NORFOLK, Va. — “The world is your stage,” the old adage goes. But at the Virginia International Tattoo, the stage is the world.
This past weekend, performance elements from the Royal Canadian Air Force Pipes and Drums, Musique de la Marine Nationale (National Band of the French Navy), the Republic of Korea Army Military Band and Honor Guard Battalion, the King's Color Squadron of the Royal Air Force, The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps (FDC), and several other groups from across the nation converged at Scope Arena for the Tattoo.
“Military tattoos like this are a tradition that go back hundreds of years,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas W. Jackson, Jr., commander of the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. “For the Fife and Drum Corps to participate in the Virginia International Tattoo is an opportunity to put forward a smiling face on behalf of the Army and the Nation. To shake hands with international partners and really just have a great time and commemorate our partnership, especially here in a NATO city like Norfolk.”
The term“tattoo” traces its origins to a 17th-century European military tradition, when drummers signaled troops to end the day and return to their quarters. After hearing the regiments’ fifes and drums, Dutch Low Country innkeepers would call, “Doe den tap toe!” translated to “Turn off the taps!” Over time, “tap toe” evolved into “tattoo,” now synonymous with ceremonial military music performed by massed bands.
Today, tattoos still incorporate massed bands and pipes, but the performances have expanded well beyond their origins. This year’s show blended tradition with contemporary flair. A Tae Kwon Do act paired with traditional Korean dancers and the popular K-pop Demon Hunters song “Golden,” an EDM rendition of Edith Piaf’s “La Foule,” turned by a lively DJ, and the precise movements of the King’s Color Squadron synced to the James Bond theme song were standouts.
Opening the show was Sgt. 1st Class (Ret.) Colin Eaton, whose riveting performance of “My Shot” from Hamilton set the tone of honoring 250 years of America. To close the evening’s individual performances, The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps played a timely and reverent set.
“The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps is uniquely positioned to be the brand of the Army at 250 years,” stated Jackson. “With the way that we march, the style of the uniforms and the music that we play, we present the sound that is representative of the fledgling nation that has resulted in this great experiment that has brought forth the wonderful nation that we live in today.”
Preceding each show, outside the arena stood a sea of people decked out in red, white and blue and other American-centric apparel. The spirit of America 250 was in the air. During this time, members of the different performance bodies were able to engage with the public.
“Because it's America 250, we represent the beginnings of our country, and that's what everybody is taking time to reflect on,” stated Sgt. 1st Class Erin Morgan, a senior musician and fifer with FDC. “And the fact that we get to wear these uniforms and represent that time period and have a visual and aural representation of exactly that is a really special thing and a purpose that we're honored to be able to fulfill.”
Naturally, FDC, whose uniforms and instruments embody the Revolutionary era, quickly became a focal point for attendees, drawing praise and frequent requests for photos.
“I really love [interacting with our audiences],” said Morgan. “It always sheds a new perspective on what we're doing. We do it every day, so when you hear from somebody who's seeing us for the first time, it’s reinvigorating that perspective of how special what we do is.”
For some in the audience, the experience is personal. Former members of FDC often return to watch the Corps perform. Among them was Mike Beatles, a former bugler with FDC from 1969 to 1971, who attended Friday night’s show.
“It makes me very proud to see the tradition is continuing at a higher level,” expressed Beatles. “And that's what you always want; people to build on what you started.”
Beatles shared a memory of his favorite FDC experience: a performance at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel, where in the audience sat Gen. Omar Bradley, 1st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and President Ronald Reagan, who was then governor of California. In the hours before the performance, last-minute stage changes had to be made, requiring the entire performance be re-choreographed. Nevertheless, they delivered.
That resilience and level of professionalism exudes from FDC to this day.
“With any job in the army it requires resilience,” stated Morgan. “We don't always know what we're going to encounter day to day, and so we have to have the preparation to meet whatever mission comes our way. That's where the discipline comes in. We can't wait for a mission to come in and then start practicing. We have to be ready for anything at any time.”
Onstage, the performances are precise and polished. But to take a look behind the curtain, would be to see another world.
“The show looks great from the audience perspective, but once you get behind the curtain it is quite chaotic,” shared Staff Sgt. Kevin Hanrahan, a bass drummer with FDC.
Behind the scenes, the Tattoo becomes a whirlwind of activity – groups of bagpipers blowing in every direction, walls lined with musicians practicing in solitude, drummers beating on practice pads, a British drill team polishing rifles and ironing shirts, Irish dancers practicing their jigs, a French vs. American chess match, and Korean Tae Kwon Do artists doing flips and teaching the Texas-based Kilgore College Rangerettes how to punch through wood planks. Not to mention the high school percussionists practicing their soccer skills.
Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Brooks, a senior musician and snare drummer with FDC, relishes the uniqueness of the holding area at the Virginia International Tattoo. During the performance, as groups wait for their turn on stage, Brooks passes the time by playing chess. With an empty chair across from him, he sets his board up ready for a match – the international symbol of “show me what you got”.
“Most tattoos don't have this much closeness in the holding area, " explains Brooks. “I think that's kind of what's special about this event, is that we're all in the same space, so we're all kind of sharing the zone, and that kind of breeds that sense of camaraderie”
Brooks worked his way through a series of French musicians, remaining undefeated throughout the weekend.
“I guess circus would be the perfect word,” Hanrahan stated humorously. “But it all kind of comes together once you get on the other side of that curtain and you're on the floor. It's kind of a magical thing.”
That sense of magic transcends onto the stage. Each performance reflects the identity and culture of its nation, creating a feeling of global unity that resonates among the audience.
“It is so cool [to be performing with other country’s musical elements],” said Lea Garnier, a pianist and singer with the French Navy. “during the school performances in particular, because they are all on fire and it was super great to be on stage with them.”
The tattoo hosted matinee performances during the weekdays for school groups to attend. The atmosphere in the area was electric, but their reaction to one performance in particular stood out - that of the Republic of Korea.
“It is by far the most entertaining. I've just never seen so much stimulus in one show,” joyously shared Morgan. “There was so much going on, and the entertainment value is just so high, and the level of talent is incredible. The production element, the performance element, everything is there, and it's really amazing to see.”
The Virginia International Tattoo, and other tattoos like it, are opportunities for countries to represent the best of their nation and collaborate with allies through music and performance.
“One of the best parts about being in the Fife and Drum Corps is opportunities like this,” Hanrahan shared. “You get to meet musicians and military members from a variety of different countries, and get to kind of exchange culture and every single time it’s a privilege to do so.”
The mastery of their craft and enduring spirit of striving for perfection is palpable among the musicians of The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps. And while backstage at the Virginia International Tattoo, one can’t help but feel the almost tangible sense of knowing you’re a part of something special.
Put simply by Morgan, “Not every day is performing at the Virginia International Tattoo, but these are the moments that feed our soul and keep us going.”
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