The Steel Guitar Forum

I was sent a check in the mail that was wrapped in a piece of scrap paper. Typed on the paper was the following:

"His request was only partially granted. The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of notes he had found on a peice of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted.

The haunting melody, we now know as 'Taps' was born".

Anyone know if there's any truth in these words? If so, truth really is stranger than fiction!

Steve

Nope! "Taps" was composed during the Civil War by Maj. General Dan Butterfield and his company bugler because he was somewhat unhappy with the traditional "lights out" bugle call that was played each night. Only later was it decided that it would be fitting to play the song at funerals, as well.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Donny Hinson on 11 June 2002 at 11:23 PM.]</p></FONT>

Well Was Butterfield from Dixie ?
Steel what ?...

Not hardly! He was a Union General under Hooker's 20th Corps (Army of the Potomac). I 'spose that the "Johnny Rebs" from Dixie would have termed him "nothin' but a Blue-belly".

You're both right! "Steel What?" Steel Taps, of course! Donnie, according to an email from another forumite, our good general and a bugler 'wrote' Taps by borrowing the last few bars of the French version of 'Lights Out'. Damn Yankees!

Steve

The French "Lights Out" ia actually called "Doe Den Tap To" or something like that...

The 'Taps' in his case refer to the gas light burners used during the time period...also called "Taps". At the end of the day the taps were turned off extinguising the lights....hence 'lights out'.


I was in the US Army Band for about 12 years and I heard it explained at Ceremonies often...


Tim

Here's the rest of the story: http://www.west-point.org/taps/Taps.html

Actually, it's the history of TAPS by the most respected Bugle Call Historian of our time.

(Geeeze, there's an expert in everything!)

Also of interest is "The TAPS Project" at Arlington. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/tapsproj.htm<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Joey Ace on 14 June 2002 at 01:48 PM.]</p></FONT>

This website I found gives a pretty good description of the fact and the legend of the piece...
http://ilex.cc.kcl.ac.uk/year3/2001/bowman/erol/music/taps_snopes.html

And to think that some folks feel this forum is limited to knowledge about cross shafts, bellcranks,tuneable splits ,string physics,sustain properties of wood, metal fatigue , frequency response of different gauge wire windings ,cowboy boots and sneakers ..Geeze what are they thinking ?

tp

According to several books I have read concerning this issuse, by civil war historians, it was written by Dan Butterfield to help distinguish his bridade or corps from others. In the heat and noise of rifle and cannon fire, several important mistakes were made in battles, because of the same bugle calls for different commanders, and so he decided he needed something different for his commands. It was not orginally intended for a funeral dirge. According to some who claimed to interview him about it, he said he wrote it sound like his name, (butter-field-butter-field).<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Fred Murphy on 17 June 2002 at 07:21 AM.]</p></FONT>

Tony, I've never heard that song "Bellcranks". Who wrote it? Who plays steel on it? Do you break alot of .011's while playing it? Could you post the tab for it?

Steve

Steve you don't know what your missing. It's a sad song about hotel workers who develop
bad attitudes due to bad tips. The song is played on 1 string thru a "multiple" harmonizer setting so you don't even need to press the pedals and you will never break a string. To change musical pitch you just turn the harmonizer knob..it's that easy !
tp<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 18 June 2002 at 04:39 PM.]</p></FONT>