When you march behind The Bands of HM Royal Marines it makes you feel 20ft tall and extremely proud. I'm 70yrs old now and I will say it was an honour to have marched behind these guy's.
I was in the audience at the Royal Albert Hall when this occurred for the first time. There was a very knowledgeable crowd, with many being former service men or families, so when the two sets of drummers merged the appreciation and anticipation was immediately apparent in the roar from the crowd. I can remember how the hairs on the back of my neck stood up!!
@@norb0254 Switzerland I believe, which is a neutral country so their band isn’t military. It’s purely for entertainment purposes and because the Royal Marines are, the drum training is for military purposes only. Drums were used to give signals and orders to the troops on the battlefield well before technology was available. You’ve heard of ‘Beating the Retreat’ for instance?
@@dee2251 Except Switzerland has a large armed services with mandatory conscription, they number about 200,000 of which 80,000 are in the reserve forces, with their military being ranked 44 / 145. How do you think neutral countries remain neutral in times of conflict? For example, Hey mr Hitler we’re neutral wouldn’t cut it, hey mr Hitler we’re neutral and have a huge well trained army do you want a bloody nose does! Oh, to lend this some weight, Sweden is neutral and has a large well trained army too! 🤷♂️ Perhaps you’d like to re-think your “just for entertainment comment!” 🙄
I live in the town where 11 Royal Marines bandsmen were killed by an IRA bomb in 1989. Every year they hold a memorial concert in the town and when the corps of drums march in it always makes me cry 😢 This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!
Amazing to see the coordination between two different drum corps from two different countries playing together. Royal Marines Corps of Drums from the UK and Top Secret Drum Corp from Switzerland.
To see one person doing this is worthy of applause and respect...but to see the choreography involved when two whole troops are performing is awe inspiring.
Best drummers in world, bar none. Seen them several times, sadly not live but if they fail to impress you, well, you have little respect for extremely hard working military musicians.
I have had the honour of seeing them live at Edinburgh Tattoo at the castle and back at the barracks during rehearsal. Amazing bunch of drummers, dedication, what you see in the displays is what you get in rehearsal. Lovely people and friendly to everyone who chats to them
Saw both of these groups live at Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2017, unbelievably good. It's crazy to think about the effort it takes to make it look so effortless, & they didn't even break out the pyro-drumsticks in this clip
You were there in 2017? I was going to say I saw them every day for a month at the tattoo as we were a group doing the Redcoat and Jacobite thing with the royal highland musicians. Absolute amazing time there.
You are making me smile this morning I love your comments about how all together they are and how serious they are while all the time forgetting they are our elite fighting corps. Full time marines.
I was a drummer in high school, and we had a decent drum line. I went into the Air Force drum corp, and we were pretty good. Neither one even comes close to where these guys are. This was so impressive.
I'm a drummer and started in the school band at age 12. From being in a pop band to touring with a jazz band at the Hollyday Inn. I have now retired. This is absolutely amazing!
They are from my hometown Basel in Switzerland. We saw them regularly in their early years. They all derive from drum groups from the Basler Fasnacht, a famous 3-day carnival in Feb/March. Everyone has a job, this is "just" their hobby!!! I played handbal with one of the drummers and one of the banner holders (not in this video). When they blew up, nobody could believe that this was even possible, such skills.
Watched this a few years ago....like everyone else, it blew my mind. a military drum corps of the RM standard and a civilian drum corps of extreme top standard coming together with a mind blowing performance. The practice, the rehearsals and the players getting to know each others playing, strokes, rythym etc. The work that went into that performance, nothing less than commitment to the Nth degree.
@@WW-wf8tu Basel Tattoo is such an awesome experience imo. It came such a long way from back in 2006 and is the second biggest event like this world wide by now
I read an article about this drum corp. This is not their only profession. A number of them are blue collar workers who hold down 9-5 jobs. They love doing this so they audition and if chosen, it almost becomes a second job. They take a lot of time practicing and it doesn't leave much time for family life. These guys are the true drum corp.
The blue collar, working etc maybe true regarding the top-secret dramas from Switzerland, but the performers in the non-bloomed headgear are actually military personnel in the Royal Marines. They are, and have been for many years, renowned as one of the best military bands in the world, when a wider variety of instruments is combined with the drum corps. Royal Marines are not technically soldiers, and their bandsman or musicians are selected on the merit as musicians that can actually play several instruments. The role of the musician may not be for an instrument that they have had a previous proficiency in. Sometimes they have to learn a brand-new instrument for them to become part of one of the Royal Marine Bands.
I've watched this so many times and it always brings tears to my eyes...it's so perfect. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all put that much effort into all we do☺️
The secret drums corps are based in Basel, Switzerland where an yearly traditional festival called Basler Fasnacht is held. The band was Formed in 1991 and didn't get world wise attention until 2003. During the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Military Show). They are the first drums band with non-military origin allowed to play in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and have made several invited appearances with new routines.
The concert was at the Royal Albert Hall in London. I was at that one when the TS Drum Corp played. The Band of the Royal Marines hold this concert every year with different themes. It was an amazing night and raised an awful lot of money for charity. 😊
this is probably the best military and best civilian drum teams there is and to see them together is a treat i have seen them both separately at the The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
@@johnoxley1946no, they are a civilian drum corps, a very quick Google search will confirm this for you. Top Secret's members include highly dedicated drummers with diverse day jobs: bankers, civil servants, factory workers, college students, and others. They give up their leisure time to practice nearly every day of the year. Due to the demanding nature of the work, its membership changes frequently.
@@johnoxley1946 The Top Secret Drum Corps is not actually a military unit. They are a professional drum corps based in Basel, Switzerland. Although they perform at military tattoos and wear 18th-century uniforms, they are not affiliated with any military organization. They are highly dedicated drummers with diverse day jobs: bankers, civil servants, factory workers, college students, and others. They give up their leisure time to practice nearly every day of the year. Due to the demanding nature of the work, its membership changes frequently.
