A 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. Russia have recently started annual "Spasskaya Bashnya" International Military Tattoo in Moscow. Its Russian name came from the name of the location where it is performed (the Red Square's Saviour Tower).
The best Russian and foreign military bands, folk groups as well as honorary guard units of the heads of states are taking part in the event. At the end of each performance the joint band of all the participants - around 1,500 musicians - appear on the Red Square. They play the final chords to the salvoes of the salute, with the light show on the St. Basil’s Cathedral as the background. On the first day, the bands marching along the Tverskaya Street, and on the next day they give concerts in the city parks. The riders from the Kremlin Horse Riding School perform in a specially equipped manege on the Red Square. The festival was timed to coincide with the Moscow City Day, so in 2014 the seventh edition took place between 30 August and 7 September.
In 2014 the main program included daily performances of the participants from Armenia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Mexico, Russia, Turkey, and Switzerland. Mireille Mathieu, the legendary French singer, took part at festival for the sixth time, singing on the Red Square with a dedicated program. Another guest of honor was Lorenzo, the famous Flying Frenchman, who showed miracles of equestrian acrobatics on a manege at the walls of the Moscow Kremlin. In the postcard seems to be, in the limelight, alongside of Mireille Mathieu a member of the Guard of Honor of the Presidential Regiment, and in the background, in white uniforms, the President’s Band.
About the stamps
The first three stamps are part of a series dedicated to Russian Kremlins, about which I wrote here. The last stamp is part of a definitive series about which I wrote here.
References
International Military Music Festival "Spasskaya Tower" - Official website
Military tattoo - Wikipedia
Sender: Lisa Krasnova
Sent from Moscow (Moscow / Russia), on 09.02.2015
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