Music for commemorative ceremonies
Last Post, Reveille and Flowers of the Forest are 3 ceremonial compositions used by the Canadian Armed Forces.
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Last Post, Reveille and Flowers of the Forest audio recordings
Last Post, Reveille and Flowers of the Forest sheet music
How to properly use these musical pieces
We use Last Post and Reveille (Rouse) at Remembrance Day ceremonies. It draws the symbolic association between the soldier's last duty of sitting sentry (death) and his rising above his mortal duties (reveille).
The last note of Last Post marks the beginning of the 2 minutes of silence.
During the silence, no musical instrument shall be played, including bagpipes, as this detracts from the purpose of the ceremony, which is quiet reflection on the service and sacrifice of the fallen. Following the two-minute period of silence, play "Rouse". The lament may be incorporated either before the "Last Post," after the "Rouse," or, at the discretion of the parade commander, after the two minutes of silence and before the "Rouse." Then lay the official wreaths. During the laying of wreaths, the parade shall be in the stand at ease position. For national remembrance and commemorative ceremonies, the official lament shall be "Flowers of the Forest." For unit, formation, or local commemorative ceremonies, an alternative lament of appropriate solemnity and significance may be performed at the discretion of the parade commander, considering local traditions and available musical resources
The History and Heritage Committee, which met on 14 February 2011 and included senior representatives from each environment, accepted a proposal authorizing the performance of a bagpipe lament during remembrance ceremonies. A lament may therefore be played, provided it does not interfere with the mandatory two minutes of silence. For national remembrance and commemorative ceremonies, the prescribed lament is "Flowers of the Forest." For unit-level ceremonies, an alternative lament of suitable solemnity and significance may be performed at the discretion of the parade commander.
Background on these musical pieces
Last Post is a regulation call that was played in the evening to signal the completion of the setting of night sentinels or sentry posts. First Post signaled the mounting of the "guard" or sentry posts. Last Post then signaled that the camp was secure and that all sentry posts were manned and ready.
Prior to the mid 19th century, the foot soldier's life was regulated by drumbeats. Later that century, the bugle call was introduced. It conditioned a response from soldiers both for field maneuvers and during camp routine. Certain "calls" were used to order changes in type, direction or speed of attack or withdrawal formations. However, the most used bugle calls were:
- Reveille
- Rouse
- Last Post
The Rouse was used as a "quarter call"; to wake the soldiers 15 minutes before the more formal activity. Reveille, which was a more complicated call by all the buglers, announced the formal activities.
In the early 20th century, there was less need for 2 "wake-up" calls. In 1909, the longer call (Reveille) was omitted and the shorter call (Rouse) was redesignated "Reveille". However, in 1927, the longer call was reinstated. British ceremonial manuals declared that the Rouse would be used for funeral services throughout the Empire. Today, the 2 titles are used interchangeably although the longer of the 2 calls is seldom heard.
References
- A-PD-201-000/PT-000, The Canadian Armed Forces Manual of Drill and Ceremonial Chapter 11, section 1, paragraph 9
- CANFORGEN 167/11 CMP 082/11 141244Z SEP 11