@@claymore2of9 If you're correct, and I say IF, why is it that whenever they perform at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo they are ALWAYs described as being members of teh Swiss military AND the reason for the frequent changes is due to an age restriction (maxmuum age) of 19 applied by the drum corp management. Surely the Military tattoo organisers wouldn't be getting this informationn wrong every time they perform
@@johnoxley1946 No clue what those guys at the EMT are describing them as, but they're all private with no direct affiliation to the Swiss Military. If you're that curious about it, and I say IF, then just read their own website where they describe their way from being a carnival-drumband to wanting to do more than just carnival. Or their Wikipedia. I quote: "With its invitation to Edinburgh, Top Secret became one of the first non-military, non-British Commonwealth acts to perform on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle. "
Top Secret has a routine where they turn into a dance fight. That's pretty cool to see. I've played with the British Royal Marine Bands before (over 30 years ago), both here in the States and in Great Britain. Their drum line is still an impressive group, and that should count for a lot coming from an old US Marine.
@@williamt.little1972 You do know that in this video Top Secret (the Swiss drummers) are playing with drummers from the British Royal Marines, don't you?
@@williamt.little1972 ...and this was one of the times we got to play with the Royal Marines. Note the emblem of the Royal Marines is represented here when they join Top Secret, and the uniforms haven't changed too much since the '90s. ua-cam.com/video/fb_pjy-GDHM/v-deo.html
These guys are freaking amazing. Stunning stick work, rhythms are so different, I'm amazed at the versatility of the drum. I get such emotion from this. Awesome, thank you...😃🥹
I always love when two different tones match up with each other. Two different electric guitars can sound so good together, and drums are no different. Two different snare lines are really interesting when combined.
I haven't seen the Swiss guys live but I've seen the Band of the Royal Marines Drum Corps (by the way, in the UK we pronounce this as 'core') many times. I love love LOVE them. I've also seen some of their youngsters practising. This clip you reacted to is one of my all-time favourites and it never fails to make my jaw drop to the floor or tears come to my eyes.. The amount of work and discipline needed to get to this level is unbelievable. I love the contrast between not only the two very different styles here, but also the drums themselves (the Royal Marines have snare drums). And I love the way they each learned a bit of each others' style! I'm so glad I saw this again - thank you. :)
Wow this is excellent precision drumming and a skilled team effort! You should check out some of their marching videos, they are on another level. So much respect for the amount of discipline and hours of practice they put in. I was in the Cary High School Marching band and we won the state championship in my Junior year. Go Imps! Several years before our school had also previously won the National Championship in Myrtle Beach in 1973. In my senior year at ( Pine Forest High ), I played with mallets on a quad set of tenor drums. I remember one parade we marched in Raleigh we played so hard and marched so long that I got blood blisters on my fingers but kept right on playing. I took one for the team that day LOL😵💫 I remember every summer practicing in the parking lot, in the middle of summer, in the blistering heat, for HOURS! 😰 Practicing the same marching patterns again and again and again. 🥵😪 I was in the marching band, concert band, and stage band and used to go to the music room during study hall....I was always in the band room....best place in high school to be!!!!! Oh!, did I mention we practiced every year on the football field for months...... with the drill team! 😍🤪 We also went on many bus trips...... with the drill team 😉....... who were by far the hottest girls in our school!😍🤪Just Sayin Facts It was some of the best times of my life, and I loved every minute of it😀 If you are a student and want to learn to play an instrument I highly recommend you join the music program at your school. Go Imps! and Trojans!
I´ve played in a marching band, and like every marching band that have some honor, we had a few tricks. Playing on each others drums and knocking our sticks together sometimes happened in the middle marches. But THIS level is insane. We where ok, but these guys... again, insane. It takes tons of practice to get synchronized, and even more tons of practice to get to this level. More fun was when I played in a marching samba band. Yes, synchronizing is important there too, but there is much more "wiggle room". Also, there is no one that stops a marching samba band. We went into festivals where you where supposed to pay, but we where never stopped. The guards just laughed and let us through. I still get goose bumps when I think of that. Check out "Aainjaa" and "Batucada" and you´ll get what I mean.
Even more amazing is the Royal Marines are all serving soldiers who see active duty and have to be able to play 3 different instruments to be considered for the drum core.
It always sends shivers down the old spine when I see this especially the two drum corps combine, you never want it to stop but you know what they say, always leave them wanting more.
That was the biz. I used to play a drum in an army cadet band, and military style drumming doesn't get any better than this. Terrific performance! I was regular army, but I have always felt that army bands couldn't touch the Royal Marines. By the way, corps is pronounced coor, not corpse.
I also played in army cadet corps of drums. I would give anything to see these either of sets of drummers play. And twice as much for 1 lesson from any of the snare players.
We saw them at the tattoo in Edinburgh 5 years ago. My son, who is a drummer, knew them, was so excited to see them that he could hardly sit still and we were all blown away with their field performance. A must see
Have seen the Royal Marines at a evening function by husbands Regiment. They got a standing ovation for 30+ mins highlight of their show a neon stick being passed along back and forth it was mesmerising
I knew this vid and seen many others of them... they are simply like a swiss watch/clockwork... perfectly on time and in sync... ...and fun fact, they are the only civilian drumline performing on a military tattoo as regular part of the lineup
Phenomenal live, the timing, the showmanship plus they’re having so much fun with it Also the sound live, you need over ear headphones, you feel it in your chest when you’re there
I see a few others have already recommended that you watch some of the videos from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and I will too. My former Son-in-law participated as a member of U.S. Navy band many years ago so I watched it when they posted it to UA-cam. I was blown away.
The Top Secret Drum Corp are NOT a military drum corp but they are all ridiculously precise at this. You need to check out the Edinburgh Tattoo routine they did. They had more room to move around so it looks even more spectacular. They were also the First Non-Military team to perform at the Tattoo.
