Reveille (wake up call)

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Awakening (Reveille)
US version of "Reveille"

The horn signal Reveille ("wake up", from French reveillez: "wake up") is mainly played in the armies of Great Britain or the USA as a wake-up call.

Even if there is no evidence for this, it is assumed that Joseph Haydn composed the British version of “Reveille” or at least accompanied the creation of it. Haydn lived and worked in London when under the reign of King George III. towards the end of the 18th century the decision was made to standardize the horn signals throughout the British army and fleet. Haydn is unlikely to have escaped this decision and he must have been involved in it, if only because of his outstanding position at court. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that some horn signals such as “ The Last Post ” and “First Post” are musically very complex. In addition, musical phrases from various regimental traditions were very skillfully adopted and put together during the composition.

Nowadays the signal “Reveille” is usually played by the US military at sunrise. This means that the exact time varies from base to base. Usually the flag is hoisted at this signal. On board US ships, the US Marine Corps and the US Coast Guard , the flag is usually hoisted before 8:00 am and the signal “To the colors” is played. On some US bases it is also customary to accompany the awakening with a cannon shot.

On days of remembrance of those who fell in the war, in Great Britain and other Commonwealth countries, the ceremony often begins with “The Last Post” and ends with “Reveille”. This is supposed to symbolize death and resurrection or sunset and sunrise.

In the civil sector, the term “Reveille” is used in some regions of Germany (e.g. in the Rhineland) for the custom of “waking up” the population by moving a band at some traditional folk festivals on the morning of the first day of the event. The pieces of music played can be of very different types; they do not have to be the signals commonly used in the military.

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