Monday Music "Men of Harlech"

I decided to roll with something different this time, I got the idea from doing research for the post I did yesterday.  Normally I do songs from the 1980's with other songs mixed in with it.  I decided to heed the martial side of my nature and use this song.  It is still on my bucket list to attend a "tattoo",



NOT one of these...

Nooo...something like one of these...

The Squids did really good on this...This was TATTOO

Norway 2013, and one of my favorite routines and it is on my

bucket list to go to Edinburgh and attend one.

"Men of Harlech" or "The March of the Men of Harlech" (in Welsh: Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech) is a song and military march which is traditionally said to describe events during the seven-year siege of Harlech Castle between 1461 and 1468. Commanded by Constable Dafydd ap Ieuan, the garrison withstood the longest known siege in the history of the British Isles. "Through Seven Years" is an alternative name for the song. The song has also been associated with the earlier, briefer siege of Harlech Castle about 1408, which pitted the forces of Owain Glyndŵr against the future Henry V of England.
"Men of Harlech" is important for Welsh national culture. The song gained international recognition when it was featured in the 1941 movie How Green Was My Valley and the 1964 film Zulu.

Men of Harlech is widely used as a regimental march, especially by British Army and Commonwealth regiments historically associated with Wales. Notably, it is the slow march of the Welsh Guards, the quick march of the Royal Welsh, and the march of the Royal Canadian Hussars (Montreal), The Governor General's Horse Guards, and The Ontario Regiment, for which it is the slow march.
It was first used for cinema during the titles of How Green Was My Valley (1941) and has featured in a number of other films. It is best known for its prominent role in the 1964 film Zulu, although the version of lyrics sung in it were written specially for the film. It is sung twice, only once completely, in the film (the British begin shooting the charging Zulus before the start of the final couplet), in counterpoint to the Zulu war chants and the sounds of their shields. Film editor John Jympson cut the scene to the song so that on either side of cuts where the British soldiers cannot be heard, the song is in the correct relative position. The song is also heard in the film Zulu Dawn, which is about the battle that precedes Rorke's Drift, the Battle of Isandlwana.

Rick Rescorla, Chief of Security for Morgan Stanley's World Trade Center office, sang a Cornish adaptation of "Men of Harlech" with a bullhorn, along with other anthems, to keep employee spirits high while they evacuated during the September 11 attacks. After helping save more than 2,700 employees he returned to the towers to evacuate others until the towers collapsed on him.
"Men of Harlech" was used as part of the startup music for ITV television station Teledu Cymru during the early 1960s and, until April 2006, in Fritz Spiegl's BBC Radio 4 UK Theme.
From 1996 to 1999, HTV Wales used part of the song for Wales Tonight.
Adapted versions are sung by fans of several Welsh football clubs and as school or college songs around the world. There is a humorous parody known variously as "National Anthem of the Ancient Britons" and "Woad", written some time before 1914 by William Hope-Jones.
Bryn Terfel recorded "Men of Harlech" for his 2000 album We'll Keep a Welcome

Some of my favorite video's

I will be in Indiana at NOAC, and this is on my scheduler thingie.  I am unsure if I will be able to post anything.  So I decided to post a couple of my favorite video's that I happen to run across on "Youtube"

    This video I ran across back in 2013 and I really liked the precision, they did damm good....for squids.   I did something like this in North Georgia college and I understand the precision and discipline necessary for such things.   It still is on my bucket list to go to a national TATTOO or the international TATTOO at Edinburgh, the holy grail of TATTOO's  I talked about TATTOO 's back in 2014....Has it been that long...and it was interesting reading what I wrote about the petulant boy king back in 2014, LOL

Excellent video

TATTOO and drumming

I had posted a couple of days ago about TATTOO's and drumming.  I first ran across it a few years ago when I ran across the U.S. Navy ceremonial rifle team doing a performance in Norway, who knew that the squids had a performing ceremonial rifle team...and they are GOOD.    I saved the video in my "Youtube" favorites.  Since then I occasionally tune in and see what is new.  Back in college I went to a military college at North Georgia.  I only went 1 year before I was broke and joined the U.S. Army.  The plan was for me to go back to college, but when I got out in 1991 after 6 years and Desert Storm, I was extremely bitter and had major anger issues and didn't go back to college and finish up and get my commission.  I regret few things in life...but that is one of the few things I do regret.

