The term “bugle” may conjure up images of the Andrews Sisters’ 1941 hit “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” but the bugle’s history dates back much further, to the days when it was used for hunting calls. Older bugles lacked valves, despite being brass instruments like trumpets, trombones, and tubas. Valved bugles are now available, and this newer design expands the range of pitches available to the bugler. Both the mellophone and the flugelhorn can be considered bugle descendants.
Because bugle calls were used as signals to announce events to the troops, the bugle became strongly associated with the military. “Taps” is a solemn bugle call used by the US military for solemn occasions such as funerals and memorials. It’s also the signal that’s played every evening to signal that the day’s work is done and the lights should be turned off. The current music was adapted from a piece written by a Union General named Daniel Butterfield in July of 1862, with the help of a bugler in his brigade named Oliver Willcox Norton.
The Army signal for roll call at the start of the day is “Reveille,” a much brighter piece with a lot of energy. Other bugle field calls include announcements of commonplace events such as “Assembly,” “Breakfast,” “Mail Call,” “Drill Call,” and “Mess Call.” Other calls, such as “The Rally” – used to regroup troops; “Retreat” – the command to fall back during a military action; and “The March” – used to notify soldiers that it was time to move – were field signals for important military operations.
The bugle is an important part of the American drum and bugle corps, which evolved from the marching band, in addition to its military use. The colorguard, percussion section, which includes pit percussion as well as a marching battery drumline, and the marching battery hornline make up the drum and bugle corps. The hornline typically contains three sizes of bugle — soprano, baritone, and contrabass — as well as mellophones and euphoniums.