Fortissimo Sunset Ceremony
The Fortissimo Sunset Ceremony is an annual Canadian military music event held on the grounds of Parliament Hill in the Canadian capital of Ottawa.
The ceremony is a combination of the historical Beating Retreat event which originated in the United Kingdom, a regular military tattoo, and the lowering of the Canadian flag. The ceremony, which usually takes on a July evening, is mainly sponsored by the Ceremonial Guard, which is also the main event at the festival. Like its name implies, the guard serves ceremonial public duties inside the Canadian capital. In previous years, foreign drill units have also taken part in the tattoo, including units such as the German Navy Silent Drill Team, the Band of America’s Few, the Bermuda Regiment Band, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band.
