Taps

[Dan Schultz]

A non-music person sent me this link and suggested that they thought it might be the 'original' version of "Taps" and what we now use is somehow a 'cut-down' version. I know lots of stuff but couldn't comment. Tell me what you know:
http://www.coolestone.com/media/1351/Ta ... d-Prodigy/

[Chuck Jackson]

Dan,

Taps is a bugle call, one originating from, I believe, the Civil War and penned by one Dan Butterfield. The only Official Version would be the DoD version which is the only "sanctioned" version of this call. I can't imagine that he would have written anything as notey as the version the young lady plays. I suspect that they are trying to foist a version on the listening public that is nowhere close to the original just because they can. I don't know who the orchestra is behind her, but there renditions of the classics just plain hurt my feelings, he's kinda the Keeny G. of classical music.

Chuck"annoyed"Jackson

[Ace]

The text says that version was written in 1801. I may be wrong, but to my knowledge there was no trumpet in existence at that time that could play all those diatonic notes, unless perhaps it was a big natural trumpet (8 ft or so) played in the higher partials. (Were keyed bugles around in 1801?)

This young lady plays very well and I commend her. The arrangement, however, is too hyper-emotional for my taste. As a former Army bugler and bandsman for six years, I prefer the Department of Defense approved version of Taps, including the straight eighth notes in the middle section. Well played, it has great dignity and plenty of emotion.

[Chuck Jackson]

The text says that version was written in 1801.

You are right. My history is a little askew. The original has more gravitas than then the one that is purported to be the original.

Chuck"still bothered by the version on youtube"Jackson

[BopEuph]

I suspect that they are trying to foist a version on the listening public that is nowhere close to the original just because they can. I don't know who the orchestra is behind her, but there renditions of the classics just plain hurt my feelings, he's kinda the Keeny G. of classical music.

Not far from the truth. First, I agree that this couldn't have existed in this form, since it was a bugle call, not a trumpet solo. As for the orchestra, it's something that my grandparents told me to watch a few years back "this amazing conductor Andre Rieu." It's a show, not a classical concert. He used to have these PBS specials on these concerts, where every concert is always finished by Blue Danube, complete with audience clapping in pseudo-time. One even had a girl in a similar dress come out and play Yakety Sax.

There was an interview at the end of one of these shows, where he says if a musician asks how much the pay is, he won't hire them, since "the music" is the bottom line, not "the money." Since then, I seriously think the orchestra is underpaid, even with those expensive costumes.

Nick

[TMurphy]

I'm not joking I LOVE the fact that her teacher has allowed her to use that downward, side bent horn position.
Who among us would have seen past that "ban habit" to see the talent in that girl ? !
Unfortunately, if she ever wants to play in a big band with desk type stands, she'll have reading trouble big time !
I've seen her before hand she always sounds great.

The off-center embouchure was one thing, it was the over-done vibrato that got me. Too schmaltzy for my tastes.

[Mike-ICR]

The music may have been written in 1801 and the technology may have been around to play it. I'm even willing to believe that Dan Butterfield heard this tune and could have been inspired to write Taps. I seriously doubt this tune has any direct connection to Taps and I'm sure this tune wasn't meant to be played this way.

[TMurphy]

I know a (former middle school / now high school) band teacher who TAUGHT vibrato and TAUGHT his students to pulse a certain number of times per second.

bloke "too early / too anal"