TheIndianmilitary bands consists of musicians from theIndian Army,Navy andAir Force. Indian military bands regularly participate in international festivals and take part in celebrations dedicated to various national events. These bands are permanent participants in theDelhi Republic Day parade on theKartavya Path. Today, theIndian Armed Forces have more than 50 military brass bands and 400pipe bands andcorps of drums. ATri-Services Band refers to a joint Indian Armed Forces military band that performs together as a unit.[1] At theSpasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo inMoscow, the band consisted of 7 officers and 55 musicians.[2] TheMilitary Music Wing of theArmy Education Corps is the principal educational institution of the armed forces that provides instruction to musicians of all ranks.[3] Instruction is also provided by the Military Music Training Center and the Indian Navy School of Music.[4]
In theIndian Army, the following commands maintain their own inspectorates for music:Eastern Command,Central Command,Northern Command,South Western Command,Southern Command, and theWestern Command. The military bands in theIndian Armed Forces consist of a mix of instruments from thewoodwind family,brass family, andpercussion family and sometimes are simply eitherbrass bands orwind bands.[5] The Indian military also has dedicatedpipe band bands that serves as independent units and are maintained by all infantry regiments.[6] Most senior military bands can be configured from amarching band to aconcert band and can also form smaller ensembles to jazz ensembles, traditional music bands, brass quintets, woodwind anddrumlines. A general military band consists of a band master and 33 musicians while a pipe band consists of a band master and 17 musicians.[7] Bandsmen in the Indian Army are soldiers first, having the primary role in battle of medical assistants.[8]
Martial music has been a part of Indian culture since the era of theMaratha Empire in the 17th century.[9] Organized military bands were brought to India by theBritish Army as military bands early as the 1700s. In 1813, within a letter to the Military Secretary of the Commander-in-chief ofFort St. George, an army Colonel urged the formation of military bands in the native regiments of theEast India Company as a means "of improving the appreciation of European music amongst the Indian population".[10] Prior to World War I each battalion-sized regiment of the Indian Army had its own military band.
There is no exact introduction year of pipe bands in the Indian military forces. When it was introduced it came into ethnicallySikh,Gorkha, andPathan regiments in the late 19th century. The first fully Sikh pipe band was established circa 1856 when the 45th Rattray Regiment was established inPunjab. Since then, Sikh Pipe bands have been a part of the Sikh Regiments that were established underBritish rule.[11]British Indian regiments with pipe bands included the Bombay Volunteer Rifles and theCalcutta Scottish.[12] The Military Music Wing came into fruition on 23 October 1950 under the patronage and supervision ofK. M. Cariappa, the thenC-in-C of the Army. In the early-mid 50s, the Indianization of formerly British military bands took place, with Harold Joseph, the then music director of the Indian Army, leading the revitalization of Indigenous tunes in the Indian military.[13][14][15][16]
TheIndian Naval Symphonic Band has been considered as one of the best military bands inAsia. It was founded in 1945. The Naval Musicians are known as unofficial ambassadors of the country. As Musician Officers they are responsible for conducting the Naval Band at ceremonies and symphonic band concerts in India and abroad.[20][21]
PresidentPratibha Patil presenting mementos to the conductor of the AWSO at the auditorium in Rashtrapati Bhavan
The No. 1 Air Force Band (also known as theIndian Air Force Band) is the primary musical unit of theIndian Air Force. The first IAF military band was formed on 10 June 1944 as the RIAF Central Band and is currently stationed inJalahalli.[22] Theconcert band unit of the IAF Band is the Air Warrior Symphony Orchestra (AWSO), formed in June 2002. The AWSO has performed at many concerts across the world in countries likeFrance,Italy,Germany,Malaysia,Singapore, andBangladesh. The AWSO consists of hand-picked musicians from various Air Force Bands.[23]
Bands often embarks on goodwill visits to different countries by means of its ship base. All navy musicians must have abachelor's degree from recognized university and can play at least one military sponsored instrument.[20]
The No.3 Air Force Band is attached to theIndian Air Force Academy, and has been configured that way since 1971.[37] Musicians are required to read and write in English and have a height of 167 cm. Musicians must be aged between 17 and 22 years old at the time of their employment.[38][39][40]
In December 2018, the British Band Instrument Company announced a new agreement with the Indian Army to supply all Regimental Centres with modern bagpipes and percussion instruments for their pipe bands. The new bagpipes were played for the first time on Republic Day 2019.[45][46]
The Girls NCC Band from theBirla Balika Vidyapeeth school participating in a full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day Parade in 2011. The school band has had an annual participant in the RDC Parade since 1950.
