Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

The bulk of the musical talk
User avatar
wonderbread403
bugler
bugler
Posts: 51
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:04 am

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by wonderbread403 »

I like reading vague, ambiguous political comments that try to fly under the mod's radar.

/not really
David
User avatar
wonderbread403
bugler
bugler
Posts: 51
Joined: Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:04 am

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by wonderbread403 »

I was more referring to how some of the posts in this thread sneak in political commentary despite the supposedly standing rule of "no politics."

/not trying to get into a political debate
//wishing for less politics when reading a tuba forum
David
User avatar
David Richoux
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1957
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:52 pm
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, mostly. Also Greater Seattle at times.

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by David Richoux »

Who selected what songs would be played, and when?

It seemed a bit of a shock to hear the lively "Three Cheers for the Red White and Blue" strain (after the "Ruffles and Flourishes") as the casket was first moved from the church after the service. It seemed a bit inappropriate before the solemn hymn that followed. Was that a TV editing thing, or what?

I have played the bugle for several military funerals - it is a very heavy honor!
Bob Kolada
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 2632
Joined: Sun Jul 19, 2009 1:57 pm
Location: Chicago

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by Bob Kolada »

Strangelove wrote:Before this is locked, I have been unable to find an anti-Marine quote from Murtha. He stated that he thought that there was an incident in which a Marine platoon murdered civilians. There is a big difference being anti-Marine and being against the acts of individual Marines. He was wrong to say it. As a former Marine, sure, I was pissed. I never thought he was anti-Corps, however.
But did it actually happen (I don't know)? If it did and he wasn't saying it in any odd way,...
bloke wrote:Murtha behaved EXTREMELY poorly shortly before his death, and NEVER apologized for this horrendous behavior.
At the risk of appearing blase, how sane was he (considering he was near 80 and dying)? I don't know anything about him.
User avatar
JCradler
pro musician
pro musician
Posts: 204
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 4:42 pm
Location: Scenic Fairfax, Virginia.

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by JCradler »

David Richoux wrote:Who selected what songs would be played, and when?

It seemed a bit of a shock to hear the lively "Three Cheers for the Red White and Blue" strain (after the "Ruffles and Flourishes") as the casket was first moved from the church after the service. It seemed a bit inappropriate before the solemn hymn that followed. Was that a TV editing thing, or what?

I have played the bugle for several military funerals - it is a very heavy honor!

The last 32 bars of "Stars and Stripes Forever", is the prescribed musical honors for a member of Congress (I'm 99.9% sure on this one). Just as the POTUS has " Hail to the Chief", Generals receive "General's March and Admirals receive "Flag Officer's March". At a funeral for such a high ranking individual, appropriate honors is played before the casket is moved, then the normally prescribed music is played.
John Cradler
User avatar
Toad Away
bugler
bugler
Posts: 198
Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2005 1:33 pm
Location: San Antonio

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by Toad Away »

bloke wrote:

I have found that legion of our rulers are the very same Eddie Haskell types who were in our student councils in our high schools...Somehow, they got elected by their peers to the student council...so who REALLY, then, exercises the poorest judgment?

Image
Beautiful ..... :lol:
___________________________________
___________________________________
Image
User avatar
David Richoux
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1957
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:52 pm
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, mostly. Also Greater Seattle at times.

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by David Richoux »

This part of the thread has lots to do with music...
JCradler wrote:

The last 32 bars of "Stars and Stripes Forever", is the prescribed musical honors for a member of Congress (I'm 99.9% sure on this one). Just as the POTUS has " Hail to the Chief", Generals receive "General's March and Admirals receive "Flag Officer's March". At a funeral for such a high ranking individual, appropriate honors is played before the casket is moved, then the normally prescribed music is played.
This confirms what you say
Grandioso of The Stars and Stripes Forever
Grandioso strain (last 32 measures) of The Stars and Stripes Forever is used in conjunction with Ruffles and Flourishes to provide musical honors to senior civilian government officials. Alone, it is used to provide musical honors to consuls general accredited to the United States.
In the US Marine manual I see there is a bit of flexibility - I did not find a similar paragraph in the Army manual.
2407.1. If full band support is required, the Band Officer makes direct
liaison with the family members of the deceased to coordinate any
special musical requests. Additionally, Band Officers liaison with
command and civilian religious organizations to determine if any
ethnic or creed music protocols pertain to the funeral or memorial
service.
TubaRay
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 4109
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:24 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Contact:

