(majestic music) - [Announcer] Welcome to Music & Might: America's International Tattoo, with performers from five nations sharing their unique music, traditions, and culture and also featuring America's finest Military performers.

The beat of the drums, the call of the trumpets, the wail of the pipes.

Music & Might: America's International Tattoo.

(audience applauding) ("The Star-Spangled Banner") And now please rise if you are able and join us in the singing of our National Anthem.

♪ O say can you see ♪ ♪ By the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ What so proudly we hailed ♪ ♪ At the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ Through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ O'er the ramparts we watched ♪ ♪ Were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ And the rockets' red glare ♪ ♪ The bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night ♪ ♪ That our flag was still there ♪ ♪ O say does that star-spangled ♪ ♪ Banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free ♪ ♪ And the home ♪ ♪ Of the brave ♪ ♪ Of the brave ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) (stately music) - [Announcer] For centuries, the cries of military commanders have echoed throughout Europe, signaling innkeepers to tattoo or turn off the taps, sending soldiers back to the barracks to the beat of regimental drums.

This led to ceremonial performances which have evolved over time and are now international spectacles of military music, massed bands, and highland bagpipes.

With our massed bands on parade performing John Philip Sousa's "Washington Post March," America's International Tattoo, filmed live at the 2022 Virginia International Tattoo, has begun.

(dignified music) (audience applauding) (dynamic music) Imagine if John Philip Sousa were alive today and had at his disposal the epic musical and technical resources of an international tattoo.

What might his music sound like?

Here is our answer, imagined by Paul Murtha, former principal arranger of the United States Army Band.

We are proud to present the world premiere of "Fantasy on Themes of Sousa."

(dynamic music) (majestic music) (stately music) ♪ Hurrah for the flag of the free ♪ ♪ May it wave as our standard forever ♪ ♪ The gem of the land and the sea ♪ ♪ The banner of the right ♪ ♪ Let tyrants remember the day ♪ ♪ When our fathers with mighty endeavor ♪ ♪ Proclaimed as they marched to the fray ♪ ♪ That by their might and by their right ♪ ♪ It waves forever ♪ (triumphant music) ♪ Aaaaaaaaaaaah ♪ (audience applauding) - [Announcer] "The Parting Glass," a traditional Scottish song and a favorite of tattoo audiences, is meant to be sung at a gathering of friends and recalls the loss of those gone too soon.

The Tattoo's stirring rendition features renowned Celtic singer and veteran of the Royal Regiment of Scotland Dougie Anderson.

♪ Of all the money that e'er I had ♪ ♪ I spent it in good company ♪ ♪ And all the harm I've ever done ♪ ♪ Alas it was to none but me ♪ ♪ And all I've done for want of wit ♪ ♪ To memory now I can't recall ♪ ♪ So fill to me the parting glass ♪ ♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪ (pensive music) ♪ So fill to me the parting glass ♪ ♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪ (pensive music) (majestic music) ♪ Of all the comrades that e'er I had ♪ ♪ They're sorry for my going away ♪ ♪ And all the sweethearts e'er I had ♪ ♪ They'd wish me one more day to stay ♪ ♪ Since it fell unto my lot ♪ ♪ That I should rise and you should not ♪ ♪ I'll gently rise and softly call ♪ ♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪ (majestic music) (choir vocalizing) ♪ So fill to me the parting glass ♪ ♪ And drink a health whate'er befall ♪ ♪ And gently rise and softly call ♪ ♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪ ♪ Good night and joy be to you all ♪ (audience applauding) - [Announcer] From Norfolk, Virginia, home to the world's largest Navy base, we welcome the finest in the fleet, the United States Navy Fleet Forces Band.

