Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo 2013
The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is the world’s largest indoor military tattoo.
It is held each year during the first week of July in the Canadian city of Halifax.
The Pipes and Drums of Christchurch City took part in the 35th Tattoo, held in 2013.
The two-and-a-half hour show was a brilliant spectacle with over 1,000 performers from five countries: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, America and Germany.
The show consisted of a series of fast moving acts, with each act lasting only 3-6 minutes. This rapid succession placed huge pressure on the stage crew and performers, many of whom were in multiple acts.
Everyone had to know exactly what was going on and where they had to be every minute in order to avoid any disruption. But the organisation was up to the challenge, and so the audience was treated to first class entertainment.
The show began with a tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to mark sixty years since
her coronation. This was followed by an impressive variety of acts ranging from massed military and pipe bands to historic re-enactments, and from dance groups to comedy routines. Choral groups sang songs from Les Miserables and West Side story, and German teams wowed the audience with fine displays of aerial gymnastics and artistic cycling. A ukulele ensemble from Langley, British Columbia, added another musical dimension to the show, and vocal soloists ranging from sopranos to pop stars added a touch of class. There were also quirky moments, such as James Bond’s unexpected appearance on a motorbike.
Children's Choir
The Tattoo commemorated two significant battles: the Battle of the Atlantic and the Battle of Boston Harbour on June 1, 1813.
Naval Gun race
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The six-year Battle of the Atlantic was history’s hardest and most expensive sea battle. Halifax was a major staging post for the convoys that supplied Britain throughout the World War, and Canada’s navy was, for a brief period, the third largest in the world. The Tattoo commemoration included archival film projected onto a large screen and stirring patriotic music by the Canadian military bands.
The Battle of Boston Harbour was a key naval engagement during The War of 1812 that resulted in the capture of the USS Chesapeake by the HMS Shannon. The Tattoo marked this victory with a Naval Gun Race. Two teams of sailors each dismantled an 1812 field gun weighing more than 1,000 pounds, passed it through a hole in a wall, and reassembled it on the other side.
One highlight of the trip was our participation in the annual Canada Day Parade on July 1st. The parade, which included the entire Tattoo cast, took a route through the streets of Halifax surrounding the citadel, an area that covers some of the most historic parts of the city.
Another high point was the night spent on a Canadian warship moored in the harbour. It was a fun night with great entertainment provided. Lit up under the night sky, Halifax provided a magnificent visual spectacle.
We were impressed with Halifax itself – a city of large green trees and picturesque lakes. It combines the international essence of a major port city and naval base, with the youthful vibe of a university town, and the cultural heritage of one of Canada’s most historic communities. The city has many charming buildings dating back to the mid-18th century. The band stayed at Saint Mary’s University, which was founded in 1802 and is situated in a particularly beautiful part of the city.
Finally, we had many opportunities to listen to the marvellous singers, instrumentalists and folk groups based in Halifax. This in itself was a great experience. The musical traditions of Nova Scotia and Cape Breton evolved out of the Scottish and Irish roots of the people who settled there. During the intervening 260 years, it has incorporated many local themes, especially maritime themes, to produce an interesting flavour.
The band was honoured to have been invited to participate in this wonderful event, and humbled to have performed alongside such amazing talent. We made many new friends and were grateful to our Canadian hosts for their marvellous hospitality.
Bonnie Jean
Finale
Closing Ceremony