A Closer Look at Bugle Calls Music is a tool that has been used by many throughout history to compose beautiful works of art that evoke strong emotions, to enhance religious ceremonies, to entertain entire crowds, to earn money, to spread a political agenda, and even to communicate messages in military contexts, such as through the use of bugle calls. There are many different bugle calls for various contexts and purposes within the military, but they have also been appropriated for many other uses. This essay seeks to analyze the characteristics of bugle calls, and explore how they are used in various contexts. There are twenty-five bugle calls currently used in the United States Army to announce scheduled and certain non-scheduled events. These short melodies can announce many events including meal times, payday, receiving mail, times for certain people to assemble at specified locations, and the time to turn off the lights at the end of the night. Bugles, among other instruments like the snare drum, were originally used to communicate in military settings because they were loud enough to be heard over the noise of battle. Although bugle calls can now be played on various other instruments such as the trumpet, the melodies of bugle calls are still constrained by the capabilities of the bugle. Since bugles have no valves, they are only able to play the notes of a single overtone series. …show more content…
Still, within the military, it is common for soldiers to add their own lyrics to bugle calls and sing along. For the mess call, lyrics like “soupy, soupy, soupy, without a single bean; coffee, coffee, coffee, without a single bean; porky, porky, porky, without a streak of lean” are a way for soldiers to participate and make the day less mundane while also adding their own commentary. The sentiment of military food being bland or unappetizing is similar in many other countries’
"HUT, TWO, THREE, FOUR...HUT, TWO, THREE, FOUR...” What do a bunch of grunts calling out raunchy marching cadences have to do with pop culture? There’s more to the cadence then just keeping soldiers in step, there is a deep sense of pride, patriotism, unity, motivation, and nostalgia, which can be found within these songs. The Military cadence is used to motivate, inspire, and foster company cohesiveness while keeping soldiers steps in time and hands down the rich oral traditions of the Army, Navy, Marines, and Air force. The cadence is a song sung when marching or running and the songs require a caller, who normally sets the pace and leads the formation. Like robots, the soldiers echoed their leader's sing-song" Jody Call" in beat to their pounding footsteps. The way a unit sounds while running or marching tends to reflect on that unit's morale and leadership. This paper will illustrate the similarities that cadences share with pop culture music through lyrical examples. As you will see, the lyrics of these cadences are expressions of individual feelings, goals, and fears, and are quite similar to the themes of other popular culture musical genres. The theories of subculture, appropriation and improvisation that have been proposed in lecture will be reviewed and illustrated within cadences. The military cadence as a subcultures oral tradition will be examined, through analyzing the theories of popular music which can be applied to the genres’ history, structure, and socio-political influences.
Most of the combatants were not acquainted to the lifestyle of a soldier. While they were in the process of adapting to the change, they faced a lot of hardships. The most daunting part of the war was the living conditions of the soldiers. The living condition of the soldiers in and out of the battlefield during the war was devastating. Some of the soldiers lost their lives before they even had the opportunity to fight. Some of the challenges faced by new army recruiters were severe cold weather; lack of food, lighting struck, deadly diseases, and dirty water was what they were encased with. Sniffing gunpowder by soldiers caused some allergies to some soldiers and even aggravated sickness to others. Moreover, watching non catered wounds, seeing broken legs; arms and heads a little daunted him. Moreover, the soldiers were not able to have their activities scheduled by themselves but had to follow the schedule from their general commander. In addition to that, the quality of food served to the soldiers was very poor. An example is the bread served to the soldiers. It was so “hard that it could break the teeth of a rat”, unfortunately, complains were not deliberated by their leaders. For the response from the leaders will be, if one person
When trumpets were first used, they were set apart from anything that would suggest “music”. They were commonly used for signaling a message or instructions over a great distance. These signals would consist of a series of sounds or rhythmic patterns. Trumpets eventually would announce when royalty arrived such as noble employers, kings or rulers, and ambassadors. They were used for wartime maneuvers, peaceful periods, and tournaments. Ultimately when the trumpet’s ability to play more notes increased, they were finally considered an “art music”. Trumpets now played in ceremonies and celebrations as a part of musical groups. The uses for trumpets started out minimal but increased immensely with the ability to play more notes during the Renaissance
Music is an art and a wonderful gift to human race. It soothes, stimulates and makes us feel happy. It affects our moods in many different ways from lullaby to war cry for changes in the society. Music is actually distinct to different people. Above all, it has a transformational importance that is captured in its art and nature. Music draws our emotions and it has an impact of bridging different cultures across the continents. Slave songs were very vital channels through which all kind of information was conveyed both positive and negative.
