Echo Taps
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Echo Taps is a custom of sounding the call with two buglers standing at some distance apart to achieve an echo effect. Although a popular way of sounding Taps, it is not correct protocol to have two players sound Taps. Arlington National Cemetery does not permit Echo Taps to be performed during services in the cemetery.
This idea of sounding Echo Taps may have started right at the creation of the new call, when Union buglers sounded it for the first time at Harrison’s Landing (now Berkeley Plantation). Confederates across the James River repeated the new sound, thus introducing it into both armies. As the call grew in popularity, it was not uncommon to hear the sound of Taps being sounded at the same time each evening by buglers in other companies, thereby giving an echo effect.
However, the call is meant to be sounded by a solo bugler and really should be that way. I personally have nothing against the playing of Echo Taps at Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies but don’t think it should be performed as part of Military Funeral Honors.
Once is enough
I heard a solo bugler play a version of the echo at a Memorial Day ceremony a few years back. He finished a phrase then turned in another direction and played the echo. Not only did it sound funny, it looked ridiculous with the choreography. The idea of sounding two complete (sounding it once, then walking a distance to sound it again) Taps seems to be bad form. Not only does it prolong the ceremony it is not part of tradition.
If you are going to play Echo Taps, For Goodness sake, REHEARSE IT before you do it. That way you will find out:
1. How far you need to stand apart (it defeats the purpose of Echo Taps if you have the players stand next to each other)
2. If you are in tune with each other (good luck on that!)
3. How you are going to phrase the piece.
4. If you have matching instruments (ever hear a Bb and a G bugle try to do the echo? yikes!)
At Funerals
Think about the message you are sending when you do the Echo Taps at a funeral. The organization Bugles Across America is based on the premise that there are not enough live buglers to perform at veteran funerals, yet there are those who would use two buglers at a service? Is there then a funeral that has to settle for a recording because of the manpower requirements needed for TWO buglers?
My concern is that Echo Taps is not appropriate for funerals. That’s my personal feeling based on tradition.
Tradition is something that I feel strongly about. Using live buglers at funerals is something that is dying thanks to recordings, lack of good players and a strong system to support the use of live players. Musicians seem to have the knack for shooting themselves in the foot. Look at the professional world today and you will see live music begin used less and less. From Broadway shows to club dates to wedding bands live music is being replaced by virtual musicians.
Want an example that relates to bugling? Look at the use of buglers at racetracks today. Very few tracks still use a live bugler. And what have buglers done? Trying to jazz up the First Call (Call To The Post if you will) has made the First Call a joke. Trying to “improve” on traditional call makes it become a rather poor shadow of its great past.
When was the last time you saw a racetrack bugler use the correct instrument (a posthorn) and wear the correct outfit?
However I know that stopping performances of Echo Taps is like trying to stop the darn Taps Myth. If it is going to performed, at least practice it!
I along with several other buglers were at a Civil War reenactment and decided that at the time for lights out we would recreate how it probably sounded like echoing in camps. We were spread out over a large area in various camps and after the Brigade Bugler (me) started the call the closest bugler would wait till it was halfway done then started the call without trying to echo phrase for phrase. This went down the line with 5 buglers each sounding the call on his own and the effect was chilling!
The future?
Live bugling is happening around the country thanks to organizations like Bugles Across America and websites like Tapsbugler. Every time you hear Taps, you are listening to a great tradition.
© Copyright 2010, Tapsbugler.com
Echo taps is not authorized for military functions.
Army Regulation 220-90, Army Bands dated December 2007, Paragraph 2-5h(1) states the following: “Echo Taps” or “Silver Taps,” the practice of performing “Taps” with multiple buglers, is not authorized. “Echo Taps” is not a part of Army tradition and improperly uses bugler assets.
Army Regulation 600-25, Salutes, Honors, and Visits of Courtesy, dated September 2004, Glossary, Section 2 states the following: “Taps The traditional “lights out” musical composition played at military funerals and memorials. The official version of “Taps” is played by a single bugle. In accordance with AR 220–90, “Echo or Silver Taps,” which is performed by 2 buglers, is not authorized.”
Field Manual 12-50, U.S. Army Bands, dated October 1999, Appendix A, Official And Ceremonial Music, Appendix A, Section 1 – Ceremonial Music, Paragraph A-35 “A-35. Signals that unauthorized lights are to be extinguished. This is the last call of the day. The call is also sounded at the completion of a military funeral ceremony. Taps is to be performed by a single bugler only. Performance of “Silver Taps” or “Echo Taps” is not consistent with Army traditions, and is an improper use of bugler assets.
The only place I’ve ever heard Echo Taps played was at a taps vigil at West Point. I’ve loved it for that purpose ever since. If well practiced, it is indeed haunting. Thinking about it still brings tears to my eyes. I always thought it would be appropriate at a funeral because it sounded so well-done, but agree that well-practiced buglers are normally in such short supply, it usually isn’t feasible. And if buglers are in short supply, what of bagpipers for Amazing Grace?
I have sounded Echo Taps many times in the multiple things I do that require me to play Taps. The Echo er that plays it with me always plays the same thing I do but we have it rehearsed together to where we understand each other quiet well.
Sincerely, Private Tyler (Bugler)
In context of this website, I understand completely not playing echo Taps at a funeral. However, we sound Taps each evening as well to indicate lights out. From my understanding, Taps use for Lights Out long predated its use in Funerals. And both uses of the call are appropriate.
In Boy Scout camp its sad, but many troops don’t have a bugler, or one who takes it seriously. But every now and again, we get multiple buglers when Troops meet. Playing echo Taps, from campsite to campsite, across hills or valleys, is often an incredibly moving experience. Like you describe above, I can imagine the armies across from one another on opposing hillsides calling a truce for the night using music as that bridge.
I would ask that you not discount this playing for this reason. I don’t consider it “Jazzed up” but perhaps a symbol of reaching from one hillside to the other. (I fully respect your view in regards to funerals.)
Which is correct — Sounding of Taps or Playing of Taps?
My cousin and I played Echotaps for my uncle’s funeral. The funeral director said it was the best version that she had ever heard.