Tokyo’s tunes
Army band gets down in Japan

Lt-Col Patrick Pickett presents the 70 piece composite band. Photo by David Grant

AUSTRALIAN Army Bands (AAB) have been the principal international performing guests at the 50th anniversary of the Japan Self Defence Force Marching Festival and Tattoo, in Tokyo.

For six minutes and 10 seconds, the 70 piece composite band drawn from AAB Melbourne and AAB Kapooka, became the centrepiece of one of the world’s largest and most popular military band and marching festivals.

The highly innovative music, marching and singing spectacular by the AAB was presented three times a day during the two-day event in the grounds of the Imperial Palace.

Each performance featured a specially written fanfare and choreographed version of Waltzing Matilda and I still Call Australia Home.

At the conclusion of the performances, the AAB were joined on stage by 800 other performers featuring 200 members of the Japanese and US Army Bands, complemented by hundreds of drill and flag teams, marching girls and traditional Japanese drums.

While in Tokyo, the AAB performed for the Australian Embassy and provided a performance and masterclass workshop for the students of Tamagawa High School.

During a recent Australian study tour, the students were visitors to the Defence Force School of Music, Simpson Barracks, Macleod.

Commandant and Director of Music – Army, Lt-Col Patrick Pickett said the invitation to such a prestigious event could only further enhance the shaping of the Army’s public image, domestically and internationally.

“The Japanese Minister for Defence invited Australia to the Festival and this is the first occasion of an Australian Army Band [visiting] Japan,” he said.

Organisers have said the event was a great success.