(gentle music) ♪ I'm not a stranger to the dark ♪ ♪ Hide away, they say ♪ ♪ 'Cause we don't want ♪ ♪ your broken parts ♪ ♪ Run away, they say ♪ ♪ 'Cause no one will love you as you are ♪ ♪ But I won't let them break me down to dust ♪ ♪ I know that there's a place for us ♪ ♪ For we are glorious ♪ ♪ When the sharpest words want to cut me down ♪ ♪ I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out ♪ ♪ I am brave, I am bruised ♪ ♪ I am who I'm meant to be ♪ ♪ This is me ♪ ♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪ ♪ And I'm marching on to the beat I drum ♪ ♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪ ♪ I make no apologies ♪ ♪ This is me ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Ohh oh oh ♪ ♪ Another round of bullets hits my skin ♪ ♪ Well, fire away 'cause today ♪ ♪ I won't let the shame sink in ♪ ♪ We are bursting through the barricades ♪ ♪ And reaching for the sun ♪ ♪ We are warriors ♪ ♪ Yeah, that's what we've become ♪ ♪ Yeah, that's what we've become ♪ ♪ Won't let them break me down to dust ♪ ♪ I know that there's a place for us ♪ ♪ For we are glorious ♪ ♪ When the sharpest words want to cut me down ♪ ♪ I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out ♪ ♪ I am brave, I am bruised ♪ ♪ I am who I'm meant to be ♪ ♪ This is me ♪ ♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪ ♪ And I'm marching on to the beat I drum ♪ ♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪ ♪ I make no apologies ♪ ♪ This is me ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Oh yeah, this is me ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ And I know that I deserve your love ♪ ♪ And there's nothing I'm not worthy of ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Ohh oh oh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhhh ♪ ♪ When the darkest words want to cut me down ♪ ♪ I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out ♪ ♪ This is brave, this is bruised ♪ ♪ This is who I'm meant to be ♪ ♪ This is me ♪ ♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪ ♪ Look out 'cause here I come ♪ ♪ And I'm marching on to the beat I drum ♪ ♪ And I'm marching, marching, marching ♪ ♪ I'm not scared to be seen ♪ ♪ I make no apologies ♪ ♪ This is me ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohhhhh ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Ohh ♪ ♪ Ohh oh oh ♪ ♪ This is me ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) (regal music) (audience applauding) (rhythmic music) - [Announcer] Visiting from Amman, Jordan, the combined Jordanian Armed Forces Band and Pipes and Drums.

They are performing in the Tattoo as part of a year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Kingdom of Jordan.

(vibrant music) (audience applauding) (solemn music) (audience applauding) (rhythmic music) (dignified music) (audience applauding) (rhythmic music) (stately music) (soldiers vocalizing) (audience applauding) We are now joined by the world's only band mounted on bicycles and the last active unit in the Netherlands historic Bicycle-Mounted Cavalry.

Founded in 1917, the band wears World War I era uniforms and performs on specially modified instruments.

The band has a great time showing us what it means to them that the cavalry is coming.

(jaunty music) (audience applauding) (audience applauding) (leader directing in foreign language) (feet stamp) (leader directing in foreign language) (feet stamp) (leader directing in foreign language) (bikes rustle) (feet stamp) (leader directing in foreign language) (dignified music) (soldiers singing in foreign language) (audience applauding) (aircraft roaring) (regal music) - [Announcer] From Langley Air Force Base, we welcome the United States Air Force Heritage of America Band.

(dynamic music) ♪ First things first ♪ ♪ I'ma say all the words inside my head ♪ ♪ I'm fired up ♪ ♪ And tired of the way that things have been, oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ The way that things have been, oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Second things second ♪ ♪ Don't you tell me how you think my life should be ♪ ♪ I'm the one at the sail ♪ ♪ I'm the master of my sea, oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ The master of my sea, oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ I was broken from a young age ♪ ♪ Taking my sulking to the masses ♪ ♪ Writing my poems for the few ♪ ♪ That look at me, took to me, shook to me, feeling me ♪ ♪ Singing from heartache from the pain ♪ ♪ Taking my message from the veins ♪ ♪ Speaking my lessons in the brain ♪ ♪ Seeing the beauty in the ♪ ♪ Pain, you made me a ♪ ♪ You made me a believer ♪ ♪ Believer ♪ ♪ Pain, you break me down ♪ ♪ You build me up, believer ♪ ♪ Believer ♪ ♪ Pain ♪ ♪ Oh, let the bullets fly ♪ ♪ Oh, let them rain ♪ ♪ My life, my love, my drive, it came from ♪ ♪ Pain, you made me a ♪ ♪ You made me a believer ♪ ♪ Believer ♪ ♪ Third things third ♪ ♪ Send a prayer to the ones up above ♪ ♪ All the hate that you send ♪ ♪ Will turn your spirit to a dove, oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ Your spirit up above, oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ ♪ I was choking in the crowd ♪ ♪ Building my rain up in the clouds ♪ ♪ Holding my ashes to the ground ♪ ♪ Hoping my feelings, they would drown ♪ ♪ But they never did, ever lived, ebbing and flowing ♪ ♪ Inhibited, limited ♪ ♪ Till it broke open and rained down ♪ ♪ It rained down like ♪ ♪ Pain, you made me a ♪ ♪ You made me a believer ♪ ♪ Believer ♪ ♪ Pain, you break me down ♪ ♪ You build me up, believer ♪ ♪ Believer ♪ ♪ Pain ♪ ♪ Oh, let the bullets fly ♪ ♪ Oh, let them rain ♪ ♪ My life, my love, my drive, it came from ♪ ♪ Pain, you made me a ♪ ♪ You made me a believer ♪ ♪ Believer ♪ (dynamic music) (audience applauding) - [Leader] By the center, quick march.