Not fully true, i played at the edinburgh tattoo in 2011 and there were several civilian musicians active at that one not under their own banner but added to a military band.
@@MoolahMastermind tbh i can respect the skill level and the effort in this all but purely looking at it from a creative perspective it isnt all that great at all. they follow what the real great ones did and they are good at it 100% but comparing them to the bands who created this style they are still way off.
@@jan-pieter3695 As an art form it is still good to see that these skill are being passed on and being appreciated by others regardless of whether they are military or civillian. How an individual perceives a skill level can be subject to personal preference. I see this as still being a high level of skill that is simply taken from a different perspective other than the traditional military one.
@@simonatkinson1107 there are several military styles, each era and each nation has its own style. The american style is heavily influenced by the US marching band style of music making so a non military style. Therefor you have far less rules and freedom, the entertainment value of it all is also far greater then any other i seen in my days. You could state that the american style is far more centered around show and entertainment. Not using the freedom inside that style i feel that as a limitation without any reason. If you look at the other military music styles it is far more formal, it has been used and kept the same in some cases for tens or even hundreds a years. So to keep that tradition alive when the style itselve is very new and the gap between the movement patterns of the military themselves and how the musicians apply it in their performance is also very big. At least bigger then in any other comparable military style of music making. So No skill is not totally personal preference in terms of military style since it is bound by strict rules, not completly but for the biggest part it is are you doing it wrong or right. In the US military style it is far more open and less centered around tradition. It is closer to a cilivian style of marching then any other military style so that is why i am raising the question why not use that freedom for variation to increase the entertainment value. Why aways do the same trick over and over and over, once again i respect the effert and skill but the creative is lacking big time.
I am glad you are discovering these talented drummers. Buddy Rich, now this. You are getting some unreal examples I knew about already. Inspirational is barely adequate to describe what you have witnessed here. Do more searches for Top Secret Drum Corps. This is only 1 small exampled performance. They do this thing out in a field with a light show and .. it just goes on and on. Watching them practice with other groups, etc. Can literally sit here for hours with your jaw dropped by the sheer incredible talents that are before you. Blows me away every time. I crank up the speakers so loud, it sometimes shuts my surround sound system down. lol Then I go hit the kit. It is super. Look up, Ultimate Drummers Weekend 10. And 2000 Drummers on the Beach. It is not related to Top Secret Drum Corp, but you will find those performances very interesting as well.
I've been a sucker for a march for as long as I can remember, from the first time I heard one. I became a fan of DCI in high-school, though sadly at that time I was stuck playing trombone, and Top Secret when I found them I think not too many years later... and lo these many years later I'm still trying to pick up the snare skills of a high-school drummer. To say this performance is incredible would be the understatement of the decade.
Yes I have seen the Top Secret Drum Corp in their home town of Basel Switzerland. They have a festival in Basel called Fastnacht in March for 3-4 days well worth a visit, if you can get a hotel room it is very difficult but an amazing to see each area of the city has it's own Drum Corp and they play at dawn and then party for 3 days
I saw these guys in Edinburgh in 2006 and had enjoyed all other performers up until the Top Secret Drum Corp came along and blew everything away. It was truly amazing to hear them and also see the since they then had some space for choreography as well.
I will say, these two corps are the best of the best. Royal Marine marching band are just the best, top secret drumming corps are the close 2nd. You are witnessing masters at work. Great video
Also remember, the Royal Marines are soldiers first, musicians second. They are a fighting force who have served just recently in Afghanistan. Some years ago, an IRA bomb blew up and quite a few Marines were killed in the explosion. Some time later, the Royal Marine marching band came out to play, and there were some missing places where the killed Marines should have been. Very poignant
The Royal Marines Band are not Royal Marines Commandos, they are stretcher bearers in times of war, they are not front line active soldiers. They have not done 32 weeks of military training, they are not Commandos. Do not confuse
@@thomasgarwell8214 the fact that they are called MARINES should tell you something. They actually come under the RN and many are Royal Marine Commandos.
I saw the mass band of the Royal marines perform beating the retreat which was absolutely awesome, with the same drum corps performing many of the routines shown in the video. Being a friend of a Royal Marine bandy, as the are known, I know it takes discipline and practice over many months to attain that level of perfection.
Probably one of the most amazing drum routines you could wish to witness. Great collaboration between the Royal Marines and the Top Secret Swiss drum corp.
I'm about to see the Swiss Top Secret Drum Corps live for the first time this weekend. I can't wait. They are playing at a public military event on a Swiss Army base.
Watched the royal marine band play at horse guards parade three weeks ago ..it was amazing the drummers and the rest were the best …they played beating the retreat with sunset ..just incredible
Correct. Due to its Basel carnival there are 10‘000 drummers in our city. Beside our traditional kind of drumming, some are specialising in american style drumming and piping, scottish pipes& drum, or show drumming like Top,Secret drum corps. But we are all amateurs. We start drumming at the age of 6 or 7 years.
Watching the Top Secret Drum Corp at some of the televised Drum and Bugle Corp competitions is really something else. Look up these Drum Corps: Blue Devils, Blue Knights, The Cavaliers, Crossmen, Madison Scouts, Phantom Regiment.
May i suggest that you look this up on youtube and watch it, >>> "2013 Cadets drumline" (the one in the lot warming up before show time), and then come back and we'll chat. :o) As a matter of fact, i'm going to go watch it right now, and i've seen it, a LOT!
as a self taught, average, garage band rock/metal drummer, many years ago I got to tour for 2 months with the Boston Crusaders (DCI) as one of the drivers in the caravan from state to state (about 12k miles in 1.5 mo) it was so cool to see what regimented training can produce compared to just hackin around by myself. waking up every day to rudiments in the air was like being a fat kid at a cake bakers camp...
