Virginia International Tattoo
Virginia International Tattoo | |
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![]() The Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards at the tattoo in 2015. | |
Genre | Patriotic, concert band, military, marching |
Dates | Late April Each Year |
Location(s) | Norfolk, Virginia, USA |
Years active | 1997–present |
Website | Official website |
The Virginia International Tattoo is a military tattoo that began in 1997 and is the signature event of the Virginia Arts Festival. Presented annually in Norfolk, Virginia, the tattoo is an exhibition of military bands, massed pipes and drums, military drill teams, Celtic dancers, and choirs. It is presented in cooperation with NATO and the Norfolk NATO Festival.
It is the largest show of its kind in the United States, involving a cast of over 1,000 artists from many different countries, and over 38,000 people attend each year, including over 16,000 area students at the annual student matinees. The Virginia International Tattoo was listed as American Bus Association's Top North American Event for 2016. The tattoo is considered to be one of the seven “founding members” of the International Association of Tattoo Organizers (IATO). The Tattoo, like many other events, did not take place in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
History
[edit]The term "tattoo" derives from the cries of the 17th and 18th-century Dutch innkeepers who, as the fifes and drums of the local regiment signaled a return to quarters, would cry, "Doe den tap toe!" "Turn off the taps!". The sound of "taps" led to an impromptu parade back to barracks. Over time, the words of that cry evolved into the term "tattoo," which now refers to a ceremonial performance of military music by massed bands.
Highlights
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/2017_Virginia_International_Tattoo_%2833615274974%29.jpg/220px-2017_Virginia_International_Tattoo_%2833615274974%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/2016VIT_c.David_Polston_0075.jpg/220px-2016VIT_c.David_Polston_0075.jpg)
Albanian Armed Forces Band | Albania |
Albanian National Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances | Albania |
51 ACU Swan Regiment Drums and Pipes | Australia |
Scotch College Adelaide Pipe Band | Australia |
Scotch College Perth Pipe Band | Australia |
OzScot Australia Dance Team | Australia |
Presbyterian Ladies’ College Pipe Band | Australia |
Scotch College Adelaide Highland Dance Corps | Australia |
Royal Band of the Belgian Navy | Belgium |
Bermuda Islands Pipes and Drums | Bermuda |
H&H Gombey Dancers | Bermuda |
Band and Corps of Drums of the Bermuda Regiment | Bermuda |
Vasco Da Gama Folklore Dancers | Bermuda |
12 Wing Shearwater Pipes and Drums | Canada |
14 Wing Greenwood Pipes and Drums | Canada |
2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Pipes and Drums | Canada |
3 Area Support Group Gagetown Pipes and Drums | Canada |
5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown Pipes and Drums | Canada |
8 Wing Canadian Forces Base Trenton Pipes and Drums | Canada |
Amethyst Scottish Dancers | Canada |
Atlantica Gymnastics | Canada |
Essex Scottish Regiment Pipes and Drums | Canada |
Fraser Holmes Memorial Ladies Pipes Band | Canada |
La Musique du Royal 22e Régiment | Canada |
Measha Gosman, Soprano | Canada |
Paris/Port Dover Pipe Band | Canada |
Rhythmic Expressions | Canada |
Royal Canadian Mounted Police National Tattoo Troop | Canada |
Schiehallion Highland Dancers | Canada |
The Pipes and Drums of The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa | Canada |
The Delta Police Pipe Band | Canada |
Winnipeg Police Pipe Band | Canada |
Woods Manufacturing Company Brass Ensemble | Canada |
2nd Mechanized Brigade Pipes & Drums | Canada |
Land Forces Atlantic Electrical Mechanical Engineers | Canada |
Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Pipes and Drums | Canada |
The National Defense Band of the Czech Republic | Czech Republic |
Flying Danish Superkids | Denmark |
Royal Danish Naval Band (Sovernets Tamburkorps) | Denmark |
Club Piruett | Estonia |
Kaartin Soittokunta | Finland |
French Paratroopers Band | France |
La Musique de l'Air (Band of the French Air Force) | France |
Le Bagad Lann Bihoue | France |
North West Region Army Band | France |
The Paris Police Gymnastic Display Team | France |
Flying Grandpas | Germany |
German Baltic Sea Naval Band | Germany |
German Mountain Army Band | Germany |
Gym Wheel Team, Taunusstein | Germany |
Heeremusikkorps Kassel, German Army Band Kassel | Germany |
Motorcycle Display Team of the Berlin Police Force | Germany |
Jordanian Armed Forces Bagpipe Band | Jordan |
Samulnori | Korea |
