The Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2007

You can claim all you like that trees and decorations and presents and mistletoe and Santa are all part of the Big Day but for my money Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without the reliably impressive spectacle of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

This magnificent, colourful and singularly loud event never fails to soften one's general prejudice against bagpipes. Yes, when played on their own these peculiar instruments may sound like a cat being water-boarded but when played by scores of strapping Scotsmen as they march in the grounds of Edinburgh Castle in dazzling formation, they make a sound that is not altogether unpleasant.

Tradition holds that the pipes open the event but the Tattoo program quickly progresses to a diverse menu of wondrous treats. The marching lads from Trinidad and Tobago offer a novel routine of calypso music and a massive display of Highland dancing involves light-footed hoppers from all parts of the Commonwealth who skip about and form large diamond shapes in tribute to the diamond wedding anniversary of Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth II and Phil.

From Boston, the Middlesex County Volunteers put in a stirring Tattoo debut while the Moscow Military Conservatoire provide some quality comedy relief with their humorous choreography and jumping about.

It's hard to pick a highlight but it's hard not to be completely blown away by the sterling presentation of Taipei's First Girls Senior High School Honor Guard and Drum Corp. These spirited young lasses make an arresting sight as they perform precision routines with their rifles and march to the musical accompaniment of xylophones, an instrument that, quite frankly, doesn't feature often enough.

Every year fans of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo travel from all over the world to experience this spectacular show. The Edinburgh Castle provides the majestic backdrop to the various performances that is enthralling audiences time and time again. Secure your Edinburgh Military Tattoo tickets now. 

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Queen withdraws from Canadian military tattoo in row over staircase

A row over a staircase has led to the Queen withdrawing from an appearance at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo during her forthcoming visit to Canada.

The tattoo would seem to be an ideal event to be graced by Her Majesty. It was a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who opened the original one in 1979, and gained its royal title in honour of the Queen’s 80th birthday in 2006.

However, the Canadians reckon that Her Majesty is too old to manage the stairs.

Now the Queen has withdrawn from the military display after an extraordinary row over safety between her representatives in Canada and the organisers of the tattoo.

The Queen, 83, and the Duke of Edinburgh, 88, had been due to attend the tattoo, the world’s largest indoor gathering of its kind, in Halifax in July as part of her official visit. Then someone raised the subject of the stairs and suddenly a simple royal engagement turned into something a lot more contentious.

The offending steps lead up to the 12ft-high stage where, it was suggested, the Queen could have addressed the tattoo. There are 17 of them, rising at an angle of 60 degrees.

Too steep, said the organisers in a report, and too dangerous for the royal couple. Not at all, said the Queen’s people: the Queen and the Duke are perfectly fit.

Indeed, the Queen regularly climbs the 47 steps of the grand staircase at Buckingham Palace. Even to get to the West Terrace from her garden after a stroll with the corgis requires a ten-step ascent. What is more, the Palace said, if she cannot address the tattoo from the platform then she would not be appearing at all.

Although it is only five years since the Queen and Prince Philip visited Canada, the Canadians may have forgotten that Windsor women are made of stern stuff. The Queen Mother was still making public appearances when she turned 100, while the Queen — as a Palace source pointed out — still goes riding regularly.

Perhaps the Canadians still harbour memories of the criticism that they received during the Golden Jubilee tour in 2002 when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh had to sit out in the biting cold in Winnipeg without so much as a rug to keep them warm.

Although the Canadian Government refused to comment on the issue, saying that it has yet to publish details of the Queen’s visit, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the tattoo — which this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Navy — is not on her itinerary of events.

“Many different events are initially considered for an overseas visit, but the tattoo is not in the Queen’s programme,” a spokesperson said.

Ian Fraser, the show’s artistic director, produced a report into the matter, which said that climbing the steps would be “very, very dangerous” for the royal couple. One member of staff said that it would be madness for them to attempt it at all.

“The ascent and descent of the stage would be undignified and the potential for disaster is very high,” the report said.

Mr Fraser said that the tattoo wrote to the office of Nova Scotia’s premier, Darrell Dexter, confirming their objections to the Queen using the stairs and suggesting alternatives, including the option of making a speech from the royal box. “We were firmly informed that, ‘No, I’m sorry. The matter is closed and the decision has been taken. She [the Queen] will not be attending the tattoo’,” Mr Fraser said. “The position of the province was that — this is the wish of Buckingham Palace — that she goes up on the stage.”

He added: “If it is a condition for her to turn up then we can’t accept it. Do people still get their heads chopped off for defying the Queen?”


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Edinburgh Military Tattoo Breaks 2010

For 2010, Edinburgh's spectacular and world-renowned Military Tattoo will take place from 6-28th August 2010.

Against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the world's most famous Tattoo will host a celebration of talent from four continents including pipers, gymnasts, singers, dancers and an amazing motorcycle display team.

The exciting programme will include probably its two most popular items - the music of the Massed Pipes and Drums and that of the Massed Military Bands. Among the many bands taking part are those of South Africa's Transvaal Scottish along with the South Australian Pipes and Drums and the prestigious Military Band of the Coldstream Guards.