     One of the things I did was in the Color Guard, we would do parades and other performances.  There was something about doing this stuff in front of people, the performing of the martial stuff, the sheer discipline shown is something that I dig.  We wore the patch on the front pocket of our green fatigues.  It was a mark of distinction.

North Georgia College Color Guard

"Our Color Guard is the 2001 and 2002 National Champion. This unique organization is the loyal guard of our nations colors. They are responsible for protecting and presenting the colors at formal reviews and Corps functions. They also serve as ambassadors during special occasions requested by the University of North Georgia community, such as Atlanta Braves baseball games, Atlanta Athletic Club events and surrounding Veteran's Day celebrations."
The Color Guard motto    "Duty, Honor,Country"

 

 

 

Well as part of my surfing, I ran across the "Secret Swiss Drum Corp"  They are very good and I had thought they were part of the Swiss Military.  They are not...they are volunteers.

 

 

Top Secret Drum Corps is a precision drum corps based in Basel, Switzerland. With 25 drummers and color-guard members, the corps became famous for its demanding six-minute routine performed at the Edinburgh Tattoo in 2003. With its invitation to Edinburgh, Top Secret became one of the first non-military, non-British Commonwealth acts to perform on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle.
Since its success in 2003, Top Secret was invited to return to Edinburgh in 2006 with a new and improved routine. They were invited a third time in 2009 and again in 2012. Under the leadership of Erik Julliard, the band is also responsible for the founding of the Basel Tattoo, a military tattoo show similar to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, now held annually in Basel.

Top Secret has its roots in the rich drumming traditions of the band's home city, Basel, Switzerland, which is known for its annual carnival called Fasnacht. The city is said to have over 3,000 active drummers at any one time. These drummers perform at traditional events such as Fasnacht, the Vogel Gryff, Charivari, and various parades associated with the city's guilds. A Trommelkönig (Drummer King) competition is also held every year by the city's Fasnacht Committee.
Basel drumming style is militaristic, derived from the military drumming drills of Swiss soldiers dating back to the Middle Ages. Top Secret in many ways adheres to the military nature of Basel drumming, but differs in many respects. Its drummers play at a much faster rate. Also, while traditional Basel drumming is somber and favors traditional marching tunes (accompanied by fifes during the Fasnacht), Top Secret's drumming style is upbeat and playful. Over the years, the corps adopted many elements from Drum Corps International (DCI), Scottish, and American rudimental drumming. Segments of their routines feature a "rhumba", a drummer's duel, drumstick juggling, exploding flagpoles, and other crowd-pleasing details. Their 2012 routine at the Edinburgh Tattoo included strobe lights within their drums that appeared to be activated by the drummer's beats. Perhaps because of their 18th Century uniforms and precision work, the Corps is often referred to as a military band or a part of the Swiss Army, but it is not affiliated with any military unit.

Top Secret's members are highly dedicated college students to drummers with diverse day jobs—bankers, civil servants, factory workers, etc. They give up their free time to practice nearly every day of the year. Due to the demanding nature of the work, its membership is frequently changing.

Since its 2003 performance at Edinburgh, Top Secret has enjoyed worldwide success. They have performed at various venues in Europe, the United States, Australia and at the 2008 South African Tattoo held from 11 - 14 September 2008. In 2011, they performed at the Quebec Military Tattoo.
They are the subject of a documentary film by Swiss television which recounts their rise to fame at the Edinburgh Tattoo. A feature film based on the Edinburgh endeavor is currently in the works with Insert Films, Switzerland.

TATTOO.....

Well I was looking of stuff to post and I ran across several things, one was that we had a GA congressman John Lewis lambast the GOP for the lawsuit against executive branch overreach.  And the stuff he said about "The president extended the olive branch every-time and the GOP would smack it away...They hate this president since he was elected, they never supported him."  That is funny....I remember President Obama telling the GOP, " I won...you didn't"  And the first 2 years was a totally democratic love fest in  congress.  I wanted to comment on this....but I just didn't have it in me. 

