Angela Merkel bows out to the sound of Beethoven and an East German pop hit

Military band in Berlin honours departing chancellor of 16 years, who hands over to Olaf Scholz next week

The end of Angela Merkel's reign as German chancellor was marked with Beethoven, a romantic chanson and an East German pop hit, all played with clockwork precision by the Bundeswehr military band.

After 16 years in office, Angela Merkel is handing over to Olaf Scholz next week, and was awarded a military tattoo in her honour, the highest tribute to a civilian. Dressed in a simple black coat and black gloves, Europe's most powerful politician looked sombre, betraying little emotion, as she watched torch-carrying soldiers in full regalia parade through the courtyard of Berlin's defence ministry.