The Significance of Taps
There are two pieces of music that particularly stir the hearts and emotions of Americans — The Star-Spangled Banner and Taps.
To many Americans Taps conveys an important message through its twenty-four notes. To U.S. soldiers from the Civil War on, when sounded at night the call meant that all was well. It gave a sense of security and safety to those military members and also signaled that another day in the service to their country was done and all is well. Because of the melodious and poignant nature of the melody it is no wonder that it was adopted as the final call at funerals. As Gustav Kobbe stated in an 1898 Century article: “Played slowly and expressively, it has a tender, touching, mournful character, in keeping with the fact that it is sounded not only for ‘lights out,’ but also over the soldier’s grave, be he general or private, so that as with ‘lights out’ night closes in upon the soldier’s day, so with the same call the curtain rolls down upon his life.”
For over three decades I’ve sounded Taps at cemeteries, chapels, barracks, and memorial services. There are ceremonies that stand out in my memory. Of all the times I’ve sounded the call, the most memorable were the times I sounded it at the Tomb of the Unknowns. To me to this is the highest honor that a bugler can perform. It is the military musician’s equivalent of “playing Carnegie Hall.”
I sounded the call at the funeral of General Ira Eaker, commander of the 8th Air Force during World War II, and for the funeral of General Godfrey McHugh, Air Force Aide to President Kennedy. I sounded the British call “Last Post” at the grave of a WWII Australian flyer who is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in a ceremony attended by the Australian Air Force Chief of Staff. On most Memorial Day weekends for over a dozen years I have performed at a memorial service for the Flying Tigers, the WWII flying group, at the Old Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington. This is especially moving for me, to see these real heroes of a previous generation.
The hardest funerals at which I’ve been asked to sound Taps were those of active duty military members. One such was a funeral in Oil City, Pennsylvania for a nineteen-year-old airman who was killed by a drunk driver while on his way to his first duty assignment. At the cemetery, most of the mourners were teenagers from his high school. As I began to play, a wail went up from those who knew this young man. It was hard to finish the call. Another tough time was when I sounded the call for a friend’s father who had served as a bombardier during WWII. As I glanced at her before beginning, I noticed that she was wearing his wings. Pretty difficult…
When I sound the call at a ceremony I’m sometimes approached by family members who wish to thank me for being part of the service. A reply of, “You are welcome,” has always seemed inappropriate or inadequate, so I say, “It is my honor.”
A Shortage of Buglers?
Indeed it is my honor when I get a chance to perform this ritual for those who have given part of their lives to our nation. And there is certainly a need for qualified buglers around the country to perform this service.
In the past, when not available, military buglers could be replaced by musicians from a VFW or American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps or even Boy Scouts. However, the tradition of bugling and drum corps in those organizations has all but disappeared. A real shame, for those groups have long fostered musicianship and patriotism.
With veterans dying at the rate of over one thousand each day and with many of the funeral services only having a recording of Taps as the musical honors, lawmakers are looking into having legislation passed to ensure that each family that requests military honors for a deceased veteran will be provided with a live bugler and firing party. However, I surmise that there is not actually a shortage of buglers but simply an inadequate system currently in place to make sure all requests for a live bugler are met.
If you are interested providing the service of sounding Taps at a funeral, you may want to alert your local VFW and American Legion Posts and local funeral homes that you are willing to perform at funerals, or contact your state’s National Guard office and find out if they have a need for civilian contract buglers for ceremonies. Many buglers and professional trumpeters are willing to sound Taps and can be hired to do this duty.
There are organizations that promote live Taps at funerals. The best known is Bugles Across America
Because few civilian buglers today have the background of a military musician and many are unaware of the protocol involved, the following guidelines are written to provide those with little knowledge of military ceremonies with the basics needed for rendering this honor. These guidelines can also be downloaded as a PDF file HERE. I hope this helps to guide those buglers who have a sincere interest in sounding Taps at funerals.
I love your website; it is very informative and it shows you are knowledgable, credible and a true historian!