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by TubaRay »

tuben wrote:This now has little, or nothing, to do with music. Can this be taken somewhere else please?
If this bothers you, why not simply stop clicking on the thread? No one forces me to read anything on TubeNet. And, in fact, I do not read everything that is posted. I choose what interests me. I suggest the same strategy for you.
Ray Grim
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
Ace
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1395
Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2004 12:46 am
Location: Berkeley, CA

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by Ace »

TubaRay wrote:
tuben wrote:This now has little, or nothing, to do with music. Can this be taken somewhere else please?
If this bothers you, why not simply stop clicking on the thread? No one forces me to read anything on TubeNet. And, in fact, I do not read everything that is posted. I choose what interests me. I suggest the same strategy for you.
I've read and enjoyed your posts for years, Ray. But I disagree with your stance above. My understanding is that this board is limited to instruments, music, and musicians. Political opinions should be posted on a more appropriate forum. I don't like reading through a thread and having to sift through the stuff that doesn't pertain to instruments, music, and musicians. And, no, I shouldn't be forced into a position wherein I simply click delete if I don't like what I'm reading. By the way, this thread should have been locked early on. Where is the moderator who enforces the rules on this board? Lastly, so there is no confusion, I love and support the military--------I was a military bandsman for six of my seventy-four years.
pgym
4 valves
4 valves
Posts: 769
Joined: Sun Feb 22, 2009 11:30 pm

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by pgym »

Ace wrote:By the way, this thread should have been locked early on. Where is the moderator who enforces the rules on this board?
Seems to me it's up to the the Mod to whether or not a thread should be locked, and if so, when that should occur.

Given that the thread hasn't yet been locked, it could be that the moderator doesn't consider the thread to have slipped over into "politics." :tuba:
____________________

Don't take legal advice from a lawyer on the Internet. I'm a lawyer but I'm not your lawyer.
User avatar
Todd S. Malicoate
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 2378
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2004 11:12 pm
Location: Tulsa, OK

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by Todd S. Malicoate »

Yay! A pissing match about what is "political" and what isn't.

What could be more "political" than that?

EDIT: Oh, yeah...put me on the "Murtha acted badly" team. There was no need to assume those Marines were guilty before proven innocent. I kinda thought that's what they were fightin' for.

Image
TubaRay
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 4109
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:24 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Contact:

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by TubaRay »

tuben wrote:
TubaRay wrote:
tuben wrote:This now has little, or nothing, to do with music. Can this be taken somewhere else please?
If this bothers you, why not simply stop clicking on the thread? No one forces me to read anything on TubeNet. And, in fact, I do not read everything that is posted. I choose what interests me. I suggest the same strategy for you.
I just try to play by the rules, and this discussion is now, largely, non-music related. I can certainly stop playing by the rules and go off topic for every post I read in the future if you prefer.
RC
Actually, I don't really care what you do. I'm not the one who is complaining.
Ray Grim
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
User avatar
Carroll
4 valves
4 valves
Posts: 737
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:25 am
Location: Cookeville, TN (USA)

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by Carroll »

David Richoux wrote: It seemed a bit of a shock to hear the lively "Three Cheers for the Red White and Blue" strain (after the "Ruffles and Flourishes") as the casket was first moved from the church after the service.
Here's another comment that DOES have something to do with music. While most people would incorrectly identify the end of the trio of "Stars and Stripes Forever" as "Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue" those words are actually sung to "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean". I have had many heated conversations about this subject with very knowledgable musicians... some never relent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,_ ... _the_Ocean" target="_blank
:?
User avatar
Toad Away
bugler
bugler
Posts: 198
Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2005 1:33 pm
Location: San Antonio

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by Toad Away »

Carroll wrote: Here's another comment that DOES have something to do with music. While most people would incorrectly identify the end of the trio of "Stars and Stripes Forever" as "Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue" those words are actually sung to "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean". I have had many heated conversations about this subject with very knowledgable musicians... some never relent.
My experience, for what it's worth:
Having performed Stars and Stripes over 4,000 times with the Armed Forces Bicentennial Band & Chorus and The Army Field Band & Soldiers' Chorus,
I can report that when the chorus enters at the trio,
they sing: "Hurrah for the Flag of the Free", in
our arrangements.

"Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue" were
never a part of the lyrics when we performed
Stars and Stripes Forever :tuba:
Last edited by Toad Away on Fri Feb 19, 2010 4:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
___________________________________
___________________________________
Image
User avatar
David Richoux
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1957
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:52 pm
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, mostly. Also Greater Seattle at times.

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by David Richoux »

Carroll wrote:
David Richoux wrote: It seemed a bit of a shock to hear the lively "Three Cheers for the Red White and Blue" strain (after the "Ruffles and Flourishes") as the casket was first moved from the church after the service.
Here's another comment that DOES have something to do with music. While most people would incorrectly identify the end of the trio of "Stars and Stripes Forever" as "Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue" those words are actually sung to "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean". I have had many heated conversations about this subject with very knowledgable musicians... some never relent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,_ ... _the_Ocean" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
:?
I blame society for my error ;-)
(I actually learned it from my Mom as "Be Kind to Your Web-Footed Friends, For a Duck May Be Somebody's Mother" but we are not always picky with lyrics in the Los Trancos Woods Community Marching Band.)

(from a Wiki entry:
Be kind to your fine feathered friends
For a duck may be somebody's mother
Be kind to your friends in the swamp
Where the weather is very, very damp [pronounced to rhyme with "swamp"]
Now, you may think that this is the end...
WELL, IT IS!
)
Last edited by David Richoux on Sat Feb 20, 2010 4:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
David Richoux
5 valves
5 valves
Posts: 1957
Joined: Wed Nov 03, 2004 11:52 pm
Location: San Francisco Bay Area, mostly. Also Greater Seattle at times.

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by David Richoux »

tuben wrote:
Carroll wrote:
David Richoux wrote: It seemed a bit of a shock to hear the lively "Three Cheers for the Red White and Blue" strain (after the "Ruffles and Flourishes") as the casket was first moved from the church after the service.
Here's another comment that DOES have something to do with music. While most people would incorrectly identify the end of the trio of "Stars and Stripes Forever" as "Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue" those words are actually sung to "Columbia the Gem of the Ocean". I have had many heated conversations about this subject with very knowledgable musicians... some never relent.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,_ ... _the_Ocean" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
:?
Columbia, Gem of the Ocean is a totally different tune.
True, but the "Three Cheers" lyrics fit in to S&SF quite nicely for that part. I had never seen the original lyrics to S&SF until quite recently... I think the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings a completely different version of lyrics, but I will have to dig out my recording of their take.
User avatar
Carroll
4 valves
4 valves
Posts: 737
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2004 12:25 am
Location: Cookeville, TN (USA)

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by Carroll »

David Richoux wrote:
tuben wrote: Columbia, Gem of the Ocean is a totally different tune.
True, but the "Three Cheers" lyrics fit in to S&SF quite nicely for that part. I had never seen the original lyrics to S&SF until quite recently... I think the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings a completely different version of lyrics, but I will have to dig out my recording of their take.
Also true! The "real" words to Stars and Stripes kind of make me uncomfortable, anyway.
TubaRay
6 valves
6 valves
Posts: 4109
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:24 pm
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Contact:

Re: Marine Band at funeral for Congressman John Murtha

Post by TubaRay »

knuxie wrote:S&SF was our fight song in high school. When I heard it in the video, I wondered who had scored a touchdown...
Ken F.
Lately, I would say no one.
Ray Grim
The TubaMeisters
San Antonio, Tx.
Post Reply