Back in 2005 in the Royal Danish Guards, we draw inspiration from these guys when starting our own Drum Corps, and the riffle drills was modelled from the USMC. It was amazing to be part of. Now, several years later, I've attended several performances mostly through Military Tattoos around the world.
Have yourself a look at any video comprising of the "Massed" Bands of The Royal Marine, Corey. You won't be disappointed as they lead the full band. Walking down the Mall, or the Birdcage ones would likely be best ones for you to see it better . . . (anything between say 10-25 mins) - as I doubt you'd have the time to watch them doing their thing on Trooping The Colour, as it might be a bit too long for you . . . Enjoy . . . !!!
I’m a California native and a big fan of the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. I love watching the recording of the Devils’ battery and Top Secret together.
2:07 Good, I wowing the same time you did. I have seen them only on UA-cam, they ARE AMAZING!! I still love Drum & Bugle Corps, but if I hear these guys I definitely stop and watch. Plus they have flags! from Ohio🇺🇸
There is something so primitive and primal about drum rhythm. I played in the band during most of my formative years in school, but never played percussion. The beat is what drives the music, so good drummers and percussionists were essential. It's been said that man's first instruments were his voice, his hands, and the beating of sticks on rocks and logs. It brings out the raw emotions in all of us.
Top Secret is a formation exclusiveky of civilians. They usually are recruited from my hometown Basle carneval groups and do their prctice after daily work.
The first time I saw them was on youtube and here in Quebec we had a tatoo and I contacted the organisers to ask them to put them in their tatoo and that's what they did and it was a real pleasure to see them in person at the tatoo, wow what a show, bravo, bravo TOP SECRET
I've seen them and at first I thought it would be so boring that I even brought a PSP with me... First 2 minutes were enough that I got goosebumps... No need to say more ❤
My nephew is one of the marine drummers in this video brilliant 👍🏻
When you march behind The Bands of HM Royal Marines it makes you feel 20ft tall and extremely proud.
I'm 70yrs old now and I will say it was an honour to have marched behind these guy's.
Yup, I I've been there! As a veteran of the Royal Navy, I can tell you, nothing makes you as proud as marching behind a Royal Marines Band.
They are Swiss
At start the Swiss then our Royal Marines corps
@@SarahLees-lp3stSwiss and Royal Marines
Royal Marine drummers are in a league of their own.
I was in the audience at the Royal Albert Hall when this occurred for the first time. There was a very knowledgeable crowd, with many being former service men or families, so when the two sets of drummers merged the appreciation and anticipation was immediately apparent in the roar from the crowd. I can remember how the hairs on the back of my neck stood up!!
Top Secret Drum Corps and the Royal Marines, two of the best drum lines in the world. They’re amazing on their own, stunning to see them together.
Do you know what country are the Top Secret Drum Corp from ??
@@norb0254 Switzerland
@@norb0254 Switzerland I believe, which is a neutral country so their band isn’t military. It’s purely for entertainment purposes and because the Royal Marines are, the drum training is for military purposes only. Drums were used to give signals and orders to the troops on the battlefield well before technology was available. You’ve heard of ‘Beating the Retreat’ for instance?
@@dee2251
Except Switzerland has a large armed services with mandatory conscription, they number about 200,000 of which 80,000 are in the reserve forces, with their military being ranked 44 / 145. How do you think neutral countries remain neutral in times of conflict? For example, Hey mr Hitler we’re neutral wouldn’t cut it, hey mr Hitler we’re neutral and have a huge well trained army do you want a bloody nose does!
Oh, to lend this some weight, Sweden is neutral and has a large well trained army too! 🤷♂️
Perhaps you’d like to re-think your “just for entertainment comment!” 🙄
Switzerland@@norb0254
I live in the town where 11 Royal Marines bandsmen were killed by an IRA bomb in 1989. Every year they hold a memorial concert in the town and when the corps of drums march in it always makes me cry 😢
This is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen!
Is that the same bomb that killed cavalry horses??
@@thedarkwench no there were no horses
@@thedarkwenchthat was Hyde Park.
@@thedarkwenchNo the IRA have murdered many animals , men, women and children.
Me too I live in Mill Road. My wife was working as a nurse in Deal hostpital that day. I was at home working outside and heard the explosion.
Amazing to see the coordination between two different drum corps from two different countries playing together. Royal Marines Corps of Drums from the UK and Top Secret Drum Corp from Switzerland.
To see one person doing this is worthy of applause and respect...but to see the choreography involved when two whole troops are performing is awe inspiring.
I saw them at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland a few years ago absolutely brilliant seeing them live.
🤘🏻👌🏻
@@ColbyFultonDrums 2015. The Tattoo. Rain hammered down the whole show. These guys never missed a beat. Superb.
Watching them at the Military Tattoo is a must see, because they do their performance while marching. The choreography is top notch…
I’ve seen them a couple of times at the Edinburgh Military Tatoo, and they are truly amazing
Best drummers in world, bar none. Seen them several times, sadly not live but if they fail to impress you, well, you have little respect for extremely hard working military musicians.
I have had the honour of seeing them live at Edinburgh Tattoo at the castle and back at the barracks during rehearsal. Amazing bunch of drummers, dedication, what you see in the displays is what you get in rehearsal. Lovely people and friendly to everyone who chats to them
Saw both of these groups live at Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2017, unbelievably good. It's crazy to think about the effort it takes to make it look so effortless, & they didn't even break out the pyro-drumsticks in this clip
You were there in 2017? I was going to say I saw them every day for a month at the tattoo as we were a group doing the Redcoat and Jacobite thing with the royal highland musicians. Absolute amazing time there.
Peter are these not the Swiss army drummers that were at the tattoo in 2017
You are making me smile this morning I love your comments about how all together they are and how serious they are while all the time forgetting they are our elite fighting corps. Full time marines.