My Dad’s service is being held April 28th and I have 4 questions for which I am having trouble finding answers. I sincerely appreciate any information you can provide:
1. I am learning to play Taps for my Dad’s (a WWII Navy Veteran) private service at my sister’s home with military honors. Thanks to you, I contacted Tom Day at “Bugle Across America”; and he generously sent me a bugle with proper mouthpiece, books and CD! I want to assure all protocol is done correctly. QUESTION: At what point in the service is the flag folding and presentation? The civilian funeral director (where my parents prepaid for everything-a blessing!) says it is done simultaneous to the playing of Taps? I question that.
2. My Dad has been cremated. QUESTION: Where is the flag placed during the service? And where do I point the bell of the bugle?
3. Everything I have read about who to contact to provide uniformed military personnel for the flag ceremony and/or bugler (in case I can’t learn to play it perfectly) says to contact your funeral director and they will make appropriate contact; I read it is done through the DOD. It sounds like ours is not sure or hasn’t had many requests; and said they would contact a Naval office or VFW. QUESTION: Can you tell me who the appropriate contacts are?
4. We would like to have the 3 volleys fired, but can’t find where to request this. If the military can’t provide it, QUESTIONS: Do you know if they provide this; and if not, is it appropriate for civilians to do it with the proper attire and rifles; same as a civilian playing Taps?
Thank you in advance for your reply to my inquiries. My Dad was an amazing man; a true hero from the best generation that we are so rapidly losing. He deserves to be honored with all proper protocol. He was almost 91; and is also MY HERO!
Gratefully,
Jan Emerson
jemerson303@hotmail.com
(303) 888-3523
521 Peninsula Drive
Lake Almanor, CA 96137
I have a question regarding when taps is to be played. Is it to be the last item of the ceremony, or may a hymn [e.g. Amazing Grace] or prayer or blessing follow? Thanks for any information.
Hi
Maybe you didn’t read all the pages of this post
Please read:
http://tapsbugler.com/taps-performance-guidelines/3/
My question is what should a civilian wear while playing taps at a memorial service. Our town is dedicating a veteran memorial on 11-11-11. The school band will be performing. My son and another student (boy scout) is playing taps at the end. I have concerns with what my son should wear. Every man in our family has served in a branch of the military. I want to make sure my son (born at walter reed) shows the correct respect while playing taps.
Is there guidelines for who’s funeral taps may be played. I always thought it was military or service oriented (fire, police, etc.) I read in local paper today they plan to play it at a coon dog’s burial on Oct. 20th. I would like to stop this if you can give me something to use to do so.
Do not use a mute. NEVER depress any valve or valves partially when playing TAPS. A valve is ment to be depressed complertely if it is depressed at all. There are a few specific exceptions to this rule, none apply when playing TAPS.
Once is enough according to protocol. It was done that way because the bugler didn’t know better….
We had a military funeral for my Dad on the side of a mountain in Pennsylvania. They played taps twice, once toward the grave and once toward the mountains. Can you tell me why it was played twice? I have only seen it done once.
I was wondering ..we have a barbershop quartet..and there is a arrangement
of “taps”..note for note..and there are appropriate words for it..
Is it ok to sing this song in palce of the normal bugle?
Can it be sung for non-military funerals?
Thanks dale
Day is done..gone the sun..from the lakes..from the hills..from the sky..
all is well..safely rest..God is nigh
I have a question maybe someone will know the answer to: My Dad was a bugler in the US Army during WWII. He never much spoke of it. Can it be presumed that simply by virtue of being an Army bugler, he would know and be called upon to play Taps? Never had the chance to ask him and he has been gone for many years now. I live near a military installation, and every night at 10 pm I can hear the faint strains of Taps…always makes me wonder. Thank you for any answers you are able to provide.
Taps should be played as it is an AMERICAN bugle call and is our national song of remembrance. Plus so many of those killed on 9-11 where military and first responders…
I am not musical and have a Taps question. We were thinking of playing Taps at a ceremony in remembrence of 9/11. One of our planning members questioned if Taps could be played for civilians and not military members without being direspectful to the military. I have not found and answer and you seemed to be a great person to ask. What are the recommendations for playing Taps?
