Precision-Honed Sights and Sounds

Against the majestic backdrop of Scotland’s top tourist attraction, over 1,000 performers from America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the United Kingdom are set to provide a wealth of matchless entertainment at this year’s 59th Edinburgh Tattoo (1-23 August).

All the traditional ingredients will be present - massed pipes & drums, massed bands, the Lone Piper along with a number of impressive overseas offerings – for three spectacular weeks on the floodlit Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle.

Preparing for his second Tattoo at the production helm, Major General Euan Loudon said: “I plan to present the best of Scotland’s heritage along with wonderful variety from around the world, which I hope Tattoo visitors will delight in”.

Opening the 2008 proceedings is a specially-commissioned fanfare – entitled Op Corporate – which will be performed at the start of each show during this summer’s 25-performance run. The piece, composed by Royal Marine Major Mick Dowrick, will receive its premiere at the event before the very essence of the annual military showpiece fills the arena with the stirring sound of the pipes.

Long-established favourites, the ever-popular Massed Pipes & Drums, take to the stage this year with rousing renditions of Scottish tunes such as ‘Heilan’Laddie’ and ‘We’re No’Awa’Tae Bide Awa.’

They comprise the Pipes & Drums of 1st Royal Tank Regiment, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, representatives of Scotland’s Universities’ Officers’ Training Corps, and Queen Victoria School, Dunblane. While from overseas, making their sixth appearance at the Tattoo, is Melbourne’s Rats of Tobruk from Australia, who will be there with the Singapore Police Gurkha Pipes & Drums returning to Edinburgh after a 17-year absence.

An amazing display of showbiz razzmatazz will then be provided by one of the most televised university marching bands in the United States, the 100-strong Golden Eagles Marching Band from South East Missouri, with their compelling fusion of music, marching and percussion.

Also among this August’s attractions will be the Massed Highland Dancers where the Tattoo’s own Highland Spring Dance troupe join forces with 50 dancers from Canada for a lively item that tells the story of Scottish migration to Canada.

Then, for the third time in the Tattoo’s history, Singapore is to provide participants who are expected to be a firm audience favourite. The Singaporean contingent will consist of a detachment of Gurkha Pipes & Drums together with a 55-strong Police Military Band, an all-woman Police Pipe Band and an animated act reflecting aspects of Singapore’s social and cultural roots.

The 90-minute production will also feature the return of the all-girl Lochiel Champion Marching Drill Team from Wellington in New Zealand with an intricate display of complex precision drill.

This will be followed by the first Indian military band to perform at the Edinburgh Tattoo for 46-years. From New Delhi will come 40 musicians from the Indian Army Chief’s Military Band, renowned for its faultless coordination of music and movement, in support of its first UK appearance at Edinburgh’s Military Tattoo.

Edinburgh Tattoo Chief Executive & Producer, Major General Euan Loudon, said: “I’m thrilled to add the first Indian military band to our line-up for almost half a century. These magnificent musicians will almost certainly add something extra to proceedings”.

The 2008 event will also include a wonderful display of meticulous drill by The Guard of His Majesty The King of Norway, whose bayonet tipped rifle routines have mesmerised spectators on seven previous occasions. The Band of His Majesty The King of Norway will complement the drill team with a magnificent demonstration of music and marching. And for the first time the Norwegian contingent will provide the Castle Drawbridge sentries, while performing the prestigious Guard of Honour duty during the finale sequence.

An exhilarating presentation of piping, drumming and highland dancing will then be provided by pupils from Queen Victoria School in Dunblane. Their appearance marks the school’s centenary this year and is expected to delight audiences throughout the 3-week Castle Esplanade extravaganza.

These colourful performances then give way to the inspiring music of the Massed Military Bands featuring the combined Bands of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines, who take centre stage with a packed musical programme. Together with their renowned precision drummers, the Bands’ embrace some 150 musicians from HM Royal Marines Plymouth, Portsmouth and Scotland, and are under the direction of their Commandant and Principal Director of Music and the 2008 Tattoo Director of Music, Lieutenant Colonel C J Davis.

The Bands of The Royal Regiment of Scotland, His Majesty The King of Norway, and the Indian Army Chief, along with the Singapore Police Force, will then join them with songs through the ages.

The Massed Pipes & Drums then gather alongside the Massed Military Bands as 600 musicians amass to create the unique Tattoo sound, playing time-honoured favourites such as ‘Scots Wha Hae’ and ‘Sodjur’s Return’, and will include a spine-tingling rendition of the acclaimed movie soundtrack ‘The Gael’, composed by one of Scotland’s pre-eminent singer-songwriters, Dougie MacLean.

“The sensational combined Tattoo sound alongside our state-of-the-art production technology, which helps transform Edinburgh Castle into a dazzling Tattoo stage set, will unquestionably enhance the Tattoo experience”, remarked Tattoo Chief Executive, Major General Euan Loudon.

Bringing the show to a poignant close will be the traditional haunting notes of the Lone Piper playing a piece of music named ‘The Centenary Toast’, written by Captain Steven Small, Director of Army Bagpipe Music and Highland Drumming, to celebrate 100 years of the Territorial Army and also that of Queen Victoria School.

Also, from August 11-14, members of the Territorial Army will parade to mark TA 100, this year’s centenary of the Territorial Army.

TA soldiers from all walks of life will be present on the Esplanade, alongside their regular Army counterparts, to remind us all just what a valuable contribution they make to the Armed Forces of the UK.

The Edinburgh Military Tattoo is grateful, once more, to Royal Bank of Scotland for its generous support. Sir Tom McKillop, Chairman, The Royal Bank of Scotland Group commented, “We are very proud supporters of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which continues year on year to attract visitors from around the globe. This year will be no different as each night hundreds of performers take to the stage at Edinburgh Castle to entertain visitors and locals alike”.

Some resale tickets for the 2008 Tattoo (1-23 August) may be available from the Tattoo Ticket Sales Office at 33-34 Market Street in Edinburgh, Tel: 0131 225 1188.

Main Sponsor The Royal Bank of Scotland, Corporate Sponsors Highland Spring Limited, Ford Motor Company, Support Sponsors Lanson Champagne, The Sheraton Grand Hotel and Spa, Scottish Gas, Caledonian Brewing Company and IndigoVision.