Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: The Self-Playing Bugle?!

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Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 11-08-2002, 06:37 PM:

Yes, a bugle that plays "Taps" all by itself!

I was watching this on World News With Peter Jennings:
It seems that the US Armed Forces don't have enough buglers to play Taps at all the Veterans' funerals, these days. After all, a lot of WWII vets are in their 80's. It's a natural thing, I guess.

What's NOT natural was that some bone head got the idea that it would be a good thing to use a boom box (portable stereo) to play Taps on! No, they didn't even have a guy "fake it" on the bugle while the song played from the CD player at his feet.

Naturally, a lot of families started complaining. Pretty much shows a lack of respect that they can't even play Taps at the guy's funeral, if you ask me!

So... What's the Army do?
They invent the Self-Playing Bugle!
Yes, folks, that's right! Any monkey can now play Taps at your funeral! It's a simple miracle of modern technology! An electronic "gizmo" stuffed up inside a slightly larger-than-average bugle has a button and a loudspeaker in it. Just press the button and then, after a 5 second delay, the music plays!

It's a multi-million dollar solution to the age-old problem of grabbing some enlisted guy, shoving a bugle in his hand and telling him he has 7 days to learn how to play FOUR FREAKING NOTES on a tin horn!

Fer' Cripe-Sake! When I was a kid, we used to get a piece of rubber hose and an old metal funnel and have "hours of fun" playing tunes on it!

... Only in America!

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 4594) on 11-08-2002, 06:54 PM:

"It's a multi-million dollar solution to the age-old problem of grabbing some enlisted guy, shoving a bugle in his hand and telling him he has 7 days to learn how to play FOUR FREAKING NOTES on a tin horn!"

Ok ok, I think this self-playing bugle thing is one of the worst inventions in the history of man, its just stupid!

The above being said…In reference to the above quote, it is a lot harder to play these 4 FREAKING notes then one would think. The four notes are within a 2 octave range and anyone who plays the bugle, or trumpet knows that this is very difficult. I can play taps easily on my trumpet but I think its took me at least a year to play it clearly without any problems, difficulties, or slip up of notes (and I was a pretty fast learner). To play this (particularly the high note ) you not only need to practice a lot but you also need to have your lips in tip top shape (sounds funny but its true). Blowing some noise from a bugle and playing a 2-octave ranged song is 2 completely different things. Ok, I vented!

Posted by David Stambaugh (Member # 1102) on 11-08-2002, 06:59 PM:

I read something about this somewhere, can't find it now though. They mentioned the difficulty of playing Taps on a bugle and finding enough people who can do it well. After considering all the options and keeping in mind the dignity of these ceremonies, the "digital bugle" is probably a viable solution, even if it seems a little bizarre and expensive.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 11-08-2002, 07:56 PM:

Yes, I know that even though there are only 4 notes, they are probably the 4 hardest notes to play on a bugle... Not to mention getting them all in the right order!

I was just dramatizing in order that I more easily vent my spleen.

The point I was trying to make was that the Army has no problem putting a gun in somebody's hand and telling them that in so many weeks they have to learn how to go out an kill people. I think it would only be SLIGHTLY more difficult to teach somebody to play Taps in order to pay last respects to one of their comrades-in-arms!

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 4594) on 11-08-2002, 10:34 PM:

Actually, as someone who has been involved in both rifle competitions and has played the trumpet for 12 years, I would say the trumpet was harder, at least for me. I am not disagreeing that it would be a good idea to put a trumpet or bugle in someones hands and say "LEARN THIS" but it does take time and if they do not have anyone right now because they didn't think to look ahead to the future then maybe they should start asking for volunteers, people who are not in the armed forces. I'm sure many people would be happy to help. I myself have played taps at numerous funerals. Just because I may not have been one of their comrads-in-arms doesn't mean it is in anyway disrespectful, it is my way of saying thankyou.

***Just for the record, I am in no way saying that playing the bugle is easier then killing a person. Killing a person is something that I do not believe I could ever do. My statment above was just talking about targets, not living objects. /End legal statement so I do not get yelled at.

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 11-08-2002, 11:30 PM:

You're right Rach. They didn't plan ahead. I guess they have more important things on their minds right now. I think taking volunteers would be a good idea. Do you think places like American Legion posts would be a good place to look?

We're talking about (arguably) the mightiest military force in the world. We have some of the roughest, toughest, meanest and smartest sons of a mother trucker who ever ate lightning and crapped thunder BUT for all the things we can teach them to do... operate the worlds most complex computers or fly the worlds most technologicaly advanced aircraft... we can't find enough people smart enough to play the BUGLE?!

Hard as it may be to play the bugle I just have a hard time believing that we can't teach somebody to play one. If I was capable of it would learn how to play, even if I ended up being just a "one trick pony".

No, I think people have just stopped CARING. People forget how meaningful something so seemingly mundane as a handshake and a salute (or just a simple wave of the hand and a smile) can be.

