2015 Edinburgh Military Tattoo

APPLAUSE

From the heart of Scotland's capital city, the fanfare East Meets West

bids you welcome to the 2015 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ORDERS ARE SHOUTED

BAND STRIKES UP

A river of tartan, with buckles and buttons gleaming,

flows through the great oak gates

and across the drawbridge of Edinburgh Castle,

as 250 of the world's finest pipers and drummers

make their way on to the Esplanade.

Aptly, the march is The Old Rustic Bridge.

Major Steven Small, Director of Army Bagpipe Music,

has created a selection of tunes featuring equals and opposites.

This march recalls a time when Scots were on opposite sides -

Ye Jacobites By Name.

Marking the bicentenary, the march The Battle Of Waterloo

leads to the slow air, The Massacre Of Glencoe.

Happier times now, with Let's Have A Ceilidh.

Major Steven Small's own hornpipe, Gladstone.

The shape of yin and yang means all things are balanced.

The Maori lullaby, Now's The Hour.

It's jig time.

John Paterson's Mare moves effortlessly into Donald Blue.

From blue to black, with the Pibroch Of Donald Dhu.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The Highland dancers and Shetland fiddlers

come to the ceilidh for the Black And White Jig.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The Massed Pipes and Drums.

A display by the United States Air Force Honor Guard

features a choreographed sequence of precise rifle tosses,

complex weapon exchanges and a walk

through a gauntlet of spinning razor-sharp fixed bayonets.

What could possibly go wrong(?)

Absolutely nothing.

Watch and wonder.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

GASPS AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

Sheer precision from the United States Air Force Honor Guard

from Washington DC.

APPLAUSE

Led by Margaret Scollay,

the Shetland fiddlers Hjaltibonhoga

has a fiddler from every one of the Shetland Isles.

They're joined by the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland

for that fine old Irish tune,

Toss The Feathers.

Toss The Feathers from Hjaltibonhoga and friends.

APPLAUSE

The Tattoo Highland Dancers come together from Scotland,

Canada, Australia and the United States of America...

..with the world champion, Abbie MacNeil, centre stage.

Dance Director Aileen Robertson keeps the international theme going

with the choice of music - Jai Ho.

# Jai ho

# Jai ho

# Jai ho

# I'll keep it steady cos steady is how I do it

# This beat is heavy So now you're going to feel it

# Jai ho

# You are the reason that I breathe

# Jai ho

# You are the reason that I still believe

# You are my destiny

# Jai ho

# Oh, oh, oh, oh

# No, there is nothing that can stop us

# Jai ho

# Nothing can ever come between us

# Jai ho

# So come and dance with me

# Jai ho

# Oh, oh, oh, oh

# Catch me, catch me, catch me

# Come on, catch me, I want you now

# I know you can save me

# You can save me, I need you now

# I am your for ever, yes, for ever

# I will follow

# Anyway and anywhere

# Never gonna let go

# Jai ho

# Jai ho

# Jai ho

# You are the reason that I breathe

# Jai ho

# You are the reason that I still believe

# Jai ho

# You are my destiny

# Jai ho

# Oh, oh, oh, oh

# No, there is nothing that can stop us

# Jai ho

# Nothing can ever come between us

# Jai ho

# So come and dance with me

# Jai ho

# Oh, oh, oh, oh

# Catch me, catch me, catch me

# Come on, catch me, I want you now

# Any way and anywhere

# Never gonna let go

# Jai ho

# You are the reason that I breathe

# Jai ho

# You are the reason that I still believe

# Jai ho

# You are my destiny

# Jai ho

# Oh, oh, oh, oh

# No, there is nothing that can stop us

# Jai ho

# Nothing can ever come between us

# Jai ho

# You are my destiny

# Jai ho

# Oh, oh, oh, oh

# Jai ho! #

East meets West with the Tattoo Highland Dancers.