Show-stopping turns are expected from South American musicians from the Republic of Chile, while the Imps Motorcycle Display Team from London's Docklands - celebrating their 40th anniversary - are set to provide a thrilling exhibition of motorcycle prowess performed at breathtaking speed. Antipodean attractions are also on parade in the form of a military contingent from New Zealand, an Army band renowned for their talent, diversity and humour. While from the United States, the Citadel Band from Charleston, South Carolina will present an inspiring musical display which has enlivened events across the globe.

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The 2009 Edinburgh Military Tattoo celebrates 60 years of music and spectacle set against the majestic backdrop of Edinburgh Castle.

The Edinburgh Tattoo is one of the most spectacular shows in the world, enjoyed by an international television audience of over 100 million. But there's no substitute for being there as part of the 217,000-strong audience over its three-week season on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle.

This year's military musical extravaganza will have even more of the traditionally preferred elements, including a celebration of the Army in Scotland. The world-renowned Massed Pipes & Drums together with the impressive Massed Military Bands featuring the Household Cavalry’s Mounted Band of The Blues and Royals and The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland are amongst those who will gather for Scotland’s sensational 58th Edinburgh Tattoo.

The 90-minute production will also include contributions from performers from the Far East, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Joining them will be the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums from Massachusetts, an international Massed Highland Dance Troupe and the haunting lament of the Lone Piper.

Over 1000 performers will combine with highly sophisticated 21st century production technology to provide a unique and memorable spectacle of music, colour and action.

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The month that was ......March

After the madness that was February, with phones ringing off the hook and not being able to keep up with demand, it was time to call in the reinforcements. The quiet times of 2009 seemed to have past and there was a number of events coming up in March that had potential to do good things. So with that in mind, one of my friends Kelli, came on-board to man the phones and help with the rebuilding process.

March started with the end of the AC/DC tour as they hit Adelaide and Perth. Adelaide was in the middle of festival season plus the Clipsal 500 was on. Perth had a number of large conferences that thankfully I knew about in advance. Melbourne had the Grand Prix ... but while busy, it failed to deliver the demand that it did a few years ago.

Like Sydney in February, the main demand in March was for Canberra. There were a number of weeks when parliament was sitting but one of the major reasons the city was so popular was because of the Masterpieces From Paris art exhibition. Due to this exhibition, all the hotels were full every weekend which is very unusual for Canberra. Then, there was the planned visit of US President Barack Obama ... but thankfully they was postponed.

Canberra has never had as big a month as they did in March ... so much so that our joke in the office was that "Canberra is the new Sydney".

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Synopsis:

In the glowering twilight, Edinburgh Castle slumbers, resting, waiting for nightfall and for the footlights that will transform it into a dazzling stage set for the world's most spectacular show. Down Castlehill, along the Lawnmarket, around the cathedral church of St Giles, through the closes of the Royal Mile and the narrow streets whose setts ring with history, people gather in the dusk of a late summer evening.

Turning their faces to the great castle rock, where ancient clans first settled the area, which was to 

become the capital of Scotland and where now stands Edinburgh's mighty fortress, they join a crowd that will soon be an audience, rapt with enthusiasm for the unique spectacle that is the Edinburgh Tattoo.

Climbing the final rise towards the Esplanade, walking companionably together, eight and ten abreast, 

eager old hands who come every year but never lose the thrill of a Tattoo ahead, and new folk, many on 

holiday from other proud nations a world away, who are about to witness the show they will never 

forget...Settling into their high seats, the fresh clear air exhilarating, the sky about the Castle deepening 

first to heather-colours of lilac and purple before darkness slips down and the floodlit castle draws all eyes.

The commentator - the Voice of the Castle - brings the audience together, cheering individually for 

their countries but united in an international fraternity.French shake hands with English, Japanese nod smilingly to Swedish neighbours, native Scots welcome Italians. The Tattoo is family now.

A hush falls and darkness deepens, the great oak gates of the Castle sweep open and the swell of the pipes and drums cracks through the night sky. As the massed bands march out in their hundreds across the drawbridge, flanked by effigies of William Wallace and Robert The Bruce, emotions run high: this matchless spectacle unfailingly enthrals, symbolising the Scotland that everyone holds dear in their heart.

The tunes are echoes of a glorious and often tragic past, of freedom and glory and of suffering and loss ... 'The Garb of Old Gaul' and The Skye Boat Song' and the rousing quick marches, 'Dumbarton's 

Drums' and 'All the Blue Bonnets are over the Border'.

Every Edinburgh Tattoo begins with this vivid and intensely emotional display, and may it always be so. 

For these are Scotland's finest fighting men (pipers and drummers are soldiers first, musicians second) playing the stirring tunes that over centuries have given courage and inspiration on battlefields in every corner of the globe. Lest we forget, we have our pipes and drums.

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Charitable Objectives

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is the Army in Scotland's contribution to Edinburgh's International Festivals.

Each year, the Tattoo, should it generate any excess earnings, distributes a substantial proportion of its surplus funds to charitable arts and service benevolent organisations.

The charities the Tattoo supports include those helping service people with disabilities, stress, sickness, unemployment, homelessness, infirmity and poverty.

Some of the charities who benefit from the Edinburgh Tattoo's annual activities include the Army Benevolent Fund, Seafarers UK, the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Edinburgh International Festival.

Pictured: HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne

is the Patron of The Edinburgh Tattoo.

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