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Buxton Festival Fringe
 

Buxton Military Tattoo acclaimed as

" ... breath taking"  and  "... a great show"

Full Review:

This new tradition in Buxton seems well and truly established even though this is only its second year. Alastair Hutton OBE TD again presented the Tattoo with his familiar voice adding history and commentary to the proceedings.

The event was divided into two parts with an interval for organised refreshments and drinks.

There were six military bands paraded individually playing the familiar music of marching bands, including also, some popular and more contemporary arrangements of Buble and Riverdance. The Air Force cadets rifle drill performed again this year together with their drum corps whose display was simply brilliant. Their immaculate timing, producing a series of purring rhythms which thrilled. I had to remember to breathe.

For me, the highlight of the Tattoo was the rendition of The Gael performed by all six bands. Enhanced by the story of the English declaration to the French during the colonial wars in America, told by Alastair Hutton, the music captured the audience and lifted them as its strains grew to a crescendo.

The audience stood for the Sunset Ceremony with the Solo Bugler, in respect for military personnel, particularly in Afghanistan, and their families. The audience remained standing for the Lone Piper and the National Anthem.

The spectacle of colour and sound was breath-taking, the bright reds and blue of the uniforms, the glinting of silver and brass. The Dome is renowned in have confusing acoustics but this in no way affected my pleasure in listening to, the sometimes soft, sometimes rousing choruses of the bands; hearing distinctly the clarinets, piccolos, pipes and the trill of the side drums.

It was a great show and immaculately organised. Thank you to the organisers particularly, Chris Thornton and his team and all the performers.

Martin Wood
Festival Fringe Committee