The seventh edition of the Malta Military Tattoo is expected to keep all those present glued to their seats with some great military displays and marches plus renditions of contemporary and popular tunes.
The tattoo is to be held on October 9 and 10 at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre, Ta’ Qali.
As in previous years, the Malta Police Band and Precision Drill Team together with the Armed Forces of Malta Band will perform together with foreign bands.
The foreign bands include the British Army Cadet Force Band, which is this year celebrating the 150th anniversary, the Wessex Military Band and the South Wales Police Band. The tattoo will also feature massed pipes and drums from the San Ġwann Scouts, Marsa Scouts, Msida Sea Scouts and the Wallace Pipes and Drums together with Pipe Dream from Malta.
The Band and Drums of the South Wales Police Force was formed in 1981, under the leadership of Colin Evans who was an assistant chief constable at that time. Front line policing remains the priority for both serving officers and support staff members. Engagements and rehearsals always take second place to operational matters and band members use annual leave, rest days and sometimes duty time to help the band meet its various commitments.
There will also be a dance rhythmic performance by Malmöflickorna from Sweden. Malmöflickorna is a leisure time school for dance-rhythmics founded in 1954, in Malmö, by Leida Leesment. She created a movement which became famous throughout the world. Her daughter Tiina Leesment Bergh, a graduate from the Institute of Physical Education, Stockholm, and a former member of the Elite Group, has taken over the role as director.
Malmöflickorna’s school of movement is based on and developed through natural and harmonious movements in close musical unison. The ball routines have always been Malmöflickorna’s trademark. Their famous “ballet with balls”, as some critics have called it, is unequalled anywhere in the world. Joy, quality of movement, creativity, music, song and dance are some of the reasons why Malmöflickorna have performed successfully at the highest level at every World Gymnaestrada since 1961.
Another participant this year is the Wessex Military Band, which started life as a youth band in 1981, under the inspiration of bandmaster Martin Davison. The band managed to build up its reputation and take on more and more engagements all over the south of England and toured parts of Europe.
It performs at over 40 engagements annually and has a strong base of members of all ages and abilities, ranging from absolute beginners to military musicians and music professionals. This is their second visit to Malta, having participated during the first edition of the Malta Military Tattoo.
Tickets for the Malta Military Tattoo are already on sale at the MFCC, Ta’ Qali. Tickets can also be bought online through www.ticketline.com.mt. For further information call 2137 6312 or 7906 8676.