     I wanted to comment about Jesse Ventura suing the widow of Chris Kyle for slander.....But I don't have it in me....

I have seen the border being flooded with illegal kids and future democratic votors, people are realizing that President Obama orchestrated this to forment a crisis and try to blame the GOP,

 but this time it backfired.  Well anyway I am seeing that President Obama or his supporters are pushing the "Impeachment angle" in letters to donors to raise money for the DNC, and they are hoping to fire up the base to forestall the coming bloodbath in 2014.  Even though the stupid party GOP has taken this off the table, it keeps being recreated by the sympathetic media in hopes of generating interest and support from the President's loyal followers. But I don't have it in me.......

 Hey it worked back in 1997 when Bill got impeached and the Democrats picked up seats in congress and Bill became more popular than before.  The GOP wants to avoid another drink from the Impeachment well because the senate would never impeach the president.  There could show a video of President Obama killing somebody on the White House Steps and the craven cowards in the senate would still support him no matter what he does.
     So instead I am going to focus on TATTOO's.....

Nooo......Not those....

    These...

     tattoo is a military performance of music or display of armed forces in general. The term comes from the early 17th century Dutch phrase doe den tap toe ("turn off the tap"), a signal sounded by drummers or trumpeters to instruct innkeepers near military garrisons to stop serving beer and for soldiers to return to their barracks.
The tattoo was originally a form of military music, but the practice has evolved into more elaborate shows involving theatrics and musical performances. It is also used to designate military exhibitions such as the Royal International Air Tattoo.
     One of the best known tattoos is held on the Esplanade in front of Edinburgh Castle each August as part of the annual Edinburgh Festival. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was first staged in 1950; it combines the traditional sounds of the bagpipes and drums with the modern aspects of the armed forces. In 2008, the Windsor Castle Royal Tattoo was launched, and held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle by permission of HM The Queen. The event's proceeds went to the Royal British Legion to help support recently returned troops from battle.
    The largest tattoo in the United States is the Virginia International Tattoo, held every year in Norfolk, Virginia. Over 850 performers play traditional music and many international acts join every branch of the Armed Forces.

   

Virginia International Tattoo

A Grateful Nation Thanks and Honors Our Vietnam Veterans and Their Families

The Virginia International Tattoo — long regarded as the most patriotic of the world’s great tattoos — thrills audiences year after year with an awe-inspiring spectacle of music and might. Designated a signature event of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, the 2014 Tattoo will honor our Vietnam veterans and their families with an astounding display of patriotism, international cooperation and inspirational music.

A brand new show every year, the Tattoo is more than a performance, it is an experience. Be sure to bring the Tattoo tradition into your life this year!

The 2014 Virginia International Tattoo has been designated a signature event of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. In partnership with the Commemoration, the 2014 Virginia International Tattoo will recognize and honor our Vietnam veterans and their families. With an astounding display of patriotism, a spirit of international cooperation and inspirational music, the 2014 Tattoo will be a premier opportunity to join a grateful nation in thanking and honoring our Vietnam Veterans, their loved ones and our allies for their service, valor and sacrifice. For more information about The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration Partnership Program, see their website at www.vietnamwar50th.com.

Unforgettable Tattoo Experience! The spectacular Virginia International Tattoo performances will once again inspire audiences, leaving them with a renewed sense of pride and optimism. The Virginia International Tattoo invites military and non-military bands, drill teams, bagpipe and drum bands, highland dancers and more from around the globe to create a unified and extraordinary performance. The Virginia International Tattoo offers an astounding display of patriotism and the spirit of international cooperation. Inspirational music…majestic massed pipes and drums… show stopping drill team maneuvers…colorful and elegant dancers…ALL give reasons for the crowd to roar! You'll understand why the American Bus Association has put this Tattoo on their must-see list of the most exciting events in the world.

It Is An All-New Show Every Year! Each year's Tattoo is different, with new performers from across the globe, new themes of honor and patriotism and state of-the-art technical effects which will leave you amazed. What never changes — the massed pipes and drums, a profound sense of pride and an amazingly inspirational finale. This is the Tattoo experience that you and your group will love.

   I am going to try to go to the TATTOO next year for 2015.   Perhaps we can try for a blogmeet during this timee