I was a drummer in high school, and we had a decent drum line. I went into the Air Force drum corp, and we were pretty good. Neither one even comes close to where these guys are. This was so impressive.
Guys AND gals....notice that not all the drummers were not men? 🙂
@@martinbynion1589I didn't, thanks for pointing it out. I'm usually focused on the sticks.
They have their beats……ONLOCK!
@@davep8221 i think 99% of people where focused on the sticks and not the sex of the drummers ,weird thing to bring up in my opinion
@@martinbynion1589"not all the drummers were not men" 😂 so all the drummers were men then? 🤨 that's a double negative.
I'm a drummer and started in the school band at age 12. From being in a pop band to touring with a jazz band at the Hollyday Inn. I have now retired. This is absolutely amazing!
They are from my hometown Basel in Switzerland. We saw them regularly in their early years. They all derive from drum groups from the Basler Fasnacht, a famous 3-day carnival in Feb/March. Everyone has a job, this is "just" their hobby!!! I played handbal with one of the drummers and one of the banner holders (not in this video). When they blew up, nobody could believe that this was even possible, such skills.
They are amazing, I just love them 😄❤
Watched this a few years ago....like everyone else, it blew my mind. a military drum corps of the RM standard and a civilian drum corps of extreme top standard coming together with a mind blowing performance. The practice, the rehearsals and the players getting to know each others playing, strokes, rythym etc. The work that went into that performance, nothing less than commitment to the Nth degree.
I’ve seen both of the formations live multiple times during Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in the UK and Basel Tattoo in Switzerland
That's the 1 I was trying to remember to tell him about. 1st time I watched them was in Basel. Thanks!
@@WW-wf8tu Basel Tattoo is such an awesome experience imo. It came such a long way from back in 2006 and is the second biggest event like this world wide by now
I read an article about this drum corp. This is not their only profession. A number of them are blue collar workers who hold down 9-5 jobs. They love doing this so they audition and if chosen, it almost becomes a second job. They take a lot of time practicing and it doesn't leave much time for family life. These guys are the true drum corp.
The blue collar, working etc maybe true regarding the top-secret dramas from Switzerland, but the performers in the non-bloomed headgear are actually military personnel in the Royal Marines.
They are, and have been for many years, renowned as one of the best military bands in the world, when a wider variety of instruments is combined with the drum corps.
Royal Marines are not technically soldiers, and their bandsman or musicians are selected on the merit as musicians that can actually play several instruments. The role of the musician may not be for an instrument that they have had a previous proficiency in. Sometimes they have to learn a brand-new instrument for them to become part of one of the Royal Marine Bands.
The marines are serving military. They're both astounding really.
Now this is something I've not seen before, think their just may be a new series of drum line stuff I start binge watching
I've watched this so many times and it always brings tears to my eyes...it's so perfect. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all put that much effort into all we do☺️
The secret drums corps are based in Basel, Switzerland where an yearly traditional festival called Basler Fasnacht is held. The band was Formed in 1991 and didn't get world wise attention until 2003. During the Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Military Show).
They are the first drums band with non-military origin allowed to play in the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and have made several invited appearances with new routines.
The concert was at the Royal Albert Hall in London. I was at that one when the TS Drum Corp played. The Band of the Royal Marines hold this concert every year with different themes. It was an amazing night and raised an awful lot of money for charity. 😊
🔥🤘🏻
Corps. A Corp is a corporation.
this is probably the best military and best civilian drum teams there is and to see them together is a treat i have seen them both separately at the The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Top Secret Drum Corp are not civilian, they are Swiss military, and the BEST drum corp in the world.
@@johnoxley1946no, they are a civilian drum corps, a very quick Google search will confirm this for you.
Top Secret's members include highly dedicated drummers with diverse day jobs: bankers, civil servants, factory workers, college students, and others. They give up their leisure time to practice nearly every day of the year. Due to the demanding nature of the work, its membership changes frequently.
@@johnoxley1946 The Top Secret Drum Corps is not actually a military unit. They are a professional drum corps based in Basel, Switzerland. Although they perform at military tattoos and wear 18th-century uniforms, they are not affiliated with any military organization.
They are highly dedicated drummers with diverse day jobs: bankers, civil servants, factory workers, college students, and others. They give up their leisure time to practice nearly every day of the year. Due to the demanding nature of the work, its membership changes frequently.
@@claymore2of9 If you're correct, and I say IF, why is it that whenever they perform at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo they are ALWAYs described as being members of teh Swiss military AND the reason for the frequent changes is due to an age restriction (maxmuum age) of 19 applied by the drum corp management. Surely the Military tattoo organisers wouldn't be getting this informationn wrong every time they perform
@@johnoxley1946 No clue what those guys at the EMT are describing them as, but they're all private with no direct affiliation to the Swiss Military.
If you're that curious about it, and I say IF, then just read their own website where they describe their way from being a carnival-drumband to wanting to do more than just carnival. Or their Wikipedia. I quote: "With its invitation to Edinburgh, Top Secret became one of the first non-military, non-British Commonwealth acts to perform on the Esplanade at Edinburgh Castle. "
Top Secret has a routine where they turn into a dance fight. That's pretty cool to see.
I've played with the British Royal Marine Bands before (over 30 years ago), both here in the States and in Great Britain. Their drum line is still an impressive group, and that should count for a lot coming from an old US Marine.
I believe currently the Royal Marine Bands have an open invitation to the Top Secret Drum Corps to play together any time.
Very impressive drum line. But those are Swiss drummers - not Royal Marines.
@@williamt.little1972 You do know that in this video Top Secret (the Swiss drummers) are playing with drummers from the British Royal Marines, don't you?
@@williamt.little1972 ...and this was one of the times we got to play with the Royal Marines. Note the emblem of the Royal Marines is represented here when they join Top Secret, and the uniforms haven't changed too much since the '90s.
