The Last Post: A Musical Salute

The Last Post is now synonymous with Remembrance Sunday, but have you ever wondered how a solo Bugle Call evolved into the poignant sound of respect and remembrance? 🎺🎶

The Last Post is a short but powerful musical call, traditionally played on the bugle or the trumpet (a bugle is a small brass instrument, typically devoid of values or keys). Thanks to its close ties to Remembrance Sunday and various military occasions, it is a very recognisable, melancholic melody.

The modest selection of notes is a hallmark of military-style bugle music. As a valveless instrument, the range is much smaller than similar brass instruments with valves (e.g. the trumpet). The pitches are instead formed via the player’s embouchure (shape of their mouth).

While the composition is rooted in the key of C major, it artfully concludes with an E (the mediant). This final note imparts a sense of ‘unfinished’ beauty, leaving a poignant echo that lingers in the hearts of those who listen.

Originally The Last Post severed as a communication tool by the British Army, signifying that the camp was secure for the night and indicating to those absent that the hostilities had ceased.

From the mid 19th century the The Last Post acquired a deeper meaning. The call was elongated, pauses were added, and it began to accompany fallen soldiers at their graveside. As WW1 began, The Last Post had solidified it’s role in commemorating soldiers, and it became synonymous with remembrance.

In the years that followed The Last Post became an established part of Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday events. It now marks the start of the traditional two minute silence, marking a moment of collective remembrance and reflection.

Despite its seemingly straight-forward structure, The Last Post can be a challenging play. The long sustained notes test the wind player’s embouchure - demanding both precision and endurance in maintaining each note without faltering. Add to this the pressure of performance, sometimes outdoors, and to an audience with an attuned idea of how it is ‘supposed’ to sound!