The Singapore Police Force Combined Band is the first Asian band to perform at the 2018 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo on 26 June 2018 during the official opening show in Scotiabank Centre, Halifax, Canada.
Lauded as the world’s largest indoor show, the tattoo is a week-long event from 26 June 2018 to 2 July 2018 featuring bagpipes, military and innovative performances such as acrobatics, dances and displays. This tattoo is special as theatrics are embedded in the performance, giving way to a more intensive performance by the SPF Combined Band.
The SPF Combined Band, comprising the SPF Band, the Women Police Pipes and Drums as well as Gurkha Contingent Pipes and Drums did a scintillating performance to the tattoo’s theme of ‘Heroes & Legends’, with an accompanying segment titled ‘The Little Red Dot’.
The ‘Little Red Dot’ showed the progression of Singapore from early war-torn days to a bustling multicultural and cosmopolitan city. As part of the theatrics, a video montage of Singapore’s war-torn scenes depicted by city rubbles, chaos and war planes was specially curated. The performance also featured Samsui women and their contributions to early nation building.
The performance then peeled into a medley of song and dance, with skyscrapers in the backdrop and the various races and cultures coming together to revitalise the nation after the war. The ‘little red dot’ was thus transformed into a vibrant nation, accentuated with various traditional costumes and cultural instruments such as the kompang, the dhol and opera drums (Chinese drums).
It was indeed a global experience for the 65 officers from the SPF Combined Band as they joined hands with acts from Kenya, Brazil, Jordan, Germany, Australia, Russia, and the United States of America. More than 2000 performers participated in the tattoo.
In addition to the daily tattoo performances, the SPF Combined Band also performed at fringe shows near Scotiabank Centre.
Speaking on the invitation to be part of this performance, Director of Music of the Singapore Police Force, Superintendent Amri Bin Amin said, “The Singapore Police Force Combined Band is honoured and excited to have been given this opportunity to perform in a tattoo of such international scale and standing. It’s a new experience for the band, given the theatrical concept of the tattoo. My team and I have been working hard for the past 12 months to ensure we deliver only our best here. We appreciate the hospitality given by the host and would like to thank the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo again for inviting us to be part of this unforgettable experience.
SINGAPORE POLICE FORCE
03 July 2018 @ 4:00 PM