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@@williamt.little1972it’s both look at their emblem
These guys are freaking amazing. Stunning stick work, rhythms are so different, I'm amazed at the versatility of the drum. I get such emotion from this. Awesome, thank you...😃🥹
One of the best drum line challenges ever. The styles are different but their mastery is shared.
I always love when two different tones match up with each other. Two different electric guitars can sound so good together, and drums are no different. Two different snare lines are really interesting when combined.
Played drums for 50 years now. This was damn impressive! Well done gents!
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to say I was mesmerised from start to finish...
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I haven't seen the Swiss guys live but I've seen the Band of the Royal Marines Drum Corps (by the way, in the UK we pronounce this as 'core') many times. I love love LOVE them. I've also seen some of their youngsters practising. This clip you reacted to is one of my all-time favourites and it never fails to make my jaw drop to the floor or tears come to my eyes.. The amount of work and discipline needed to get to this level is unbelievable. I love the contrast between not only the two very different styles here, but also the drums themselves (the Royal Marines have snare drums). And I love the way they each learned a bit of each others' style! I'm so glad I saw this again - thank you. :)
Wow this is excellent precision drumming and a skilled team effort! You should check out some of their marching videos, they are on another level. So much respect for the amount of discipline and hours of practice they put in.
I was in the Cary High School Marching band and we won the state championship in my Junior year. Go Imps! Several years before our school had also previously won the National Championship in Myrtle Beach in 1973. In my senior year at ( Pine Forest High ), I played with mallets on a quad set of tenor drums. I remember one parade we marched in Raleigh we played so hard and marched so long that I got blood blisters on my fingers but kept right on playing. I took one for the team that day LOL😵💫
I remember every summer practicing in the parking lot, in the middle of summer, in the blistering heat, for HOURS! 😰 Practicing the same marching patterns again and again and again. 🥵😪 I was in the marching band, concert band, and stage band and used to go to the music room during study hall....I was always in the band room....best place in high school to be!!!!!
Oh!, did I mention we practiced every year on the football field for months...... with the drill team! 😍🤪 We also went on many bus trips...... with the drill team 😉....... who were by far the hottest girls in our school!😍🤪Just Sayin Facts It was some of the best times of my life, and I loved every minute of it😀 If you are a student and want to learn to play an instrument I highly recommend you join the music program at your school. Go Imps! and Trojans!
I was in the uk military ,not a bandy ,the bands have plenty of time to practise
This is the beat of freedom. No one can deny what our military men women who have given so much for all of us. We love the marines!
Seen these guys at the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh a while back. They were incredible!
Me too, Edinburgh castle makes the Tower of London look like a garden shed!🏴
I´ve played in a marching band, and like every marching band that have some honor, we had a few tricks. Playing on each others drums and knocking our sticks together sometimes happened in the middle marches. But THIS level is insane. We where ok, but these guys... again, insane. It takes tons of practice to get synchronized, and even more tons of practice to get to this level.
More fun was when I played in a marching samba band. Yes, synchronizing is important there too, but there is much more "wiggle room". Also, there is no one that stops a marching samba band. We went into festivals where you where supposed to pay, but we where never stopped. The guards just laughed and let us through. I still get goose bumps when I think of that.
Check out "Aainjaa" and "Batucada" and you´ll get what I mean.
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Most amazing thing is the swiz drum corp all work day jobs,this is their spare time
Even more amazing is the Royal
Marines are all serving soldiers who see active duty and have to be able to play 3 different instruments to be considered for the drum core.
Royal Marine fight in the sea,land and anywhere you don't want too be!
These guys practice ON their day off. That's COOL 😎.
@@dee2251the Royal Marines band are not royal marine commandos which is what the general public think of when they hear “Royal Marines “
You would be serious too if you were judged on your sticking as a line.
They are insanely good too.
Top secret drum corps are one of my favourites. I love them. They're so professional and professionally rhythmed.
It always sends shivers down the old spine when I see this especially the two drum corps combine, you never want it to stop but you know what they say, always leave them wanting more.
Percussion has always been my "thing" i could listen to this for hours. Absolutely amazing!
That was the biz. I used to play a drum in an army cadet band, and military style drumming doesn't get any better than this. Terrific performance! I was regular army, but I have always felt that army bands couldn't touch the Royal Marines. By the way, corps is pronounced coor, not corpse.
I also played in army cadet corps of drums.
I would give anything to see these either of sets of drummers play. And twice as much for 1 lesson from any of the snare players.
We saw them at the tattoo in Edinburgh 5 years ago. My son, who is a drummer, knew them, was so excited to see them that he could hardly sit still and we were all blown away with their field performance. A must see
Ditto saw them at the tattoo 2018. They were incredible
100% convinced that Tattoo is the best festival to be at in Scotland, bar none. The atmosphere is electric.
the eye hand coordination and timing is so fine tuned it's impressive
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Have seen the Royal Marines at a evening function by husbands Regiment. They got a standing ovation for 30+ mins highlight of their show a neon stick being passed along back and forth it was mesmerising
I knew this vid and seen many others of them... they are simply like a swiss watch/clockwork... perfectly on time and in sync...
...and fun fact, they are the only civilian drumline performing on a military tattoo as regular part of the lineup
Phenomenal live, the timing, the showmanship plus they’re having so much fun with it
Also the sound live, you need over ear headphones, you feel it in your chest when you’re there
Really surprised you are only seeing these guys for the first time now. Legendary drummers. You need to go see them perform
I see a few others have already recommended that you watch some of the videos from the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and I will too.
My former Son-in-law participated as a member of U.S. Navy band many years ago so I watched it when they posted it to UA-cam. I was blown away.
The Top Secret Drum Corp are NOT a military drum corp but they are all ridiculously precise at this. You need to check out the Edinburgh Tattoo routine they did. They had more room to move around so it looks even more spectacular. They were also the First Non-Military team to perform at the Tattoo.