(stately music) - [Announcer] Please welcome back the Massed Pipes and Drums.

(stately music) And the Virginia International Tattoo Highland Dance Company.

(lively music) (spirited music) (vivacious music) (audience applauding) (dignified music) - [Announcer] The Band of the Mounted Arms Regiment return in their modern uniforms and without their bicycles, but they have brought a melodica, a favorite instrument of composers who wrote some of the greatest Western film scores ever composed.

(pensive music) ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Hey ♪ ♪ Hey ooh ooh ah ♪ (stately music) (pensive music) (solemn music) (dynamic music) (jaunty music) (audience cheering and applauding) (regal music) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) (rhythmic music) (stately music) - [Announcer] And now we welcome the United States Marine Corps Forces Reserve Band.

Members of this band, which is one of 10 Marine Corps field bands, are trained riflemen and fulfill Corps-wide physical fitness and combat training requirements.

Because every Marine is a rifleman.

(stately music) (rhythmic music) (stately music) (audience applauding) (solemn music) - [Announcer] Since 1775, uncommon valor has been a common virtue in the United States Marine Corps.

From the Halls of Montezuma to the Shores of Tripoli, we are prepared both mentally and physically to defend our country wherever we are needed.

We fight our country's battles in the air, on land, and sea.

While no one likes to fight, we are firmly dedicated to the belief that someone must know how.

(solemn music) First to fight for right and freedom and to keep our honor clean, we are proud of the readiness entrusted to us, and we pledge ourselves to adhere to the standards of excellence expected of us.

We are proud to claim the title of United States Marines.

We are few in number but many in ability, skill, and professionalism.

We welcome to the rank the challenges and challenge those who will join our ranks.

(dignified music) (audience applauding) We are the few, the proud, your United States Marines!

(audience cheering and applauding) (triumphant music) (rhythmic music) - [Announcer] During the Revolutionary War, fifers and drummers provided the main form of communication over long distances.

The fife because of its high pitched sound and the drum because of its low pitched sound.

Drummers would play beatings telling the soldiers to turn right or left as well as to load and fire their muskets.

By tradition, musicians wore the opposite colored coat of the fighting soldiers so they could be easily found by a commanding officer.

Thus, American Fife and Drums Corps wore British-style red coats.

We are now joined by the preeminent representatives of these musical and military traditions, the soldiers of the United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps.

(rhythmic music) (stately music) (rhythmic music) (audience applauding) (lively music) (rhythmic music) (audience cheering and applauding) (leader shouting commands) (rhythmic music) (vibrant music) (audience applauding) (majestic music) And now we are ready for a rousing rendition of our service songs.

- [Presenter] Army.

- [Announcer] By military tradition and protocol, the Army, the senior military service, should have its song sung last.

But we are performing in Norfolk, Virginia, the largest naval community in the world, and no one complains when we conclude with "Anchors Aweigh."

♪ Then it's Hi Hi Hey ♪ ♪ The Army's on its way ♪ ♪ Count off the cadence loud and strong ♪ ♪ For where'er we go ♪ ♪ You will always know ♪ ♪ That the Army goes rolling along ♪ (rhythmic music) - [Presenter] Air Force and Space Force.

♪ Off we go into the wild blue yonder ♪ ♪ Climbing high into the sun ♪ ♪ Here they come zooming to meet our thunder ♪ ♪ At 'em, boys, give 'er the gun ♪ ♪ Give 'er the gun ♪ ♪ Down we dive, spouting our flame from under ♪ ♪ Off with one helluva roar ♪ ♪ We live in fame or go down in flame ♪ ♪ Hey, nothing will stop the US Air Force ♪ (rhythmic music) - [Presenter] Marines.

♪ From the Halls of Montezuma ♪ ♪ To the Shores of Tripoli ♪ ♪ We fight our country's battles ♪ ♪ In the air, on land, and sea ♪ ♪ First to fight for right and freedom ♪ ♪ And to keep our honor clean ♪ ♪ We are proud to claim the title ♪ ♪ Of United States Marine ♪ (rhythmic music) - [Presenter] Coast Guard.

