The Fortissimo Sunset Ceremony is an annual Canadian military music event held on the grounds of

Parliament Hill Parliament Hill (), colloquially known as The Hill, is an area of Crown land on the southern bank of the Ottawa River that houses the Parliament of Canada in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. It accommodates a suite of Gothic revival buildings whose ...

in the Canadian capital of

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

. The ceremony is a combination of the historical Beating Retreat event which originated in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, a regular

military tattoo A military tattoo is a performance of music or display of armed forces in general. The term comes from the early 17th-century Dutch phrase ' ('turn off the tap'), a signal sounded by drummers or trumpeters to instruct innkeepers near military g ...

, and the lowering of the Canadian flag. The ceremony, which usually takes place on a July evening, is organized by the Ceremonial Guard, whose bands are also the main event at the festival. The guard is an ad hoc unit formed for the summer months to attend various military functions and ceremonies. 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.

References

Military music Parliament of Canada Events in Ottawa Festivals established in 1996 Music festivals established in 1996 1996 establishments in Ontario Annual events in Canada Military of Canada Music festivals in Ottawa Military tattoos Military bands of Canada {{Canada-mil-stub