Taps Across America

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I caught this story on CBS news last night: Jari Villaneuva, former trumpeter and bugler for the USAF Band in DC, is promoting "Taps Across America" for 3pm local time on Memorial Day for anyone who can play trumpet or bugle. The expectation is that you can perform it on your front porch.
I know that many of you are reformed trumpet players or doublers and might wish to participate. Below is a link to the announcement.
I might even join in on a bass trumpet, depending on my chops.
https://www.tapsbugler.com/memorial-...embrance-2020/

[davewerden]

This is a neat event! A friend is doing it with his trumpet and his father's WWII uniform. I think he is taking my suggestion to work with another trumpet player and do echo taps. The CG Band used them sometimes and they were quite effective.

I was thinking... If one were going to do this with a euphonium, echo taps would work nicely and one could even have a low echo by using a tubist for the echo part!

Here is what I'm talking about (courtesy of the CG Band):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJkiXRh814s

[John Morgan]

Being a retired Army guy (both enlisted and officer) and son of a West Pointer who was a career Army officer and WWII and Korean War veteran, I may just play Taps on my porch on Monday on my Euphonium. I know it is not a trumpet (my very first instrument) or a bugle, but I think it would be nice anyhow. I'll invite a few neighbors.

[daruby]

I already posted on my town FB site that I am playing Taps on my euphonium at 3:00P tomorrow. I invited anyone on my street to come out, enjoy a minute of silence and listen while I play taps,.

Doug

[John Morgan]

I already posted on my town FB site that I am playing Taps on my euphonium at 3:00P tomorrow. I invited anyone on my street to come out, enjoy a minute of silence and listen while I play taps,.

Doug

Excellent!! Bravo, Doug!!

[Shawn]

What a great idea. Well done, folks. Such straightforward acts of thoughtfulness are what we need more than ever now.

A question if I may, and if this is out of bounds, I'm sorry. I'm just ignorant on this.

Watching US news channels today I see the presenters and guests wishing each other "Happy Memorial Day".
Is this typical?

In my country we honour both living veterans and the fallen on Nov 11. (Last day of the so-called War-To-End-All-Wars.)
Remembrance Day is solemn and features ceremonies somewhat similar to US Memorial Day.
Wishing people a "Happy" Remembrance Day would not be at all typical.

Thanks.

[davewerden]

Watching US news channels today I see the presenters and guests wishing each other "Happy Memorial Day".
Is this typical?

I was thinking about that myself, and I'm not sure if there is any "etiquette" attached to this. That's not what I would say myself, but that format of greeting has become commonplace for general greetings.

[davewerden]

I saw this on Instagram (Matthew Summers), so apparently euphoniums are part of this event! The photo is from Arlington Cemetery.

[John Lebens]

I saw this on Instagram (Matthew Summers), so apparently euphoniums are part of this event! The photo is from Arlington Cemetery.

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Dave, If you go to the Taps Across America Website they explain that they will allow all musical instruments to participate in this event. You have until noon today to sign up!

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What is the consensus (or common practice) on vibrato on held notes during taps? I've listened to Army, Navy and Coast Guard recordings. They seem to me to be mostly vibrato free until the end of the held notes (at least on my computer speaker).

[davewerden]

What is the consensus (or common practice) on vibrato on held notes during taps? I've listened to Army, Navy and Coast Guard recordings. They seem to me to be mostly vibrato free until the end of the held notes (at least on my computer speaker).

I think most players try to evoke a solemn mood and play according to their sense of that. In general, the Army is the authority on such matters, and their sound sample has vibrato:

https://www.bands.army.mil/music/buglecalls/taps.asp

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Thank you very much Dave. I don't think that I listened to that particular recording but can clearly hear the vibrato in it.

[John Morgan]

What is the consensus (or common practice) on vibrato on held notes during taps? I've listened to Army, Navy and Coast Guard recordings. They seem to me to be mostly vibrato free until the end of the held notes (at least on my computer speaker).

Ernie,

Listen to this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bfe4TxvUOiw

My former unit, where I participated in countless funerals. Here are a couple versions of Taps, one in nice weather, one in not so nice (notice the plastic mouthpiece on the bugle). I think vibrato is appropriate certainly on the held notes and longer notes.

John

[John Morgan]

....Watching US news channels today I see the presenters and guests wishing each other "Happy Memorial Day".
Is this typical?

In my country we honour both living veterans and the fallen on Nov 11. (Last day of the so-called War-To-End-All-Wars.)
Remembrance Day is solemn and features ceremonies somewhat similar to US Memorial Day.
Wishing people a "Happy" Remembrance Day would not be at all typical.

Thanks.

"Happy Memorial Day" is inappropriate. It is a solemn day that honors those in uniform who gave their lives for our country. It might be more appropriate to wish folks a nice long and enjoyable weekend, with the addition of "and take time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice".

Veterans Day in the United States, honors all veterans, living and dead, although it is largely intended to thank living veterans for their service. It is a tribute day to those who served.

[davewerden]

To add a little more color, the holiday was originally known as "Decoration Day" and was a day when people would visit the cemeteries where war dead were buried and put flowers or flags on the grave. I suppose as families came to be more geographically dispersed, they were not as likely/able to visit the grave, so it seemed better to call it "Memorial Day."