Headquarters Supreme Allied Command Transformation Multi-National Ceremonial Detail | NATO |
The Juliana Bicycle Team | Netherlands |
Band of the Netherlands Mounted Arms Regiment | Netherlands |
Fifers and Drummers of the Royal Netherlands Marine Corps | Netherlands |
Rotterdam Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy | Netherlands |
Lochiel Marching Team | New Zealand |
New Zealand Academy Dancers | New Zealand |
Pipes and Drums of Christchurch City | New Zealand |
His Majesty the King’s Guard 3. Company | Norway |
Chag Hyang-Soon Joong/Ang Song and Dance Group | Republic of Korea |
Kim Misook Korean Dance Team | Republic of Korea |
Korean International Tae-Kwon-Do Mission Display Team | Republic of Korea |
Republic of Korea Traditional Army Band | Republic of Korea |
Yepuri Korean Traditional Dance Team | Republic of Korea |
Nalmes: The State Academic Ensemble of Folk Dance of Adyghea | Russia |
Russian Cossack State Dance Company | Russia |
Singapore Armed Forces Band | Singapore |
South African National Defense Force Joint Services Military Band | South Africa |
Symphonic Band of the Spanish Marine Corps | Spain |
Band of the Swedish National Guard Marines | Sweden |
Swiss Army Central Band | Switzerland |
Top Secret Drum Corps | Switzerland |
Tonga Defence Services Royal Corps of Musicians | Tonga |
Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force Steel Orchestra | Trinidad & Tobago |
Traditional Turkish Mehter Band | Turkey |
Ailsa Craig Highland Dancers | United Kingdom |
Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas | United Kingdom |
Closkelt Pipe Band | United Kingdom |
Drums and Pipes of the Irish Guards | United Kingdom |
Highlands & Islands Highland Dancers | United Kingdom |
Imps Motorcycle Display | United Kingdom |
Pipes and Drums of the 7th Battalion, "51 Highlanders" | United Kingdom |
Pipes and Drums of the Royal Dragoon Guards | United Kingdom |
Queen's Colour Squadron | United Kingdom |
Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines | United Kingdom |
Pipes and Drums of the 1st Battalion, Scots Guards | United Kingdom |
Police Scotland Fife Pipe Band | United Kingdom |
Inverary and District Pipe Band | United Kingdom |
Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland | United Kingdom |
Camden County Emerald Society Pipes & Drums of New Jersey | United States |
Churchland High School Chorus | United States |
Dr. Craig Jessop | United States |
U.S. Armed Forces School of Music | United States |
The Talking Drums | United States |
Bank of America Voices of Vision Choir | United States |
Cantaré, Vox Harmonia and Academy Choral Ensemble Choirs | United States |
Caribbean Symphonic Dancers | United States |
Colonial Williamsburg Fifes and Drums | United States |
Flowing Tide Ceilidh Band | United States |
Granby High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps | United States |
Hampton Roads Police & Fire Department Honor Guards | United States |
Hellenic Youth Dancers | United States |
Kilgore College Rangerettes, Kilgore College | United States |
Million Dollar Funk Squad, Norfolk State University | United States |
Norfolk Public School's Mass Choir | United States |
Ocean Tumblers Gymnastics | United States |
Poisoned Dwarf | United States |
Police Emerald Society of Tidewater | United States |
Portsmouth Mounted Police | United States |
Reel Thing Irish Dance | United States |
Rhythm of Ireland Irish Dance | United States |
Rhythm Project | United States |
Sara Rhodes | United States |
Scottish Dance Theatre of Virginia | United States |
Second Marine Aircraft Wing Band | United States |
Swing Virginia | United States |
The Fort Lee Army Band | United States |
The Governor's School for the Arts Dance Department | United States |
The James River Ramblers of the U.S. Continental Army Band | United States |
Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps | United States |
Tidewater Pipes and Drums | United States |
Todd Rosenlieb Dance | United States |
Trad Na Trad Pipes and Drums | United States |
Tuskegee Airmen | United States |
Two Steps East Dance Studio | United States |
U.S. Marine Corps Security Forces FAST Company | United States |
U.S. Air Force Heritage of America Band | United States |
U.S. Air Force Reserve Command Pipe Band | United States |
U.S. Air Force Standard Bearers | United States |
United States Army Drill Team | United States |
United States Army Herald Trumpets | United States |
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team | United States |
U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team Explosive Canine Detection | United States |
U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown 1790 Color Guard | United States |