♪ We're always ready for the call ♪ ♪ We place our trust in Thee ♪ ♪ Through surf and storm and howling gale ♪ ♪ High shall our purpose be ♪ ♪ Semper Paratus is our guide ♪ ♪ Our fame, our glory too ♪ ♪ To fight to save or fight and die ♪ ♪ Aye, Coast Guard, we are for you ♪ (rhythmic music) - [Presenter] Navy.

(audience cheering) ♪ Anchors aweigh, my boys ♪ ♪ Anchors aweigh ♪ ♪ Farewell to foreign shores ♪ ♪ We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay ♪ ♪ Through our last night ashore ♪ ♪ Drink to the foam ♪ ♪ Until we meet once more ♪ ♪ Here's wishing you a happy voyage home ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) - [Announcer] Now assembled for the Tattoo finale, the cast joins together in performances of "The Prayer" and "Amazing Grace."

By the time the final note sounds, more than 500 performers from five nations will join together in an unforgettable expression of our universal language, music.

♪ I pray you'll be our eyes ♪ ♪ And watch us where we go ♪ ♪ And help us to be wise ♪ ♪ In times when we don't know ♪ ♪ Let this be our prayer ♪ ♪ When we lose our way ♪ ♪ Lead us to a place ♪ ♪ Guide us with your grace ♪ ♪ To a place where we'll be safe ♪ ♪ I hope we'll find your light ♪ ♪ I hope we'll find your light ♪ ♪ And hold it in our hearts ♪ ♪ And hold it in our hearts ♪ ♪ When stars go out each night ♪ ♪ When stars go out each night ♪ ♪ Remind us where you are ♪ ♪ Ohhhhhh ♪ ♪ Let this be our prayer ♪ ♪ Let this be our prayer ♪ ♪ When shadows fill our day ♪ ♪ When shadows fill our day ♪ ♪ Lead us to a place ♪ ♪ Guide us with your grace ♪ ♪ Give us faith so we'll be safe ♪ ♪ We shall be where pain and sorrow will be ended ♪ ♪ And every heart that's broken will be mended ♪ ♪ And we'll remember ♪ ♪ We are all God's children ♪ ♪ Reaching out to touch you ♪ ♪ Reaching to the sky ♪ ♪ Ohhhhhhhhhh ♪ ♪ We ask that life be kind ♪ ♪ We ask that life be kind ♪ ♪ And watch us from above ♪ ♪ And watch us from above ♪ ♪ We hope each soul will find ♪ ♪ We hope each soul will find ♪ ♪ Another soul to love ♪ ♪ Another soul to love ♪ ♪ Another soul to love ♪ ♪ Let this be our prayer ♪ ♪ Let this be our prayer ♪ ♪ Just like every child ♪ ♪ Just like every child ♪ ♪ Needs to find a place ♪ ♪ Guide us with your grace ♪ ♪ Give us faith so we'll be safe ♪ ♪ Lead us to a place ♪ ♪ Guide us with your grace ♪ ♪ Give us faith so we'll be safe ♪ ♪ Ahhhhhh ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) (uplifting music) - [Announcer] Joining us via video from Chernihiv, Ukraine, Ms. Inna Loshik.

(Singing in foreign language) ♪ 'Amazing grace how sweet ♪ ♪ the sound ♪ ♪ That saved ♪ ♪ A wretch like me ♪ ♪ I once was lost, ♪ ♪ but now I'm found, ♪ ♪ Was blind, ♪ ♪ but now I see, ♪ ♪ 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear ♪ ♪ And grace my fears relieved ♪ ♪ How precious did that grace appear ♪ ♪ The hour I first believed ♪ (uplifting music) (choir singing in foreign language) (audience applauding and cheering) - [Stacie] Virginia International Tattoo, by the center, quick march.

(rhythmic music) - [Announcer] Senior Drum Major Stacie Crowther calls for the final march out, and the performance comes to a close to the sounds of "No' Awa' Tae Bide Awa'" "Scotland the Brave" and "The Black Bear."

We hope to see you in person next April as we once again present the nation's greatest spectacle of Music & Might at the 2025 Virginia International Tattoo.

(energetic music) ♪ So whenever friendly friends may meet ♪ ♪ And where'er we foregather ♪ ♪ We'll raise our glass, we'll shout hurrah ♪ ♪ To Scotland now and ever ♪ (dynamic music) (audience applauding) (light music)