BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

BERLIN received a taste of Brunei through a unique cultural and traditional music performances from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Band.

Punctuated with rhythmical drumming and trumpet, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Band stunned audiences with traditional music and dance performances at the opening of the 15th Berlin Military Music Festival last Saturday, according to a press statement released yesterday.

The Berlin Max Schmeling hall which holds a capacity of 8,000 seats were filled with music by participating nations and military marches.

Brunei Darussalam, was represented by a strength of 34 musicians and two officials from the RBAF Band were among the nine nations which participated in this year’s festival.

The total number of participating countries was increased to nine with a last minute entry to the festival as the British Pipe Band joined the likes of Brunei, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Holland, Poland, Russia, USA and the hosts, Germany.

The audience was able to sample some of Brunei Darussalam’s repertoire of traditional songs and dance. The RBAF Band showcased songs such as Anding Samalindang, Adun Kubima, Kampong Ayer, Tipa and Joget Mukon Menyubuh. The uniqueness was also enriched with Brunei Darussalam’s traditional musical instruments such as Guling tangan, Gong, Ompung and Hadrah.

Under the patronage of the Minister of Defence, General Schneiderhahn and under the musical direction of Colonel Dr Michael Schramm, chief of the military bands office of the Bundeswehr, the performers in uniform showed their talents true to the motto “A festival that unites”.

Also on hand to give moral support for Brunei’s contingent was Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Germany, Pehin Datu Indera Sugara Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusuf Abu Bakar and his wife, along with officers and staff of the embassy.

After the final show in Berlin on Sunday, all performers will travel for a further 500km south west to Cologne for another show, with the festival in Cologne expected to pull a much bigger due to the larger venue.

The Brunei Times

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