Taps—the American bugle call that today is played solemnly at memorials and soldiers' funerals—has a fascinating history. In today's Wall Street Journal (or online here), I write about why the 24-note song was conceived in 1862 and how it evolved over the years. In the longer online version at WSJ.com, I also include rock and jazz references. [Pictured above: Jari Villanueva sounds Taps at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery]
In essence, this is the story of how a Major General, fed up with the formal French bugle call being used to tell Union soldiers to turn in for the day, wrote a new melody and enlisted the help of a brigade bugler. While no one was named the song's originator, the Major-General began to receive sole credit starting in 1898. And he deserves a large chunk of it. But the bugler whom the Major-General asked to play and phrase his invention also deserves kudos. [Pictured: Above, Maj-Gen. Daniel Butterfield; below, Oliver Willcox Norton, the bugler]
A special hats off to Jari Villanueva, a former Arlington National Cemetery bugler and Taps historian. He will be at Arlington tomorrow when 200 buglers play Taps simultaneously at different locations around the grounds. Afterward, Jari [pronounced Yari] will fly up to lead a brass band at Union College in upstate New York to honor the co-composer Major-General, who graduated from the school in 1849. The purpose of these events is to kick off a season-long tribute to Taps, leading up to the song's likely date of birth—early July.
Taps stands as one of America's finest and most touching melodies—created in tandem by a visionary high-ranking officer and a humble musician.
JazzWax notes: For more on Taps and its rich past, go here.
JazzWax tracks: A CD, Day Is Done: Music Commemorating the 150th Anniversary of Taps, features all of the bugle-call versions leading up to Taps as well as superb performances. You'll find the album at iTunes and at Amazon here.
JazzWax clip: Here's a short documentary on Taps, featuring Jari Villanueva...
Not one of my favorite tunes! For me, Taps represents a melodic clear spot in the insanity, dishonesty and the just pure evil nature of wars past and present. It is truly beautiful in its simplicity and sincerity which stands in stark contrast to the sheer madness and stupidity of armed conflict between the supposedly rational and religious people we claim to be. At least the fallen have a beautiful melody to honor their absence... and our loss.
Posted by: Pat Gannon | May 18, 2012 at 07:35 AM
One of the unsung trumpet heros, Mr. Manny Klein, dubbed Monty Clift's bugle sounds in one of Hollywood's most magnificent productions: "From Here To Eternity" (1953) where the 'Taps' perfectly illustrate the loneliness and grief of the nameless soldier in the din of battle.
Manny also played with Frankie Trumbauer, the Dorseys, Artie Shaw, and other swing greats. See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manny_Klein
Posted by: Caleb Miskiewicz | May 18, 2012 at 08:28 AM
Sad and moving, just like Mr. Clift's performance in FROM HERE TO ETERNITY. I never thought that it might be dubbed. Thank you for the information. I looked it up: Mr Klein also played with one of my favorites, Paul Whiteman.
Posted by: Lamont Trotman | May 18, 2012 at 03:20 PM