TheNational Cadet Corps maintains two cadet bands: the Boys Band of the NCC and the Girls Band of the NCC. They are commonly formed up during the NCC Republic Day Camp in late January, during which the bands participate in the Republic Day Parade on 26 January and the Prime Minister's Rally on 28 January.
The Central Reserve Police Force Brass Band, which consists of 38 musicians, was raised in 1961.[48] A pipe band was established earlier in the CRPF in 1952.[49] At a large parade, the band can increase its size three-fold.
The unique BSF Camel Contingent during the annualRepublic Day Parade in 2004
The 36-member camelmounted band of theBorder Security Force is one of two official bands in the BSF.[50] It is the only camel mounted military band in the world, and is mentioned inGuinness Book of World Records as such.[51] It is one of the unique sights of the Delhi Republic Day parade and has been an annual participant since 1990.[52] The only time it has missed a parade was in 2016 due to a lack of preparation.[53]
Different units of theAssam Rifles maintain battalion jazz and pipe bands. For example, the 12 Assam Rifles has a pipe band that was raised inWokha in 1959.[44] In 2011, the 43 Assam Rifles began its own jazz band in a remote village inSenapati as a means to bring music to the people of that area.[54] Brass bands are maintained at the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School.
With the sanction of the Commandant of the Assam Rifles, bands can engage in events hosted by private entities. The band of a unit is managed by a committee of three officers that are appointed quarterly. When massed bands are on parade, the senior bandmaster normally conducts (with the exception of the parade commander changing him/her at their discretion). All bands are provided with copies ofJana Gana Mana and all regimental marches in the Assam Rifles. As a matter of tradition, all bands adhere to high pitch when performing.[55]
TheIndo-Tibetan Border Police Brass Band was raised in 1973 and has been participating in Republic Day Parade annually since 1977. It has won best marching contingent in parade during the year 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2011 by marching on brass band tunes.[56]
Indian military bands play an active role in the annualDelhi Republic Day parade on theRajpath. It is the largest and central of theparades marking theRepublic Day celebrations inIndia. The bands of nine to twelve different Army regiments, as well as bands from the Navy and the Air Force march in the parade. Sub Lieutenant Ramesh Chand Katoch has set a record for leading a band contingent on the Rajpath the most, leading the Navy Band in 20 out 30 consecutive parades.[57]
TheBeating Retreat is a massive gathering of Indian military bands held on Republic Day in the capital ofNew Delhi. It is organized by Section D of theMinistry of Defence.[58] It is based on a 16th-century military ceremony inEngland that was first used to recall nearby patrolling units to their castle. The ceremony happens atVijay Chowk, and involves Indian military bands as well as the bands of the paramilitary services and theDelhi Police Band. Brass bands, pipes bands, and buglers from various Army Regiments perform at the ceremony.[59][60] National and religious pieces such asAbide With Me,Sare Jahan se Accha andsunset. The ceremony achieved aGuinness World Record mention for being the largest military band under one conductor, with its rendition ofAmazing Grace including 4,459 musicians.[61][62][63]
A ceremonialchanging of the guard is held at thePresident of India's residence, theRashtrapati Bhavan. It is held with the participation of supporting Indian military bands as well asPresident's Body Guard and theBrigade of the Guards. As the sentries are nominated and inspected by their officers, the band plays 'Sammaan Guard' (The Honour Guard) as a slow march before following that up with a formal march into the forecourt of the palace with the band playing "Sher-E-Jawan" (Tiger of a soldier). Other notable protocol tunes played at the ceremony include "Robinson" and "Sare Jahan Se Accha" (Better than any nation). Once they assume charge, the New Guard marches off along with the band playing "Amar Jawan" (Immortal Soldier).
The Military Band Concert is an annual event that is part of theVijay Diwas celebrations organized to commemorate the victory in theIndo-Pakistani War of 1971 and theBangladesh Liberation War. Apart from marching tunes, Bengali and Bangladeshi songs are also performed by band members.
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