Stirring stuff at the Tattoo

There's nothing quite like the stirring drone of the bagpipes to touch the soul, especially when massed bands play as one. The Tattoo is a worthy night out.
THE 2011 South African Tattoo has marched into town, and for four nights you can get high on tartan, bagpipes, drums and blasting brass instruments.

Code Red Drum Corps blend precision and trick drumming, with marching Code Red Drum Corps blend precision and trick drumming, with marchingOn at the Montecasino outdoor arena until 4 September, the organisers have pulled together seven bands from around the country, plus a troupe of Highland dancers, and imported the superb Lochiel Marching Team from New Zealand.

This team of 18 girls marched their way around the arena in perfect precision and beautiful costumes. They have marched all over the world, and have taken the championship title 30 times in their native land. The team was originally formed in the late 1950s by an ex-army drill instructor, and it shows.

The Code Red Drum Corps, formed in 2007 by former Parktown Boys’ High School drummers, marched and drummed their way into the hearts of the audience. They blend precision and trick drumming, with marching, smoothly mixing traditional, African and contemporary rhythms.

I could have watched much more of them and the New Zealand girls.

The massed Highland dancers, coming from studios around the country, did the fabulous sword dance, accompanied by Haggis and Bong, a topless, tartan-skirted Celtic metal-fusion band. It was an unusual combination, but it worked.

Via Volcano Pantsula Dance Group combined talent and charm in their performanceVia Volcano Pantsula Dance Group combined talent and charm in their performanceThe Via Volcano Pantsula Dance Group bounced into the arena in their red overalls and caps, tartan shirts and red berets, and their All Stars. They charmed the audience with their performance. The dancers have toured to the UK, the Netherlands and China, and have won various championships – and are worthy winners.

But why did we need an in-transit hijacking enactment, which followed the Police Service National Band performance? We went to Montecasino for the entertainment and the pseudo-Tuscan experience. If it was to demonstrate how good the police are at their jobs, why didn’t they catch the criminals before they pretended to kill two guards and make off with the loot?

I loved the tiny pennywhistles, the giant white tubas and stand-up zylophones. I loved the costumes, the big brass sounds, the precision of marching and playing simultaneously. I didn’t think some of the songs were suitable – big bands should play big sounds on big instruments. I didn’t think that singing was appropriate – the tattoo is about marching and music, not singing.

You can’t fiddle too much with 130 years of tradition, when the concept was first created in the United Kingdom.