U.S. Continental Army Band | United States |
U.S. Continental Army Brass Quintet | United States |
U.S. Military Joint Services Color Guard | United States |
United States Navy Band | United States |
United States Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team | United States |
United States Air Force Honor Guard Drill Team | United States |
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Band | United States |
U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command Fanfare Trumpets | United States |
U.S. Atlantic Fleet Band, United States Navy | United States |
U.S. Coast Guard 1790 Color Guard | United States |
United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard | United States |
U.S. Continental Army Band | United States |
U.S. Fleet Forces Band | United States |
U.S. Joint Forces Color Guard | United States |
U.S. Marine Corps Band Quantico | United States |
Virginia Children's Chorus | United States |
Virginia Orchestra Symphony Chorus | United States |
Wake & District Pipe Band | United States |
Tattoo Weekend Events
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/C._Heiko_DeWees_070.jpg/220px-C._Heiko_DeWees_070.jpg)
Hullabaloo is a free outdoor festival of pipers, dancers, drill teams and drum lines which starts three hours prior to each performance of the Virginia International Tattoo. A variety of food and beer is available for purchase. The event is located on Scope Plaza, Norfolk, Virginia.
DrumLine Battle at the Tattoo
[edit]A Hullabaloo favorite, DrumLine Battle™ showcases marching percussion ensembles of any instrumentation and any skill level year-round, spotlighting their unique talents and creativity in a high energy face-to-face competition. DrumLine Battle is a program of Drum Corps International. This event is located on Scope Plaza, Norfolk, Virginia.
Highland Heavy Athletic Championship
[edit]The Virginia International Tattoo is partnering with Brute Strength Gym for a Heavy Athletic Championship, Highland-style, with a caber toss, keg toss and more. Free, Norfolk, Virginia
Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship
[edit]The Virginia International Tattoo will host the Third Annual Virginia International Tattoo American Pipe Band Championship on Scope Plaza in Norfolk, Virginia. The competition, which coincides with the Tattoo performance weekend, will feature hundreds of bagpipers and drummers as they compete for the honors in this annual competition. This event is located on Scope Plaza, Norfolk, Virginia.
Norfolk NATO Festival
[edit]The Norfolk NATO Festival is a celebration and reflection of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries and the bond they have. Member nations are on display through the kickoff parade, NATO village, kids zone, music, performances and food. Attendees learn about each culture and its history.
Parade of Nations
[edit]The Norfolk NATO Festival's highlight is the annual Parade of Nations, the longest continuous parade in Hampton Roads and the only Parade in the United States honoring NATO. Over 100 Parade Units with local and visiting high school bands, US and International Military bands, and colorful floats which represent each of the 29 NATO member nations and their respective armed forces, are featured. Local community organization and Festival partners are also featured. This event is located at Town Point Park, Norfolk, Virginia.[1] The civil-military parade and pageant involves a cast of over 800 artists from many different countries,[2] and has over 28,000 people attending every year, including over 12,000 area students at the annual student matinees.[citation needed]
The Virginia International Tattoo is, since 2007, one of the seven founding members of the International Association of Tattoo Organizers (IATO).[3]
Norfolk NATO Festival Flag Raising
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Tattoo_Finale_2016_%2826585262485%29.jpg/220px-Tattoo_Finale_2016_%2826585262485%29.jpg)
The Flag Raising ceremony is a cultural sampling of music and a colorful display of NATO Member National flags and uniforms in this military presentation representing all 29 NATO member nations. Each Nation's representative will present the national flag, while a portion of their national anthem is performed by the United States Fleet Forces Band. This custom was not observed in the 2022 flag raising, where only the NATO hymn and US national anthem were played.
References
[edit]- ^ "ABA RELEASES 2008 LIST OF TOP INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN EVENTS". 2007-09-20. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ^ "Hamptonroads.com". [dead link]
- ^ "IATO". Archived from the original on 2007-10-04.