Taps

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 05/25/2020 at 13:45 • Filed to: taps

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History of “Taps”

The creation of our country’s most revered bugle call has been credited for many years to General Daniel Butterfield, commander of the Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War.

It was believed that the general wrote the call in July 1862 while his brigade was camped in Confederate territory at Harrison’s Landing on the banks of the James River in Virginia following the Seven Days Battle. Brigade bugler, Oliver W. Norton, first sounded the call there.

Years later, in 1898, Norton wrote about the creation and premičre of “Taps.” He claimed that General Butterfield showed him some notes on a staff written in pencil on the back of an envelope and asked him to play them. General Butterfield made some revisions to the music and instructed Norton to sound this call in place of “Lights Out” that evening.

General Butterfield wrote in response to this that Norton’s recollection was generally correct. He stated that he was knowledgeable of military bugle calls and could sound them himself. “Lights Out” did not seem as smooth, melodious, and musical as it should be, so he called upon some one who could write music to make the changes in the call (he claimed to be unable to read or write music).

Recently scholars have discovered that General Butterfield did not compose this new call but revised an earlier call with which he was familiar. The origin of that call which the General gave to Norton was found in an early version of “Tattoo” and was published in at least three drill and tactics manuals: the Winfield Scott manual of 1835, the Samuel Cooper manual of 1836, and the William Gilham manual of 1861.

The last five measures of the version of “Tattoo” very closely resemble the current day “Taps.” Undoubtedly, General Butterfield was remembering this earlier call he had learned from his previous training as a regimental commander. He made revisions to it to suit him and had Norton sound the call. The new call spread quickly to other units in both the Union and Confederate armies. It began to be used for funeral ceremonies almost immediately, but it was not until 1891 that U.S. Army drill regulations made it mandatory for funerals.

“The President’s Own” United States Marine Band

I have played Taps for a funeral once in my lifetime, when I was an undergraduate in Virginia. A local veteran of Korea and Vietnam had died, and the Air Force sent an honor guard and pallbearers, but for whatever reason, the bugler couldn’t make it and I was hired . I was told to stand some distance away from the funeral party, and to start Taps immediately after the rifle salute. In the pause after the first three notes, I could hear people crying. It was probably one of the toughest performances of my life.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn 05/25/2020 at 14:13

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The fellow I work for is a retired general. We were talking about high school band experiences and I learned he played trumpet. What really surprised me was that he was the go-to guy for playing taps for the local funeral home. They scheduled funerals so that he could run over from school during his lunch break, play for the funeral, eat a quick lunch and make it back in time for his next class. Since he wasn’t in the military yet, he would stand behind a nearby tree, large monument, or if none were available, they would set up a screen for him to hide behind. 

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck 05/25/2020 at 14:18

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Like anything, I’m sure it gets easier the more you do it. And if you are out of view, that makes it easier still. But the pressure is enormous, since it’s the one gig where you absolutely don’t want to miss a note. One of the most famous Taps performances where the bugler did crack a note was the funeral of JFK.

TheRealBicycleBuck > ttyymmnn 05/25/2020 at 14:32

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That’s a story I’d never heard.

It’s funny, I never played solos , but I always played instruments that cut through the rest of the band and could be heard. My director  was always quick to point out my mistakes. I wasn’t a great musician, so I was often the focus of his attention.

ttyymmnn > TheRealBicycleBuck 05/25/2020 at 14:43

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My teacher was fond of saying, “If you can go through and entire rehearsal and not have the conductor speak to you once, you are doing your job.” I can assure you, that is still a goal of mine. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > ttyymmnn 05/25/2020 at 14:59

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Working for the Navy, I've certainly heard this many times! 

CB > ttyymmnn 05/25/2020 at 15:44

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Does Taps differ from place to place? I feel like I can never find the version I know of Taps and Reveille.

Gone > ttyymmnn 05/25/2020 at 16:55

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Taps was played at my dad’s funereal. Quite a surreal experience in person. Ever since then it’s guaranteed tears from pretty much the opening note.

Can’t imagine placing myself in such a high stress moment so I appreciate those that rise to such an occasion and play it. It’s an unforgettable moment for the families, so thank you.

ttyymmnn > CB 05/25/2020 at 16:57

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Both Taps and Reveille are standard bugle calls, and the notes do not vary. However, particularly with Taps, the tempo can be faster or slower, with some musical liberties taken. Commonwealth countries have a final call similar to Taps called Last Post, which is similarly mournful or restful, but also much longer.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn 05/26/2020 at 11:00

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Good on you for playing a military funeral, and if you ever have a desire to volunteer again there is an enormous need for actual bugle players. Most funeral honors these days are performed with a uniformed service member holding a fake bugle with a speaker in cone (horn? bell? Whatever the end of a horn instrument is called). At the appropriate time you puff up your cheeks and try to disc reetly reach up and push the button on the black speaker in the cone.

I did my share of funerals, usually as either the (fake) bugler or on the firing party (always blank ammunition). The only funeral I was ever part of that had an actual bugler playing was for a M edal of H onor winn er.  Even ones for active duty Marines killed in action had the fake bugle employed because there was no bugler available.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ttyymmnn 05/26/2020 at 11:44

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Did you play at 3:00 yesterday? We were on the road, so Mrs. addiction was unable to participate.