Today, an arena for almost 8,000 spectators stands in the former barracks area (der Kasernenhof) in Basel. The premiere of the 17th Basel Tattoo will take place here from 19 to 27 July. Top formations from five continents and around 1,000 artists will enchant the audience and the city (tickets are available at www.baseltattoo.ch).
The Basel Tattoo combines dance, horses, parades, pipes, drums, the Tattoo Choir and the world’s only Tattoo Guard. The event again shows what a modern Tattoo is all about.
Basel Tattoo 2022
One of them is the United States Army Field Band. It is usually on the road for representative ceremonies in its own country and is characterised by its high musical quality and precision.
Also, over 50 children and young people from the USA are from the One Voice Children’s Choir.
Six unusual artists on an unusual bicycle: this is the Big Bike Orchestra from Poland.
The Singapore Police Force Band presents Asian precision with British influences.
With their rocking sounds, poignant songs and enthusiasm, the musicians of the Australian Army Band have been instant crowd favourites in the past. The Aussies will be back in 2024.
Basel Tattoo 2023
Travelling with them will be the OzScot International Highland Dancers. The dancers are among the best in their field and never fail to impress with their incredible, almost breakneck dance moves.
The Iznik Municipality Mehter Band from Turkey, the oldest military music formation in the world, will also perform at the Basel Tattoo. The band cultivates a traditional and oriental style of music.
The Swiss Army Brass Band and the Ländlerduo (Marvin Näpflin on the Schwyzerörgeli and Patrick Stalder on the clarinet) from the Swiss military band will also be guests in the Kaserne courtyard.
The 200 bagpipers and drummers of the Massed Pipes and Drums are an evergreen. The ten pipe bands come from Canada, South Africa, Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Malta and Switzerland. The Lone Piper will also perform a well-known song on the Kasernenturm this year.
The music city of Basel again lives up to its fame.
(Source and further information: Basel Tattoo)
Basel Tattoo 2023
Posts Scriptum
Doe den tap toe
By the way, the Old Dutch “doe den tap toe” (turn off the tap) is the origin of the Dutch word “taptoe,” which also became tattoo in German and English. “Doe den tap toe has a military context and means to turn off the beer tap. On the other hand, Heimweh (homesickness in English) is a Swiss word.
The beer taps were closed on the command ‘doe den tap toe’, often supported by a drum or trumpet signal. Over time, “tattoo” has become a term for military music festivals.
The Barracks Yard
The barracks yard is, therefore, the right setting for a tattoo. The Klingental Convent (today the Kleines Klingental Museum) for Dominican nuns was closed after the Reformation (1527). The buildings were used for storage, commercial space and as a location for the city garrison. The new barracks were completed in 1863 and housed troops until 1965. So there have been many taps and ‘doe den tap toe’ commands (Zapfstreich in German).