Now the Military Band of the People's Liberation Army of China

with that most traditional of hymns, words written by a Scotsman,

Abide With Me.

Time to celebrate the rising of the moon.

THEY SING

SINGING ENDS

DRUMROLL

MUSIC: Abide With Me resumes

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ROUSING TUNE PLAYS

APPLAUSE

CHEERING

A gold-star performance from

the Military Band of the People's Liberation Army of China.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

In this Year of Cultural Exchange between China

and the United Kingdom, the Chinese theme continues.

The vivid colours, elegance and artistry

of the Changxing Lotus Dragon Dance Folklore Group

bring to life the story of the birth of a dragon in a lotus pool

in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MUSIC PLAYS

APPLAUSE

A truly visual feast from

the Changxing Lotus Dragon Dance Folklore Group.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The immaculately turned out

Citadel Regimental Band and Pipes

from Charleston, South Carolina,

march across the drawbridge.

The march - Killaloe.

From County Clare to Tupelo, Mississippi.

MUSIC: Hound Dog

It takes a surprising amount of discipline

to look this out of control and still get it right.

And back into order for Moonlight Serenade.

APPLAUSE

Now a gentle stroll to the Rocky Top

of the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

SLOW MARCH PLAYS

LIVELY TUNE PLAYS

Now you know the tune!

# Oh, Rocky Top, you'll always be

# Home, sweet home to me

# Yo! Ho!

# Rocky Top, whoo!

# Rocky Top, Tennessee

# Rocky Top, Tennessee... #

The Citadel Band and Pipes from Charleston, South Carolina.

APPLAUSE

Now East comes West.

Performers from Delhi-based Teamwork Arts

have joined forces with members of various South Asian dance groups

from across Scotland.

The Tattoo Highland Dancers are here, as well,

having jettisoned their kilts.

It's a love story Bollywood style.

BOLLYWOOD MUSIC PLAYS

Hooray for Brollywood!

Will you marry me, Radha?

Bollywood comes to Holyrood.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Shetland fiddler Margaret Scollay

leads off this moving version of James Scott Skinner's beautiful

tribute to Major General Sir Hector Macdonald,

Hector The Hero.

And on the small pipes,

Director of Army Bagpipe Music, Major Steven Small.

# Lament him, ye sons of old Scotia

# Ye kinsmen on many a shore

# The patriot-warrior Fearless of foe

# Has fallen to rise no more. #

Soloists - Margaret Scollay, Maeve Mackinnon

and Major Steven Small.

APPLAUSE

Basel's Top Secret Drum Corps always produce something special.

This year is no exception.

ALL: Br-r-r-r-r-r-r!

This display is entitled Hashtag 5

to mark their 5th visit to the Edinburgh Tattoo.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

ALL: Top Secret!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

MUSIC: Scotland The Brave

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

AUDIENCE CLAPS IN TIME

THEY SHOUT

THEY SHOUT

APPLAUSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

GASPS

APPLAUSE

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The unbeatable Top Secret Drum Corps from Basel.

Swiss precision.

In the summer and autumn of 1940,

the Battle of Britain was at its height.

To mark the 75th anniversary of that aerial campaign,

the Central Band of the Royal Air Force

and the Band of the RAF College

come together on the Castle Esplanade,

recalling a time when so much was owed by so many to so few.

The March is To The Few.

Ron Goodwin's Aces High.

The March from the Battle Of Britain Suite.

BELL RINGS

RECORDING OF ROAR OF ENGINES

GUNFIRE

Ad astra - to the stars.

In 1960, the RAF Drill Unit was renamed The Queen's Colour Squadron

and has become renowned for its Continuity Drill Displays.

The QCS hold the record for having completed

over 2.7 million foot and rifle drill movements continuously

in 23 hours and 55 minutes.

Even though they don't reach that number in this display,

they are still impressive.

Back to Ron Goodwin and the Battle Of Britain March.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The salute to the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The Queen's Colour Squadron leaves the Esplanade

to John Philip Sousa's march, Hands Across The Sea.

