| Bugles for Use at Funerals, Ceremonies, and Civil War Events |
Modern "Boy Scout" Bugle in G
These are the M1892 bugles on which all modern bugles are based. They
are marked Regulation Bugle or with a manufacturer's name. Theses horns
are quite easy to find on internet auction sites and are still manufactured
by a company called Buglecraft. (The company used to be called Rexcraft.)
The bugles are in the key of G which is pitched lower than modern
trumpets so it is easier to sound all the notes. The problem is that these
horns are mostly of cheap construction and play rather poorly. If you can
find one made during the 1930s or 40s by instrument companies like Conn,
Wurlitzer, Holton or Ludwig you will be better off.
These are the M1892 bugles on which all modern bugles are based. They
are marked Regulation Bugle or with a manufacturer's name. Theses horns
are quite easy to find on internet auction sites and are still manufactured
by a company called Buglecraft. (The company used to be called Rexcraft.)
The bugles are in the key of G which is pitched lower than modern
trumpets so it is easier to sound all the notes. The problem is that these
horns are mostly of cheap construction and play rather poorly. If you can
find one made during the 1930s or 40s by instrument companies like Conn,
Wurlitzer, Holton or Ludwig you will be better off.
| M1892 "Boy Scout" Bugle |
Clairon in C or B Flat for Civil War Use
This is the most common type of bugle used in the Civil War. It is a
big-belled instrument that is in the key of C but can be lowered to B flat
with the use of a crook. There are good modern reproductions made by
Amati and Andrew Naumann. There are also hundreds of French-made
(Coueson) instruments that are period correct. The Amati and
French-made models are in the key of B flat. They can be found on
internet auction sites and at relic shows.
This is the most common type of bugle used in the Civil War. It is a
big-belled instrument that is in the key of C but can be lowered to B flat
with the use of a crook. There are good modern reproductions made by
Amati and Andrew Naumann. There are also hundreds of French-made
(Coueson) instruments that are period correct. The Amati and
French-made models are in the key of B flat. They can be found on
internet auction sites and at relic shows.
| Clairon in C or B Flat for Civil War use |
M1894 Bugle in B Flat
This is the M1894 bugle in B flat, also referred to as a "Trench" bugle.
These small WWI triple twist bugles can be found without much problem
on internet auction sites and at antique or relics shows. They are
identified by the writing on the bell which marks the manufacturer,
specification number (Spec. 1152), and date of production. They have
no tuning slides and the pitch is not consistent between horns.
This is the M1894 bugle in B flat, also referred to as a "Trench" bugle.
These small WWI triple twist bugles can be found without much problem
on internet auction sites and at antique or relics shows. They are
identified by the writing on the bell which marks the manufacturer,
specification number (Spec. 1152), and date of production. They have
no tuning slides and the pitch is not consistent between horns.
| "Trench" Bugle in B flat |
British Duty Bugle in B Flat
This is a double twist bugle in B flat. They were introduced in England in 1855 but the
model they are based on can be traced back to 1810. This is the model that all Civil War
sutler ("Gunga Din") bugles are based on . These horns were probably not used during the
Civil War and there are no known pictures of a musician with one during that period.
This is a double twist bugle in B flat. They were introduced in England in 1855 but the
model they are based on can be traced back to 1810. This is the model that all Civil War
sutler ("Gunga Din") bugles are based on . These horns were probably not used during the
Civil War and there are no known pictures of a musician with one during that period.
| British Duty Bugle in B Flat |
"Gunga Din" Bugle in B Flat
This is the cheap Pakistan or Indian made instrument. Civil War sutlers sell
them with a USA or CSA marking on them and also with crossed sabers and a
"7" and "A." There are no known photos of a Civil War bugler with one of
these horns.
This is the cheap Pakistan or Indian made instrument. Civil War sutlers sell
them with a USA or CSA marking on them and also with crossed sabers and a
"7" and "A." There are no known photos of a Civil War bugler with one of
these horns.
| "Gunga Din" Bugle in B Flat |
Modern Field Trumpets and Bugles
The sounding of Taps on a field trumpet or bugle rather than a valved trumpet or cornet has a long and proud tradition. With the
number of U.S. veteran funerals rising and a need for live buglers increasing, many trumpet players have been searching for an
adequate instrument on which to sound Taps. The style of bugles (outside of the drum and bugle corps movement, which added
valves to their instruments) has changed little since the introduction of the M1892 Field Trumpet by the US Army. The M1892 Field
Trumpet (also called a bugle) was the main signal instrument for the U.S. military and was adopted by various organizations such as
the American Legion, V.F.W. and Boy Scouts. These field trumpets are in the key of G and many are made of poor quality.
The US Army Band ("Pershing's Own") has, for almost fifty years, been using a B flat bugle (signal trumpet) Bach Stradivarius model
made by the Vincent Bach and later Selmer Corporation. These bugles are based on the M1892 model but pitched in the key of B flat
and made to higher specifications than commercially available bugles. The original Bach bugles were gold plated and the second batch
manufactured were lacquered. Two original ones are on display; one at the Army Band Building at Fort Myer, the second in the Visitor
Center at Arlington National Cemetery. That one, of course, is the famous "Kennedy Bugle." All the bugles have been used to sound
Taps at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington as well as the many simple honor funerals at the cemetery. Selmer has refused many
official and private requests to manufacture any additional bugles past the original twenty or so they made for the band in the 1960s.
Since then, there has been no American-based company making a good quality bugle for ceremonial use. Until now...
In the spring of 2003, following a news article about a refurbishing of a bugle for a West Virginia Air National Guard Honor Guard
bugler, the Getzen instrument manufacturing company was approached with the idea of producing a ceremonial bugle for use at
funerals and ceremonies.