Thanks
none
Which valves are depressed on a cornet to play taps ?
It’s not traditionally done
I’m a member of American Legion Post 404, MO. I have a question about taps. Is it appropriate to have a drum roll before taps is played?
What is a good brand trumpet for playing taps?
I am an ICC (SS) USN Ret. As a member of the PGR, ALR,VFW,and presently Commander of the Southern Tier Base of the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. on many occasions in the past have attended Funerals and memorials where no bugler could be obtained. In my 75th year I found that try as I might I was unable to condition my lips to play the bugle. Therefor I purchased an electronic bugle and case. The recording of taps was made at Arlington and is above reproach. It also has a volume which control which allows use indoors and outdoors. The horn I purchased is nickel plated and is the size of a baratone bugle without the valves. It can be played as a regular bugle. There have been NO NEGATIVE FEEDBACK to date. Email me for info. at cobssbn610b@mkl.com with BUGLE in the subject block.
I am an avid American Civil War (ACW) re-enactor. As a non-veteran, is it appropriate to wear an ACW uniform and use an ACW period bugle when playing Taps at a military funeral?
I understand the great significance of the playing of Taps to honor those veterans that have passed, and have participated in many memorial services in the past. It wasn’t until Nov of 2010 while performing at a Veteran’s Day service that I had to step in for a bugler who couldn’t be in attendence. My designation on that particular occasion was to play Amazing Grace for the Veterans on the bagpipes, which I felt was a great honor in itself. When I was asked to play Taps, I admit it a bit unusual to hear on the pipes, but to those in attendence it meant so much especially to the Veterans. For future reference the music can be played as written without any transposition of notes to accomodate the bagpipes.
Getzen makes an excellent bugle which they call a “Field Trumpet”. It comes in two diffenent models in both laquered brass or silver. It is pitched in Bb and has an optional G tuning slide. I have not yet purchased one but am still doing Taps on my trumpet & sometimes cornet. I’m proud to be a member of “Bugles Across America” You have a really fine web site!
I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Monson’s statement, beautifully said Sir. As a military reenactor and as the Bugler on our American Legion Post’s Honor Guard I do take a tax deduction for my mileage and uniform expenses but I would consider it a great dishonor to ever accept any monetary compensation for my services. As has been already said, if I’m thanked by the family or friends of the deceased veteran I always reply, “It is my honor and privilege”.
Thank you for this all inclusive information. As I am embarking upon performing Taps at veterans’ funerals without charge and have duly noted your overall performance guidelines and protocol for presentation, especially the remark that a veteran may give a Hand Salute when not in uniform. Very helpful, indeed.
Thank you for the guidelines. I am a civilian volunteer and have played TAPS for 43 1/2 years to date. For me, once it is time to play, the eyes close and nothing exists except the instrument and those 24 notes played to the best of one’s ability. It is and has been an honor and a privilege to play. I hope to continue playing as long as I am needed and am able to do so.
SING (play) the words [Day vs tay] [Gis is closer than dis] “D”one; Same with rhythm patterns: ” from” is longer than “the” (not quite dotted eighth to sixteenth, but not two eighth notes either [written music is only shorthand - it cannot describe the feeling (emotion) that is in the music. You are unaccompanied so the solo is yours. Pauses, fades (esp the last note) phrasing are all yours. . . HOLD EACH NOTE IN PITCH FOR THE DURATION. Always remember you are the last person on earth to speak to the deceased [but don't dwell on it or it will break you].
NO mute, and one would only “halfway depress” the valves on a trumpet if you are trying to do the “horse whinney” in Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride”
That information is incorrect. Do not use a mute. Play on the open horn.
If you are playing Echo Taps and the other bugler is using a Boy Scout or similar bugle in “G”, a (Bb) trumpeter should play the call with the first and second valves fully depressed, lowering the trumpet one and one half steps to match the key of the bugle.
I have heard that playing taps on the trumpet you need to either have a straight mute, or halfway depress the first, second, and third I would like to know if that is true or just another myth as an eagle scout, and marine that is going to start playing at military funerals I want to do everythiing I can to get it. Right