Tonight the Marine Band played the ‘Taptoe’ in Den Helder together with the Tambours and Pijpers of the Marine Corps. After two years of absence, forced by corona rules, the starting signal for the King’s Day celebration could finally be given again. Hundreds of people turned up.
One of the early announcements of the tradition of Taptoe playing by the Marine Band can be found in the Helderse Courant of 1952. On April 26 of that year, the newspaper reported that the Marine Band will play the tattoo in the Buitenhaven. Tonight the piece was performed at the Marine Museum in Den Helder.
“The tradition dates back to the time of the 80 Years’ War”, explains Captain-Lieutenant Wilco Kramer of the Royal Navy, “When a garrison commander had the gates closed in the evening, the Tattoo sounded at the last one and the cork went off. on the bottle, the tap really closed. And it didn’t stay in the Netherlands. In German it’s called Zaphenstreich blasen and in English Tattoo, which is a corruption of our Taptoe”
Ukraine
Although the Taptoe in Den Helder is the unofficial starting signal for a big orange party, the situation in Ukraine was taken into account during the performance. “In a period when war is raging in Europe, you don’t want to look too festive,” says Chief Conductor Major Arjan Tien of the Marine Band, “Of course life goes on, but we have tried to put together a program with respect. “
The past few years have also been tough for the musicians in the navy to get through. Due to corona rules, hardly any performances and practicing in limited company. “Yes, it’s nice that it’s finally possible again. This is what you do it for. We were also allowed to play ‘the closing ceremony’ at the Invictus Games. Nice to experience such a frenzied full house again. And that applies here also,” says Major Arjan Tien.
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Public
It has nothing to do with the public. After the Wilhemus, one of them shed a tear, but the official piece that we know as ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ could count on a lot of approval.
“There were 4 to 5 rows of people thick, I didn’t count them, but that was really good,” says Captain-Lieutenant Commander Wilco Kramer, “And I asked whether they would all have two friends, relatives or neighbors next year. There is enough space for many more people to enjoy all that beauty”