The new Getzen American Heritage Field Trumpet (named by Jari Villanueva) is pitched in B flat, made of the finest brass, with a
medium large bore. The bugle has a tuning slide, water key and two tabard rings. The American Heritage is a free blowing horn
without any of the resistance found in the valve tubing found on regular trumpets. The intonation is superb throughout. It is a
double twist horn measuring 16 inches from bell to shank with a 5 inch diameter bell. The bore size is .459. These bugles are used by
Bugles Across America, an organization dedicated to providing live buglers for funerals of veterans.
Also, after a long process to acquire a replacement bugle for use, in 2002 the US Army Band decided on using bugles manufactured by
Stomvi. They are currently in use at Arlington National Cemetery. The Bachs have been repaired and refinished in gold and returned
to service as well.
I have talked with the distributor of the Stomvi bugles and acquired one (Serial no. 7) for myself. The bugle is, like the Bach,
modeled on the 1892 pattern, has two water keys, a tuning slide and two cord rings. The horn is sixteen inches in length (without
mouthpiece) and has a five inch bell diameter. It is pitched in B flat and is gold plated. The instrument blows free and the sound is
bright. It is a ML to L bore.
The sounding of Taps on a field trumpet or bugle rather than a valved trumpet or cornet has a long and proud tradition. With the
number of U.S. veteran funerals rising and a need for live buglers increasing, many trumpet players have been searching for an
adequate instrument on which to sound Taps. The style of bugles (outside of the drum and bugle corps movement, which added
valves to their instruments) has changed little since the introduction of the M1892 Field Trumpet by the US Army. The M1892 Field
Trumpet (also called a bugle) was the main signal instrument for the U.S. military and was adopted by various organizations such as
the American Legion, V.F.W. and Boy Scouts. These field trumpets are in the key of G and many are made of poor quality.
The US Army Band ("Pershing's Own") has, for almost fifty years, been using a B flat bugle (signal trumpet) Bach Stradivarius model
made by the Vincent Bach and later Selmer Corporation. These bugles are based on the M1892 model but pitched in the key of B flat
and made to higher specifications than commercially available bugles. The original Bach bugles were gold plated and the second batch
manufactured were lacquered. Two original ones are on display; one at the Army Band Building at Fort Myer, the second in the Visitor
Center at Arlington National Cemetery. That one, of course, is the famous "Kennedy Bugle." All the bugles have been used to sound
Taps at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington as well as the many simple honor funerals at the cemetery. Selmer has refused many
official and private requests to manufacture any additional bugles past the original twenty or so they made for the band in the 1960s.
Since then, there has been no American-based company making a good quality bugle for ceremonial use. Until now...
In the spring of 2003, following a news article about a refurbishing of a bugle for a West Virginia Air National Guard Honor Guard
bugler, the Getzen instrument manufacturing company was approached with the idea of producing a ceremonial bugle for use at
funerals and ceremonies.
The new Getzen American Heritage Field Trumpet (named by Jari Villanueva) is pitched in B flat, made of the finest brass, with a
medium large bore. The bugle has a tuning slide, water key and two tabard rings. The American Heritage is a free blowing horn
without any of the resistance found in the valve tubing found on regular trumpets. The intonation is superb throughout. It is a
double twist horn measuring 16 inches from bell to shank with a 5 inch diameter bell. The bore size is .459. These bugles are used by
Bugles Across America, an organization dedicated to providing live buglers for funerals of veterans.
Also, after a long process to acquire a replacement bugle for use, in 2002 the US Army Band decided on using bugles manufactured by
Stomvi. They are currently in use at Arlington National Cemetery. The Bachs have been repaired and refinished in gold and returned
to service as well.
I have talked with the distributor of the Stomvi bugles and acquired one (Serial no. 7) for myself. The bugle is, like the Bach,
modeled on the 1892 pattern, has two water keys, a tuning slide and two cord rings. The horn is sixteen inches in length (without
mouthpiece) and has a five inch bell diameter. It is pitched in B flat and is gold plated. The instrument blows free and the sound is
bright. It is a ML to L bore.
| Stomvi Bugle |
| Getzen American Heritage Field Trumpet |
The Getzen and Stomvi instruments are bugles that would be appropriate to sound Taps at a funeral or to bugle at a ceremony. I know
that there are many trumpeters in police and fire honor guards throughout the country who are looking for a good B flat bugle to use
rather than a valved trumpet. The regulation G (Boy Scout) bugle and the "Gunga Din" bugle just do not cut it for intonation and
beauty of sound.
For more information on ordering one of the Getzen or Stomvi bugles you can email me at jvmusic@erols.com and I'll put you in
contact with the distributor. You can also see more about the Getzen horns at www.fieldtrumpet.com.
I am not selling them, I'm just passing on the information. These horns are not cheap, especially the Stomvi (choices are gold or silver
plated, rather than lacquered brass). However, if you are are looking for the best sound using the best equipment, I would definitely
look into getting a Stomvi or a Getzen.
that there are many trumpeters in police and fire honor guards throughout the country who are looking for a good B flat bugle to use
rather than a valved trumpet. The regulation G (Boy Scout) bugle and the "Gunga Din" bugle just do not cut it for intonation and
beauty of sound.
For more information on ordering one of the Getzen or Stomvi bugles you can email me at jvmusic@erols.com and I'll put you in
contact with the distributor. You can also see more about the Getzen horns at www.fieldtrumpet.com.
I am not selling them, I'm just passing on the information. These horns are not cheap, especially the Stomvi (choices are gold or silver
plated, rather than lacquered brass). However, if you are are looking for the best sound using the best equipment, I would definitely
look into getting a Stomvi or a Getzen.