No – This post is not about body art.
No – This post is not about Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize) proclaiming “De plane! De plane!” from the Fantasy Island tower.
Yes – This post is about an evening signal calling soldiers to their quarters.
Yes – This post is about an extravaganza of music, marching, and performance by military bands from across the globe as England, Scotland, France, India, and Japan providing precision and power.
Yes – A night including 11 pipes and drum bands from Scotland (5), Australia (3). Germany, Malta, and one composed of 45 players invited from at least Argentina, Chile, Mexico, USA, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia; all combining together (at least 300) to bring a layer of complexity through a national tradition.
Yes – A night when about 50 fiddlers from the Shetland Islands, a local children’s choir of at least 30, an international dance company, and The Queen’s Colour Squadron supplied elegance and poise to the instrumentation.
Yes – For us, a night of spectacle, exhilaration, and awe. Welcome to the 2017 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – the 68th edition of a 3-week celebration of music, culture, and tradition.
The castle quietly waits …
The call is made.
They emerge from Edinburgh Castle.
They keep coming onto the Castle Esplanade …
… to entertain with music and theatrics
… with music and dance
… with music and fire
… with grace and majestic grandness
All in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle that also served as a beautiful backdrop
Attending this event wasn’t on our radar, but for other cruisers this is the reason this took this itinerary. Two days before the event, we noticed tickets remained through a ship excursion, so we decided pay the price and go. Maybe because of my music and band experience, hte finale with over 600 musicians and others was so moving with moments of chills running through my spine. The video below is a high-quality edited version (2+ minutes). The full 5+minute fixed-camera version is linked below the video.
Full version link of the final dress rehearsal (5+ minutes)
Next stop: Edinburgh by day
A Frank Angle 
Frank you have brought back some great memories to me! First, how great that you got to see it in the flesh so to speak! When my children were very young – and even before children I think – my husband had introduced me to this phenomenon. He was once a member of the Queens Guards (those guardsmen who wear the tall hats and parade up and down outside Buckingham Palace) and had taken part in the Edinburgh Tattoo. It used to be shown annually on television here and we followed it for years. The children enjoyed very much that their dad had taken part and could still remember many of the marching formations. I learned to appreciate much about it and enjoyed the lights and pageantry as much as the music and marching. I always thought it would have been great fun to see it in person.
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Pauline,
Wow … the fact that this post stimulated past family memories caused a big smile at this end … and thanks for sharing! … and a BIG WOW to your connect to the Queens Guard. Now there’s another grand tradition! Cheers to your love for the Tattoo.
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PS: I saw this commercial for the first time the other day. Just saw it again, and thought of you. GEICO is an insurance company that is known for having humorous commercials. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0trkDwWtpE
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🙂 Thanks for sharing that Frank – very clever!
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I knew you would get a chuckle from it.
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What an amazing experience! I would LOVE to see this!
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Kerry,
Cheers to your enthusiasm for this event. Here’s your chance – August 3-25, 2018!
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What an amazing spectacle, Frank! I’m sure you were thrilled that you picked up those tickets at the last minute!
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Merril,
Spectacle is a great descriptor. Needless to say we were shocked that the ship tour still had availability … but we gulped at the price. … BTW – I think 15 buses went from our ship.
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We didn’t really know what this was when we stopped in Edinburgh, and the cost kept us from signing up. But now I wish we had gone. Sounds wonderful. Next time, I guess!
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Carrie,
The price through the cruise ship is ridiculous – but the ship was 90 minutes away, so I’m not sure we had a choice … so we sucked it up.
The sound of the finale was unbelievable. The show was about 90 minutes … and continuous … as one band leaves, the other is ready. All the performances were entertaining … the Royal Marines (England) was off the charts. … Groups form Japan and India also come to mind. Bottom line – we loved it!
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I was at Edinburgh Castle in June and they were building the stands for the Tattoo. I was amazed at how large they were. Thanks for the show.
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John,
For some reason, I’m recall capacity is about 7500 … and then think performances are 6 days a week for 3 weeks, and some days twice a day. That’s a lot of people!
Before the show, the announcers says something like, Cheer is you are from ____. He traveled the globe, and the responses amazed me!
Meanwhile, the edited finale in this clip was spectacular!
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I think this was a great venue. Thanks, Frank.
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Definitely great setting for an outstanding show.
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aFa,
Music performed by many.
Music shared with many.
BRAVO!
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Raye,
Good morning! This was simply one spectacular show … and one I would see again if given the opportunity.
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I want to go back to Edinburgh so much! Looks like a spectacular event!
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Susie,
Spectacular it is! 90-minutes of nonstop entertainment … and the sound of the finale still gives me goosebumps! … BTW …. I’ll be posting about Edinburgh probably tomorrow evening … plus two posts back was my post on the Highlands.
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The combination of the video (edited), the ticket cost (less than a NY Broadway Musical), and your marquee “chills running through the spine” recommendation (last given for a performance you attended of the Philadelphia Mummers String Band) convince me to move the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo onto my Top 25 Before I Die Bucket List.
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Tim,
The ticket prices seem reasonable to me, too. I would consider going again because many of the groups differ year to year. The drum video I sent you was from that event, but a different year. As is this one, the finale from 2008 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kGX8OeFVGI&list=RD7kGX8OeFVGI
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We were back in Edinburgh by mid-Sep from other parts of our trip last year. During our visit to the castle, the bleachers were being taken down. Sorry we missed the performance.
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Jim,
You probably saw smaller crowds during your September trip than August (will explain in the next post). A plus in many ways … but missing the Tattoo. 😦 … Simply a fabulous show. Maybe next time. 🙂
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Incredible! Thanks for sharing–so much better than art or even reminders of Fantasy Island. Have a great Thanksgiving.
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Patti,
The idea for referencing Fantasy Island came to mind early in the process. Even considered a video as this one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTs3uzChx8k
This event in Edinburgh was off-the-charts incredible … and to think it wasn’t on our radar (even though we knew about it).
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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Worth seeing! Spectacular! I loved “
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Jo,
Spectacular indeed. Not only worth seeing, I would consider seeing it again (which would be a different show with different groups).
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I love that Tattoo! What a great piece of music you shared here. I’ve always especially enjoyed the bagpipes.
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Resa,
What a fast-paced, 90-minute show! I’d go again (performers and the music) changes ever year. This one still plays in my mind!
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In my trips to Scotland, I haven’t made it to see the Tattoo yet. I have watched YouTube videos of the performances, but to see it for real would be exhilarating.
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MyPlaid,
Welcome first-time commenter. We loved the Tattoo! As I mentioned in the post, we began our trip off our radar – but we knew about. Then two days prior, we decided what the heck and paid the extra dollars that cruise tours get.
I notice the video I selected is no longer available. Too bad because it was very well done. Must have been copyright issues. However, I included a link to the longer version of the finale. Bottom line – we would go again! …. so I encourage you to go.
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I’ll check that video out. If I’m correct, the Tattoo performances happen in August. Is that right? Might be worth scheduling a future trip at that time in order to take in a show.
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Correct … three weeks in August … I believe shows are 6 days a week, sometimes twice a day. Here’s the website for tixs and dates. https://www.edintattoo.co.uk/
PS: I don’t know where you are, but consider IcelandAir for travel to Edinburgh.
BTW – I had two other posts about Scotland:
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I’m in the U.S. on the east coast. Yes, someone else mentioned Iceland Air to me. Also Norwegian Airlines, which I believe is now offering cheap one-way fares from Boston (I think).
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Also Wow airlines – an Iceland discounter. To me, Icelandair is in between full service and discount. Leg room was good & free entertainment.
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Thank you for that advice!
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Thanks for this link Frank.. I watch the Tatoo most years on the TV. but to go and watch live.. must have been something.. 🙂
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The sound, the setting, the music, the performers, the tradition, and more … simply fabulous!
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I can imagine.. I look forward to watching on the TV and always enjoy the bands.. 🙂
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PS, Edinburgh is a great City We went to visit the Royal Yacht there last year. 🙂
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We ran out of time, so we didn’t get to the yacht.
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You can easily spend three hours on there, we got very absorbed in it.. The engine room was immaculate 🙂
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Too bad the video I had is no longer available … the short version was very well done … I’m guessing copyright issues at work.
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Yes more likely.. 🙂
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