Not fully true, i played at the edinburgh tattoo in 2011 and there were several civilian musicians active at that one not under their own banner but added to a military band.
And the fact they can integrate so seemlesly with the Royal Marines shows how great both bands are
@@MoolahMastermind tbh i can respect the skill level and the effort in this all but purely looking at it from a creative perspective it isnt all that great at all. they follow what the real great ones did and they are good at it 100% but comparing them to the bands who created this style they are still way off.
@@jan-pieter3695 As an art form it is still good to see that these skill are being passed on and being appreciated by others regardless of whether they are military or civillian. How an individual perceives a skill level can be subject to personal preference. I see this as still being a high level of skill that is simply taken from a different perspective other than the traditional military one.
@@simonatkinson1107 there are several military styles, each era and each nation has its own style. The american style is heavily influenced by the US marching band style of music making so a non military style. Therefor you have far less rules and freedom, the entertainment value of it all is also far greater then any other i seen in my days. You could state that the american style is far more centered around show and entertainment. Not using the freedom inside that style i feel that as a limitation without any reason.
If you look at the other military music styles it is far more formal, it has been used and kept the same in some cases for tens or even hundreds a years.
So to keep that tradition alive when the style itselve is very new and the gap between the movement patterns of the military themselves and how the musicians apply it in their performance is also very big. At least bigger then in any other comparable military style of music making.
So No skill is not totally personal preference in terms of military style since it is bound by strict rules, not completly but for the biggest part it is are you doing it wrong or right. In the US military style it is far more open and less centered around tradition. It is closer to a cilivian style of marching then any other military style so that is why i am raising the question why not use that freedom for variation to increase the entertainment value. Why aways do the same trick over and over and over, once again i respect the effert and skill but the creative is lacking big time.
Blows my mind, every time. Was lucky enough to see them live once. This doesn’t even show them moving around! Just spectacular
I am glad you are discovering these talented drummers. Buddy Rich, now this. You are getting some unreal examples I knew about already. Inspirational is barely adequate to describe what you have witnessed here. Do more searches for Top Secret Drum Corps. This is only 1 small exampled performance. They do this thing out in a field with a light show and .. it just goes on and on. Watching them practice with other groups, etc. Can literally sit here for hours with your jaw dropped by the sheer incredible talents that are before you. Blows me away every time. I crank up the speakers so loud, it sometimes shuts my surround sound system down. lol Then I go hit the kit. It is super. Look up, Ultimate Drummers Weekend 10. And 2000 Drummers on the Beach. It is not related to Top Secret Drum Corp, but you will find those performances very interesting as well.
Amazing those top secret drum guys are something else those tribal beats are awesome
I saw them a few years ago back home in Scotland when they were at the Edinburgh military tattoo ! Only one word needed - Awesome !!!!
🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
I was in the ROYAL NAVY and have had the privilege to see both these drum lines many times. Totally awesome guys.
I've been a sucker for a march for as long as I can remember, from the first time I heard one. I became a fan of DCI in high-school, though sadly at that time I was stuck playing trombone, and Top Secret when I found them I think not too many years later... and lo these many years later I'm still trying to pick up the snare skills of a high-school drummer.
To say this performance is incredible would be the understatement of the decade.
The skill of the royal marines and the Swiss drum corps work well together amazing.
I was in a small D&B corp in the early seventies in Ohio and there were and is, some amazing corps there. California has some great ones also.
Yes I have seen the Top Secret Drum Corp in their home town of Basel Switzerland. They have a festival in Basel called Fastnacht in March for 3-4 days well worth a visit, if you can get a hotel room it is very difficult but an amazing to see each area of the city has it's own Drum Corp and they play at dawn and then party for 3 days
I LOVE watching Top Secret. Would love even more to see them live! 😊
I saw these guys in Edinburgh in 2006 and had enjoyed all other performers up until the Top Secret Drum Corp came along and blew everything away. It was truly amazing to hear them and also see the since they then had some space for choreography as well.
I will say, these two corps are the best of the best. Royal Marine marching band are just the best, top secret drumming corps are the close 2nd. You are witnessing masters at work. Great video
Also remember, the Royal Marines are soldiers first, musicians second. They are a fighting force who have served just recently in Afghanistan. Some years ago, an IRA bomb blew up and quite a few Marines were killed in the explosion. Some time later, the Royal Marine marching band came out to play, and there were some missing places where the killed Marines should have been. Very poignant
They are Royal Marines first, they get a bit miffed if they're called "soldiers"! 😂😂😂
@@markmaher4548 Just calling them that as they shoot guns🤣. They are not sailors, but I do get your drift Mark🤣
The Royal Marines Band are not Royal Marines Commandos, they are stretcher bearers in times of war, they are not front line active soldiers. They have not done 32 weeks of military training, they are not Commandos. Do not confuse
So proud of our wonderful armed forces, whether it be at the Tattoo or on the battlefield ❤🙏
@@thomasgarwell8214 the fact that they are called MARINES should tell you something. They actually come under the RN and many are Royal Marine Commandos.
I saw the mass band of the Royal marines perform beating the retreat which was absolutely awesome, with the same drum corps performing many of the routines shown in the video. Being a friend of a Royal Marine bandy, as the are known, I know it takes discipline and practice over many months to attain that level of perfection.
The Royal marines are the best soldiers in the world, so proud of them
I live in Plymouth and I hear them practicing when I walk past the citadel it is wonderful
Probably one of the most amazing drum routines you could wish to witness. Great collaboration between the Royal Marines and the Top Secret Swiss drum corp.
I'm about to see the Swiss Top Secret Drum Corps live for the first time this weekend. I can't wait. They are playing at a public military event on a Swiss Army base.
You will just love them. I saw them at the Edinburgh Tattoo in the 90's and they just blew me away! Awesome! Enjoy, I know you will.
