagnia dei Tamburi dell’Ochetta (The Little Goose Drummers Company). This new group is composed of young musicians between the ages of 6 and 13, representing the future of the Company and the Palio as a whole.

The spirit of the Compagnia dei Tamburi dell’Oca comes to life in the alleyways and squares, embodied by four key words: friendship, passion, creativity, and... rhythm!