The Last Post
Music, Remembrance and the Great War
Published on 16. October 2014
208 pages
978-1-78131-319-0 (ISBN)
Description
At eleven o'clock on the morning of the 11th November 1919 the entire British Empire came to a halt to remember the dead of the Great War.
During that first two-minute silence all transport stayed still, all work ceased and millions stood motionless in the streets. The only human sound to be heard was the desolate weeping of those overcome by grief.
Then the moment was brought to an end by the playing of the Last Post.
A century on, that lone bugle call remains the most emotionally charged piece of music in public life. In an increasingly secular society, it is the closest thing we have to a sacred anthem. Yet along with the poppy, the Cenotaph and the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, its power is profoundly modern. It is a response to the trauma of war that could only have evolved in a democratic age.
In this moving exploration of the Last Post's history, Alwyn W. Turner considers the call's humble origins and shows how its mournful simplicity reached beyond class, beyond religion, beyond patriotism to speak directly to peoples around the world. Along the way he contemplates the relationship between history and remembrance, and seeks out the legacy of the First World War in today's culture.
During that first two-minute silence all transport stayed still, all work ceased and millions stood motionless in the streets. The only human sound to be heard was the desolate weeping of those overcome by grief.
Then the moment was brought to an end by the playing of the Last Post.
A century on, that lone bugle call remains the most emotionally charged piece of music in public life. In an increasingly secular society, it is the closest thing we have to a sacred anthem. Yet along with the poppy, the Cenotaph and the tomb of the Unknown Warrior, its power is profoundly modern. It is a response to the trauma of war that could only have evolved in a democratic age.
In this moving exploration of the Last Post's history, Alwyn W. Turner considers the call's humble origins and shows how its mournful simplicity reached beyond class, beyond religion, beyond patriotism to speak directly to peoples around the world. Along the way he contemplates the relationship between history and remembrance, and seeks out the legacy of the First World War in today's culture.
Reviews / Votes
'Alwyn W Turner's The Last Post squeezes a huge amount of detail and insight from 25 bars of music.' ''Completely fascinating book. And the tune's power to move goes beyond nationality or creed: as Turner writes, in his beautifully clear and controlled style: 'It has spanned the globe, becoming a mournful lament for the dead that has been adopted by governments of all colours, and by individuals and groups of every persuasion: by imperialists and pacifists, by conservatives, communists and fascists, by Christian, Jew, Hindu, Muslim and atheist. As you might expect, The Last Post is full of touching moments.' 'A narrative about the shaping of Armistice observance... well told ... with a good eye for quirky detail' 'A narrative about the shaping of Armistice observance... well told ... with a good eye for quirky detail'''Completely fascinating book. And the tune's power to move goes beyond nationality or creed: as Turner writes, in his beautifully clear and controlled style: 'It has spanned the globe, becoming a mournful lament for the dead that has been adopted by governments of all colours, and by individuals and groups of every persuasion: by imperialists and pacifists, by conservatives, communists and fascists, by Christian, Jew, Hindu, Muslim and atheist. As you might expect, The Last Post is full of touching moments.'
'Alwyn W Turner's The Last Post squeezes a huge amount of detail and insight from 25 bars of music.'
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Quarto Publishing PLC
ISBN-13
978-1-78131-319-0 (9781781313190)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
10/2014
Aurum
€18.00
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Person
Alwyn W. Turner is the author of Crisis? What Crisis? Britain in the 1970s and Rejoice! Rejoice! Britain in the 1980s, both also published by Aurum. An acclaimed writer on post-war British culture, his other books include The Biba Experience, Halfway to Paradise: The Birth of British Rock and My Generation: The Glory Years of British Rock.
Content
- Intro
- Title Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Prologue: The Last Post
- Chapter One: Rouse
- Chapter Two: General Salute
- Chapter Three: Charge
- Chapter Four: Cease Firing
- Chapter Five: Alarm
- Chapter Six: Fall In
- Chapter Seven: Stand Fast
- Chapter Eight: As You Were
- Chapter Nine: Dismiss
- Epilogue: Reveille
- References
- Bibliography
- Acknowledgements
- Index
- Copyright