An electronic bugle is just about the same thing as getting an important message by e-mail.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 4594) on 11-09-2002, 07:15 PM:

Ok Randy, I think you seem to be taking my words out of context or not understanding what I am saying. Why don't they ask people who are not in the armed forces to volunteer? I know many people, myself included who do this from time to time. If asked, I would always say yes.

Self-Playing Bugle = Stupid...stupid stupid!

Playing a bugle is not a "Hard" thing to do, intelligent wise...on the true bugles there are not even any keys. What it takes to play taps is lip muscle, something you need to build up over time. Throw a bugle in someones hands and tell them to learn but know that it will take some time...it will not give instant results. It won't take as much time as teaching someone how to operate the worlds most complex computers or fly the worlds most technologicaly advanced aircraft but it will take some.

Posted by Dave Williams (Member # 299) on 11-09-2002, 11:53 PM:

You ever watch an episode of MASH? Radar O Reilly trying to play ANYTHING on that bugle was painful and funny.

The bugle is hard.

Dave

Posted by Oscar Neundorfer (Member # 458) on 11-10-2002, 05:25 PM:

Rachel said, "The four notes are within a 2 octave range...".

Maybe I am not remembereing my music theory well, but it seems that Taps covers a one octave range, not 2. The high note is one octave above the lowest note. Any music majors out there to correct me?

I am sure I could not do it well, but then my lips never would work right on a trumpet, cornet or bugle. But just give me a clarinet and I could wail!!!

Back on topic, the self-playing bugle is a very poor and disrespectful idea.

Posted by Rachel Gilardi (Member # 4594) on 11-10-2002, 07:30 PM:

Right Oscar but the high note brings it into the 2nd octave range which is what I meant. The lowest three are in a 1 octave range and the highest is within the 2nd octave. Sorry if I didn't word that right.

Just a few links to volunteer buglers not in the armed services: here here

Posted by Daniel Boisson (Member # 1027) on 11-11-2002, 02:03 AM:

I bet there's lots of people that can play it, its just a matter of finding them. I know at my old high school, there were several talented people that could play it.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 11-11-2002, 08:15 AM:

I used to play the trumpet (never tried the bugle), but I'll agree that Taps is very difficult to play well.

The self-playing bugle sounds like a stupid idea, but it's probably better than a bad human bugler.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 11-11-2002, 09:37 AM:

It's just a matter of a will to do it. You can't tell me that in all the armed forces there aren't enough people who can play a horn instrument, or if they don;t already know how to play a bugle, couldn't easily learn. The Army seems to have no trouble getting enlisted personnel to form one of the best bands in the country, or the Air Force a number of traveling choruses. And if there aren't enough horn musicians at this very moment because of a lack of foresight (which is all it is), then use the stupid digital bugle temporarily and make it a point to train bugle players. Believe me, all the top brass has to do is say, "There will be live bugle players to play taps at all funerals;" it would happen overnight. It is just that some idiot who is enamored of all things digital or electronic thought it would be a great idea. Well, all someone higher-up has to do is just say, "No, you jackass, it's a stupid, disrespectful idea." And it would be over. Period. Maybe the news coverage will embarrass some higher up to put a stop to it. It is typical for the military to find a hundred thousand dollar solution when there is a $2 one right in front of their noses.

How did we come to the accepted idea in this country that if a hunk of electronic gear can do something instead of a human, it is ALWAYS the better solution? Not in this case. And I'll bet all the veterans who are marching on hundreds of parades today will agree.

Frank

Posted by John Pytlak (Member # 331) on 11-11-2002, 09:45 AM:

The dehumanization of society, with machines taking over even human responsibilities is a recurring theme of science fiction. I for one miss the "human touch" in so much of life today.

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

Posted by Randy Stankey (Member # 64) on 11-12-2002, 09:32 PM:

Frank,

You pretty much said it like I was thinking, only more eloquently.

Posted by Gerard S. Cohen (Member # 994) on 11-12-2002, 10:29 PM:

Though for a while I was listed as company bugler at Camp Hood, TX
during my first year in the US Army. I never played any brass instrument, and of the seven daily bugle calls that governed our daily routines, only three were actually played, and this from LP records over the camp's PA system, with speakers in the five chapel "bell" towers, stretching in a straight line from horizon to horizon. Everyone had to have a MOS, and between assignments, I was listed as bugler in that tank battalion company.

Not only is it next to impossible to find a bugler for funerals of veterans, especially those not of nationally famous upper-echelon officers, but at many cemeteries, such as those on Long Island, it's very hard to assemble an honor guard of two persons to fold the flag and hand it to the widow.

As a child I remember the Memorial Day and Armistice Day ceremonies at the World War monument to the fallen in Baisley Park. The few remaining veterans of the Spanish-American War were presented, and the more numerous vets of the World War formed an honor guard, firing a rifle salute, followed by taps by a real bugler.

What's sadder is that at the funerals of so many veterans today, there are few if any mourners present at all, let alone representatives of the services in which they participated.