Majestic music of the bugle
By H.C. Gera

EVERY morning and evening a beautiful and majestic sound is produced by the buglers at the Punjab and Haryana Raj Bhavans in Chandigarh. The bugles are played when the National Flag is raised and lowered at both places. Regular walkers at Sukhna Lake are quite familiar with the melodious music of the bugle. The waking signal sounded at sunrise is known as Reveille. The bugle call at the sunset is called Retreat.

The bugle, a wind instrument, belongs to the brass family of instruments. The first brass instruments originated in the Biblical times. It is interesting that the first brass instruments were not actually made of brass. The basic instrument was a conical tusk of a mammoth (an extinct elephant). The tusk was hollowed and played by buzzing the lips against small end. This instrument produced only a single note.

A similar type of instrument was also made from the ‘hunting horn’ of the ox. The bugle horn is also known as flugle horn in German. It is derived from the Latin word buculus, meaning bullock.

The bugles made from the horns of animals underwent some modifications from time to time. The improved version of the bugle was developed in 900 AD. The instrument was fitted with holes to change the tone and pitch but was still not capable of producing multiple tones on the same fingering.

The first bugle with multiple tones was developed in the mid-1300s. It consisted of a conical bell bent into an oval shape. The instrument had neither holes nor key, but it could produce multiple tones. This instrument became widely used especially in the military to direct the troops in battle. Its use as a modern military signaling instrument dates back to 1750.

The bugle went through several cosmetic changes and revisions. Finally the S-shaped bugle was introduced which was made of copper. The next major revision in the instrument was recorded in 1800, when keys were introduced to change the pitch. In 1815, Germans added valves to this instrument. They found those easier to handle than keys.

The modern-day bugle is made up of either brass or copper and is without keys or valves. The bugle can be of a variety of sizes but usually the length of the unwound tubing is four feet and six inches.

The bugle is associated with various calls. These calls are practised in the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force units and at the headquarters. The calls can be categorised as regimental calls, field calls and routine calls. But the most famous are the Reveille and the Last Post which have virtually remained unchanged. The first official list of bugle calls was issued in 1798. The routine calls sounded on bugle include Extinguish Lights, Fall In, Double Time, Fire Alarm, Lie Down, Rise Up, Officers Call, Commence Firing (in a firing range), Cease Firing. Similarly there are many other routine calls which are sounded on bugle on different occasions. The March Calls on bugle also include President March, General March and the Funeral March. The bugles are also played on other ceremonies such as inauguration of functions, games, projects, visits of VIPs, victories and awarding of medals.

The music played on the bugle is majestic. Though played for a short period (40 seconds to 52 seconds), it induces a sense of patriotism. The subtle tunes of Rouse Reveille and Last Post are extremely moving. In contrast, Fan Fare Reveille is played on happy occasions.

No other musical instrument is played when the bugle is being sounded for calls. The bugle is generally played by holding the instrument in the right hand.