Led by Senior Drum Major Warrant Officer Terry Gardner

and Drum Major Chief Technician Simon Carter,

the Central Band of the RAF

and the Band of the Royal Air Force College

are joined by the Citadel Regimental Band

and the Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Wing Commander Duncan Stubbs, Royal Air Force,

the 2015 Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo's Principal Director of Music,

takes to the podium.

Finally, the Military Band of the People's Liberation Army of China

takes its place in the Massed Bands.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The ubiquitous Margaret Scollay takes centre stage once again

as even more of the Tattoo performers

continue to assemble on the Castle Esplanade.

The Gaelic welcome comes from Maeve Mackinnon.

SHE SINGS IN GAELIC

CHOIR HARMONISES

PIPE BANDS PICK UP THE MELODY

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Over its season of 25 packed public performances,

the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

is seen by almost a quarter of a million spectators

from all over the world.

They marvel at the talents of an equally international cast,

who, though they arrived as strangers,

will leave as friends.

# Tonight we are as one

# Here in the heart of the nation

# There's a welcome for you

# In Edinburgh we see

# That East and West come together

# Old friends meeting anew

# Let the pipes play

# Let the people celebrate this day

# May our goodwill remain

# Until we meet again

# Let the pipes play

# Let the people celebrate this day

# May our goodwill remain

# Until we meet again

# We met as strangers

# Now we leave as friends. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Squadron Leader Matthew Little.

Guard of honour,

general salute,

present arms!

DRUMROLL

The National Anthem.

# God save our gracious Queen

# Long live our noble Queen

# God save the Queen

# Send her victorious

# Happy and glorious

# Long to reign over us

# God save the Queen... #

Slope arms!

And now that international anthem of friendship that Robert Burns

gave to the world, Auld Lang Syne.

# Should old acquaintance be forgot

# And never brought tae mind?

# Should old acquaintance be forgot

# For auld lang syne

# For auld lang syne, my dear

# For auld lang syne

# We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet

# For auld lang syne

# Should old acquaintance be forgot

# And never brought tae mind?

# Should old acquaintance be forgot

# For auld lang syne

# For auld lang syne, my dear

# For auld lang syne

# We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet

# For auld lang syne... #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And now the Airman's Hymn,

the lowering of the flags, lights out.

# To all who, spurning earthly joys

# Seek undismayed the trackless way

# High in the wide expanse of heaven

# Be thou their help by night and day

# Through fire, through cloud

# O'er land, o'er wave

# Still by thy presence strong to save... #

It's 100 years since Piper Daniel Laidlaw was awarded

the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Loos.

Corporal Stewart Hunter, RAF,

marks the centenary with the tune, The Piper Of Loos.

APPLAUSE

BANDS STRIKE UP

It's time to bid farewell to this international cast -

the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards,

the Queen's Colour Squadron,

the United States Air Force Honor Guard,

and the Highland dancers,

the dancers from Bollywood,

the Lotus Dragon Dancers

and Top Secret Drum Corps.

And the Shetland fiddlers!

Even in its 66th year, this event doesn't feel old.

This special melting pot of international colour, history,

tradition and talent is why this year sees the 17th successive

sold-out season of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo,

supported by the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Tattoo Producer Brigadier David Allfrey

has once again filled this unique stage

with a rich variety of acts

where East has met West.

Indeed, all points of the cultural compass have been represented

as the performers, whether military or not,

have been able to display their differences

and celebrate their similarities.

Drum Major Michael Hay, from the Royal Regiment of Scotland,

leads the Massed Pipes and Drums

as they march towards the cobbles of Castlehill

to the tune that has taken generations of pipes and drums

back to barracks -

The Black Bear.

From Edinburgh Castle, this is Bill Paterson

wishing you, wherever in the world you've been watching,

good fortune and good health until we meet again.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE