International Military Festival “Spasskaya Tower”

Name of the Festival

Change of the previous name - Kremlin Zorya - and of the official symbol of the Festival in 2009 is due to the fact that the word “Zorya” was not perceived by the public as an authentic musical term. Besides, zorya is merely a special sound signal whereas the new name, according to the idea of the organizers, should reflect a broader topical and cultural background of the Festival.

The name of the Festival, approved in 2009, highlights a symbolic image of the history of Moscow and of the Russian state. Spasskaya tower, the main tower of the Kremlin, acquired this name in 1658 after the icons of the Savior (Spas - Transl. Note) of Smolensk and the Savior Nerukotvorny that were placed above the tower gates.

Here, at the front gates of the tower, Russian emperors and foreign diplomats were greeted. The famous chimes of Spasskaya Tower are the main clock of Russia. Its ringing will accompany the entry of the bands on the Red Square through Spasskaya Tower.

Merlons of the Kremlin wall and silhouettes of the domes, combined with the note signs, form the symbol of the Festival. Merlons symbolize the Russian state and the domes symbolize spirituality.
The suggested symbol reflects the musical character of the Festival.

Symbol of the Festival

Such events are commonly tagged as military festivals however this is not the exact notion for our event. The Festival was conceived as a festival of military music and not a military festival.
The new version of its symbol stands much closer to the theme of music and is a more precise reflection of the idea of the Festival.

Name of the website of the Festival

We should also note that military music shows and festivals under the name “Military Tattoo” are widely popular in Europe and in the USA. The purpose of such events is usually to popularize the military attributes (such is the case of the most famous festival of military orchestras - Military Tattoo in Edinburg).

The word “tattoo” is a special trumpet signal that appeared in the Middle Ages in Holland. It stood for “Close the tap!” and informed the soldiers that pubs and taverns were closing for the night and it was time to return to the barracks. On Dutch it sounded “Tap tu”.

Peter the Great, who was implanting Dutch customs in Russia, took this military signal and so it was written in his Navy Charter: “To play taptu”.

This ancient signal has survived and is used in the names of military band festivals. These events are a common phenomenon in the culture of many countries that is always perceived in the same way. This is why the website of the Festival in Moscow was named http://www.kremlin-military-tattoo.ru/