Those guys are Just insalely good drummers👌🙈 imagine all the practice🙏
I'm a former Royal marines commando 18 years service I've seen our drummers a few times they never disappoint
at 6:00 when TSDC steps back during the performance to give room for this robot arm thing is amazing
I’ve seen them live twice at the Edinburgh Tattoo, they are so very good, really enjoyed it.
Watched the royal marine band play at horse guards parade three weeks ago ..it was amazing the drummers and the rest were the best …they played beating the retreat with sunset ..just incredible
I’ve seen the “International Drum Tattoo” and the precision is awe inspiring. They have Drum Corps from all over the world participate.
There's a good video of that Drum Corps doing some fantastic moves in Edinburgh.... at night during the Royal Military Tattoo. Highly reccommend.
Really should do more Top Secret. They are absolutely amazing
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Check out the Edinburgh Tattoo, the Top Secret Drum Corp have appeared there many times, enjoy!
To see Top Secret in person has been on my bucket list for years and years. We live in France and their home base is next door in Switzerland 6:56 .
My favorite thing about Top Secret is that they are all volunteers. They all perform the drum corp outside their full time jobs.
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Correct. Due to its Basel carnival there are 10‘000 drummers in our city. Beside our traditional kind of drumming, some are specialising in american style drumming and piping, scottish pipes& drum, or show drumming like Top,Secret drum corps. But we are all amateurs. We start drumming at the age of 6 or 7 years.
I'm even more impressed than I already was..
Watching the Top Secret Drum Corp at some of the televised Drum and Bugle Corp competitions is really something else.
Look up these Drum Corps: Blue Devils, Blue Knights, The Cavaliers, Crossmen, Madison Scouts, Phantom Regiment.
Having been in a corps-style marching band about a million years ago, many of whose members had competed at DCI, this is what we aimed for.
USMC or Royal marines commandos im a former jolly so I'm curious
DCI and DCS Competitions were all always amazing and on their own level for sure.
I was lucky enough to have the Full Band of The Royal Marines (Plymouth Branch) play at my Passing Out Parade at HMS Raleigh back in 1998
Unbeatable drum Corps, they spend hours play together and seperatly, what a disciplin ❤
May i suggest that you look this up on youtube and watch it, >>> "2013 Cadets drumline" (the one in the lot warming up before show time), and then come back and we'll chat. :o)
As a matter of fact, i'm going to go watch it right now, and i've seen it, a LOT!
@@AJ-jy6lb This ^^^
I have seen the Top Secret drums live at the Baseltattoo in Basel (Switzerland) it was Amazing😍
Let's not forget that these chaps are also elite warriors , first and foremost Royal Marines .
Actually musicians do not deploy as fighting soldiers. Great drummers!
@@DavidBonnieBut they drink like fish
@@barbaradyson6951 Ha Ha true
this was amazing, i am scottish and i just love to hear the pipes and drums, send a shiver down my spine when i hear the bagpipes.
as a self taught, average, garage band rock/metal drummer, many years ago I got to tour for 2 months with the Boston Crusaders (DCI) as one of the drivers in the caravan from state to state (about 12k miles in 1.5 mo) it was so cool to see what regimented training can produce compared to just hackin around by myself. waking up every day to rudiments in the air was like being a fat kid at a cake bakers camp...
I played snare with the Madison Scouts in 1976 when we won DCI. Best memories ever!
How much time and dedication does that level of skill require, me thinks a lot. What a superb show.
Now that's what you call discipline!! Fantastic!!
Back in 2005 in the Royal Danish Guards, we draw inspiration from these guys when starting our own Drum Corps, and the riffle drills was modelled from the USMC. It was amazing to be part of.
Now, several years later, I've attended several performances mostly through Military Tattoos around the world.
Have yourself a look at any video comprising of the "Massed" Bands of The Royal Marine, Corey. You won't be disappointed as they lead the full band. Walking down the Mall, or the Birdcage ones would likely be best ones for you to see it better . . . (anything between say 10-25 mins) - as I doubt you'd have the time to watch them doing their thing on Trooping The Colour, as it might be a bit too long for you . . . Enjoy . . . !!!
A drum line just does it for me!! These men are great!! Amazing is the perfect word for this!!!!!!! Perfect...... So damn good!!!!
I had the enormous privilege to be part of the secret drum core for a week's performance in 2005 for a tattoo.
We saw the Secret Corps at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo last year. Amazing!
Love it !!!! 💥💥💥💥😘
Totally amazing, the amount of practice involved is beyond my
Comprehension …….
At the Edinburgh Festival. There are a few synchronised drum bands.. the best being the UK Royal Marines
You,should see them play all this and figth with the sticks amazing
I’m a California native and a big fan of the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. I love watching the recording of the Devils’ battery and Top Secret together.
2:07 Good, I wowing the same time you did. I have seen them only on UA-cam, they ARE AMAZING!! I still love Drum & Bugle Corps, but if I hear these guys I definitely stop and watch. Plus they have flags! from Ohio🇺🇸
There is something so primitive and primal about drum rhythm. I played in the band during most of my formative years in school, but never played percussion. The beat is what drives the music, so good drummers and percussionists were essential. It's been said that man's first instruments were his voice, his hands, and the beating of sticks on rocks and logs. It brings out the raw emotions in all of us.
Military and Competitive Drum Corps are great to watch - precision.
Top Secret is a formation exclusiveky of civilians. They usually are recruited from my hometown Basle carneval groups and do their prctice after daily work.
Absolutely phenomenal to watch. So in sync. Epic stuff.
The first time I saw them was on youtube and here in Quebec we had a tatoo and I contacted the organisers to ask them to put them in their tatoo and that's what they did and it was a real pleasure to see them in person at the tatoo, wow what a show, bravo, bravo TOP SECRET
I've seen them and at first I thought it would be so boring that I even brought a PSP with me... First 2 minutes were enough that I got goosebumps... No need to say more ❤