Bugle Calls of the United States Army 🎺Tambour Der Garde 1920 Public Domain 78 rpm COLUMBIA A886

In our series of Public Domain "found 78 rpm" records, we offer these two remarkably clear recordings given their age: Bugle Calls of the United States Army and Tambour Der Garde.

NOTE: This is not the same as the vintage Boy Scout Bugle Calls that we posted a few years ago here:    • Boy Scout Bugle Calls 1924 Vintage 78 RPM ...   which, admittedly is not of the highest quality.

The condition of this recording is very good - there is barely a mark on either side of this record, and little to no "popping" or "crackling" - at least that we can hear.

Record Information:

This is a Shellac, 10", 78 rpm record, on the Columbia Grafonola label (Columbia Graphophone Company). Each side is labeled as follows:
1 - "Bugle Calls of the United States Army; Bugle Calls" - A886; Matrix # 640, with "6-G-55" stamped into the label itself. The last date on the label is November 30, 1909. No artist listed on the label. "CW" printed below "COLUMBIA"

2 - "Tambour Der Garde; Ouverture; Gespielt vom Columbia Orchester" - A886; Matrix # 40982-1 M, with "33" stamped into the label itself. The last date on the label is November 30, 1909. "DW" printed below "COLUMBIA"

We see on Discogs that these were likely recorded in March 1920. The "CW" label is shown as one of the images (along with a "KW" label on another version) at the Discogs page here: https://www.discogs.com/release/22937...

Side 1: About the Bugle Calls

There are 9 bugle calls on this recording. There are numerous others (e.g. "Mess Call," "Call to Quarters," "Church Call," etc). We learned the meanings of some of these calls at the US Army's Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield's list of Bugle Calls page here: https://home.army.mil/stewart/my-fort...

Other calls we identified from other websites, we'll add those links next to the specific bugle call where we located the information.

You can hear each call next to its time stamp as follows (NOTE: Will add the time stamps asap):

Time Stamps (coming asap)
1. First Call (This tells Soldiers to begin assembling for a formation).
2. Reveille (Like an alarm clock, this call tells Soldiers to wake up for the morning roll call, while accompanying the raising of the National Flag.)
3. Assembly (This call signals that Soldiers should assemble at a designated place).
4. Adjutants Call (According to this source at the "Wayback Machine" - aka Internet Archive, this call "signals that the adjutant is about to form the guard, battalion, or brigade" https://web.archive.org/web/201206011... )
5. Commence Firing (One of the Fight and Rally Calls - https://www.secondcavalry.net/bugle-c...)
6. Cease Firing (One of the Fight and Rally Calls - https://www.secondcavalry.net/bugle-c...)
7. Retreat (We thought it meant to back off on the field; however, the website says it's to signal the "end of the official duty day.")
8. Tattoo (means to turn off lights and stop talking/making noise)
9. Taps (originally Taps was a "signal to extinguish lights;" however, it is now primarily noted "as the call is sounded at funerals,
wreath-laying ceremonies and memorial services." https://www.va.gov/opa/publications/c...)

Side 2: Tambour Der Garde

Composed by Anton Emil Titl (1809-1882), and also noted on some recordings as "Der tambour der garde overture" This was recorded by the "house orchestra" for Columbia at the time, "Columbia Orchester," as noted here: https://www.discogs.com/artist/495702...

Information about Anton Emil Titl: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/index.ph...\\

Other Links to Historical Info

Columbia Grafonola: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbi...
Columbia Graphophone Company: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbi...
Discogs historical info: https://www.discogs.com/label/97841-C...
Other note: Thumbnail photo of Navy Militia Bugler is 1917 Public Domain https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

We've been digitizing and preserving more vintage 78 rpm records, and will continue to share them with you as time allows. In the meantime, if you enjoy these old recordings - or even seeing some of the yard sale finds we bring in (and sell on eBay and other venues), please consider subscribing to our channel! Ring the little "Bell" icon, and you will be notified when we upload new content! Thank you for tuning in, and we'll see you in the next video!

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