No
lamenting pipers
 |
|
Bang
on: Drumsticks flash as Pte James Thompson, LCpl John Gilbert,
Pte Matthew Carpenter, Msn Sam Phillips and LCpl Jim Batch
from the tenor drum section rehearse for the Edinburgh Tattoo.
Photo by Bill Cunneen, Army newspaper
|
By
Pte Shannon Joyce
THE Edinburgh Tattoo’s Salute to Australia represented a career
highlight for the talented Australian Army pipers and drummers
selected to perform.
Fifty-eight pipers and drummers from 2RAR, 3RAR, 5/7RAR, SUR,
Adelaide UR, RACT and Army Pipes and Drums – Perth arrived in
Sydney to rehearse for the first time, just two weeks before the
shows.
The Senior Pipe Manager for the Australian Army Pipes and Drums
WO2 John Ferguson, who performed in the Army Bicentennial Tattoo,
said soldiers selected for the tattoo went through an extensive
audition process.
“I travelled the length and breadth of Australia listening to
pipers, while the Drumming Instructor at the Defence Force School
of Music, Sgt Andrew Pearson, listened to the drummers,” WO2 Ferguson
said.
“We were given a limit of 30 pipers, six tenor drummers, three
bass drummers, 12 snare drummers, and three drum majors to select
for the tattoo.
“There are a couple of people in the group that managed to get
to Edinburgh and play in the tattoo last August, but for the majority
this is their first big tattoo.”
Though the Sydney-based combined tattoo was first announced 18
months ago, it wasn’t until November that the performance music
arrived and was distributed to participants.
“We first played together January 27, but when rehearsals in the
arena started, we knew exactly what we were doing,” WO2 Ferguson
said.
“People did a lot of work over Christmas and all arrived knowing
the music.”
Drumming Instructor at the Defence Force School of Music Sgt Andrew
Earnshaw said drummers were selected on their ability to play
the rudiments within the music.
“Learning such drills as the mace don’t really take that long,”
he said.
“It’s gaining the confidence to stand out there and say to yourself
that you don’t look like a fool, but that you’re really doing
a good job.”
Sgt Earnshaw firmly the tattoo performance would be a career highlight
for all Australian performers.
“Some members who have done the tattoo in Scotland have said that
to do it in Australia is an even bigger honour,” he said.
Army will cover the Edinburgh Tattoo, A Salute to Australia in
our next edition.
