What is the "Butterfield's Lullaby"?
You do know the tune, though you know it by a different name, "Taps", which is also know as Day Is Done.
There are two pieces of music that stir the hearts and emotions of Americans -- The Star-Spangled Banner and Taps.
Taps--this 24 note bugle call was composed by Army Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield in July 1862. His bugler, Oliver W. Norton, was the first to sound the new call. It was originally composed as the signal to end the day or "lights out" that all is secure. It is possibly a revision of the French bugle sound called "Tattoo". It soon became the official Army bugle call, but not given the name Taps until 1874.
The first time Taps was played at a military funeral was shortly after it was composed primarily because it would not be recognized by the enemy. It was played at a burial of a battery unit member died and the unit did not want their location to be revealed. They chose Taps rather than the normal 3 volleys to be sounded as that would have given away their location. Ten months after Taps was composed it was played at the funeral of Stonewall Jackson. In 1891 in became regulation that Taps was to be played at military funeral ceremonies.
General Butterfield (1831-1901) was buried in West Point Cemetery at the United States Military Academy, although he had not attended that institution. Taps was also sounded at his funeral.
There are legends about this short, heart felt piece of music. The most familiar one is about a soldier dying out in the battlefield and his father locates him then finds the music in his pocket. This version was found to have been told on the short lived 1949 "Ripley's Believe It Or Not" television series.
The first time Taps was seen and heard on the television was at President Kennedy's funeral. Taps is now played at burial and memorial services, to accompany the lowering of the flag and to signal the “lights out” command at day’s end. Taps will be played by a bugler, if available, or by electronic recording. Today, there are so few buglers available that the Military Services often cannot provide one.
Taps, one of the most memorable, emotional pieces of music that takes only one minute to play. It is a wonderful piece of music that is fills one's heart of peace. It helps bring a sense of closure to the family who has lost a loved one. It is the most sacred duty a bugler can perform.
