The Last Post is used in public ceremonials commemorating the war dead, particularly on Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth of Nations. In Australia and New Zealand it is also played on Anzac Day usually before the two-minute silence, where the public show their respect and reflect.
Playing the Last Post is a privelidge, however daunting task. The nerves have hit me many times, knowing that everyone is listening to you and how significant that moment is for many people (the worrying thing is the possibility of spliting the top Gs!). Personally I feel that the tempo should be quite slow and the pauses should be long, as it is a time for reflection and therefore the music sould reflect that.
Traditionally the Last Post would be played on a bugle (hence why all the notes use no valves), I personally like to use a cornet over a trumpet because it has a much mellower sound.
The Last Post has also been incorporated into military funerals, where it is played as a final farewell, symbolising the fact that the duty of the dead soldier is over and that they can rest in peace.
Some information has been taken from Wikipedia.
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