Though the formation of our modern-day Concert Band does not date back quite as far as our modern-day Wind Ensemble, the extent of events, groups, composers, and advancements is quite similar. The evolution of the Concert Band dates back to the French Revolution. Large bands, full of unique instruments and amateur musicians, were required to play at festivals and ceremonies. Similar to the evolution of the Wind Ensemble, the Concert Band is derived from military purposes. Instruments, such as the trumpets, horns, and drums, were often used for signaling. In contrast to Wind Ensemble musicians, these Concert Band musicians never played their instruments for military enjoyment. The Concert Band musicians primarily played instruments to signal to the guards and villages. There were a few unique instruments, however, that were desired to play a military tune. These instruments include instruments such as a flute or bagpipe. Throughout the Middle Ages, this difference in military preference led to different job opportunities. For example, a cavalry company required trumpets, horns, and trumpets. On the other hand, foot soldiers would hire flute and bagpipe
Western Music has developed in many ways since the middle ages through its form, sound, and message. Throughout these different periods in western music one thing has remained constant, the true essence of music, a way to communicate with someone on a much more divine level than be by rudimentary conversation. Though Ludwig Van Beethoven and Paul McCartney may seem completely opposite they have one in common through their music they changed the world’s perception of its self
Many people hail “The Star Spangled Banner” as the greatest piece of American music. The audiences of America’s national anthem seem, instinctively, eager to express their respect by embracing the notion to remove their hats and stand up. However, not many people ponder over the question of what “The Star Spangled Banner” truly means. What does it mean? Why does it deserve so much reverence and honor? What exceptional difference allows it to prevail over the masterpieces of prominent composers like Mozart and Beethoven? The answer is fairly simple. “The Star Spangled Banner” symbolizes America’s perseverance, its set of moral laws and ethics, and its history that constitutes what America truly means.
The hurdy gurdy, or street organ, is an instrument with not only a funny name, but a fascinating sound. The humorous name was actually a derogatory term in the 18th century, meaning the hurdy gurdy was not held to such a high regard. In the 12th and 13th century, the hurdy gurdy was either described in its primitive form as the symphonia or a organistrum. The symphonia was a peasant’s instrument, only street folk played it. Through this proposal, I will describe how society’s view of the hurdy gurdy shifted through centuries of music. In the medieval ages, the hurdy gurdy may have been held to the same regard and as popular as the piano of modern day. The street orga that we know today is in no way, shape, or form a representation of what
Reich, Steve. Writings about Music. Halifax: Nova Scotia Coll.of Art & Design P., 1974. Print.
The book is divided into four chapters: 1) Humanly Organized Sound, 2) Music in Society and Culture, 3) Culture and Society in Music, and 4) Soundly Organized Humanity. In chapter one, Blacking discusses the analysis of sound. He begins by describing music as humanly organized sound. His overarching theme is that “the function of tones in relation to each other cannot be explained adequately as part of a closed system” (30). In other words, music can’t be analyzed simply by one set of rules. This is because every single culture has a different system that they use to structure and compose their music. In order to adequately analyze a society’s music we have to study their “system.” We must learn what music means to them. Then, and only then, can we accurately and completely analyze what a particular type or piece of music means to a particular society and culture.
"Music is a common experience and a large part of societies. In fact, anthropologists note that all human communities at all times and in all places, have engaged in musical behaviours. Music as a mode of human activity is a cultural phenomenon constituting a fundamental social entity as humans create music and create their relationship to music. As cultural phenomeno...
What would the world be like without music? The world would be a very silent place. Music is in many ways the material of our lives and the meaning of society. It is a reminder of how things were in the old days, a suggestion of how things are, and a view of where society is leading to. Music is the direct reflection of the picture of art, music, and literature. Music can be a way to deliver messages, being poetic, a fine art, or it can just be for entertainment. No matter what it is used for, music is the perfect art there is and there are various types of music; such as classical and romantic. This paper will discuss how classical music and romantic music had a turning point in humanity’s social or cultural development, and how they have
Each of us have learned in various Professional Military Education how listening is the process of receiving, comprehending, and recalling a specific message; failure to do such can literally compromise missions, loss of resources, and be a matter of life and death.
This book contains mountains of information about the World War II German forces, ranging from their daily routine to the very strategies they used. It has a section about music and morale, which should be useful when comparing the American spirit and attitude in song to the German spirit and attitude.
Music has been many different things to people, an escape, a revolution, an experience, a feeling, a message, a memory, a single moment, peace, class, etc. Music has played a large role in the lives of many. The story of music and it’s evolution is beautiful, from ancient melodies being plucked on a harp, to the british invasion and the popular revolution. Music has changed, and it has effected so much. In the recent decades popular music has manipulated humanity into acting inappropriately.