In 1963, during the Kennedy funeral processing, there were no bands or music of any kind. All the people were kind of in shock and most were crying. As the caisson started, all you could hear was this drum beat.
This morning, Rush played a tape of that sound, along with the sound of the horses hoofs and I just burst into tears. I don't know what there is about it, but it's very stirring.
I was expecting that yesterday, but the music was so loud and there were so many bands, you really couldn't hear the drums or the horses.
The one thing I remember they did play at Kennedy's funeral was the Navy Hymn. I believe they played that when his casket was being carried up the stairs to the Capitol Building. I couldn't get over the soldiers who carried it all the way up those stairs. I was afraid that they'd drop it because the incline was so high. I too remember the drumbeat. I think it's imbedded in my brain. I can still thump it out today.
I watched it all on C-SPAN yesterday and their coverage was a little different. You only heard the music when they where showing the bands and military formations. When they showed the caisson and caprisoned horse, you only heard the drums and the horses hoofbeats. I think the other networks were airing the music the whole time, but the bands were way ahead of the caisson.