Indian Navy Band

The President Ram Nath Kovind, with the Indian Navy Band contingent for the Beating Retreat at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in January 2018.

Active| 1945; 79 years ago (1945)
Country|  India
Branch|  Indian Navy
Size| 125 members
Part of| INS Kunjali
Garrison/HQ| Bombay
March| Jai Bharati (Victory to India)
Commanders
Current
commander| Commander Vijay Charles D'Cruz
Notable
commanders| M.S.Neer, VSM;[1][2] Jerome Rodrigues[3][4]
Commander Sebastian Anchees

Military unit

The Indian Navy Band, also known as Indian Naval Symphonic Band is the Indian Navy's full time music band. It was established in 1945 and is currently attached to the INS Kunjali. At the time of it commissioning, it had a strength of 50 musicians.[5] All band members have a bachelor's degree from recognized university and can play competently in at least one military sponsored instrument.[6]

## Symphony Orchestra

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The Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra performing during a concert held at Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi, 19 February 2016.

The Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra consists of 125 musicians, all of whom perform in concert settings. Various conductors of the band in its history have increased the range of its repertoire to include arrangements of symphonies, solos, concertos and other forms of contemporary music that includes Indian classical and Western pop music. The band has also improvised on Hindustani classical and Carnatic raga in various forms and genres, particularly in fusion with the Western and Jazz music. Today, the band now uses traditional instruments such as the Mridangam, the Tabla, and Carnatic instruments. The band also has made enhancements in recent years to include the addition adding a large string section comprising violins, violas, cellos and double basses to make it a complete symphonic orchestra.[7]

## Other ensembles

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A corps of drums from the Indian Navy Band at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2017.

* Parade Band
* Corps of Drums
* Jazz ensemble
* Vocalist group

For the first time a combination with bagpipes instrument was played.

## Events

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### General events

[edit]

The band performs at events historically and logistically connected to the Indian Navy, including Fleet reviews and Presentation of Colours. It is an annual participant in the annual Delhi Republic Day parade on the Rajpath. Sub Lieutenant Ramesh Chand Katoch from the Navy Band has set a record for leading a band contingent on the Rajpath, leading it in 20 out 30 consecutive parades.[8] It performs at State dinners held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, hosted by the President of India for a foreign head of state. It also performs at community events in its vicinity.[9]

### Others

[edit]

It has visited countries such as France, Italy, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, China, South Africa and Eritrea.[10] In 1971 and 1973, the band took part in the Ethiopian Navy Day celebrations.[11] It also took part in the 1977 Royal Navy review in honor of the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. It also took part in the Australian Bicentenary review in 1988 and the PLA Navy Platinum Jubilee Parade in 2018.[12] The same band took part in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo in 2017.[13][14][15][16][17][18] In July 2009, bands from the three services, with the Navy band being one, marched down the Champs-Élysées in Paris with contingents from their respective services during the Bastille Day military parade to the sound of Indian martial tunes including Saare Jahan Se Achcha, Haste Lushai and Qadam Qadam Badhaye Ja.[19]

## See also

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* Indian military bands
* Military Music Wing
* Band of the Brigade of Gurkhas
* People's Liberation Army Navy Band

## References

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1. ^ "INDIAN NAVY BAND "XYLOPHONICS" Conducted by MS Neer,VSM". YouTube.
2. ^ "INDIAN NAVY BAND - MS Neer performing LIVE in New York (Audio Recording), INS Godavari 1986". YouTube.
3. ^ "Herald". www.heraldgoa.in.
4. ^ "Top brass: South Goa's classical warrior | Goa News - Times of India". The Times of India.
5. ^ "To increase the revenue of the railways, the Central Railways have started a pilot project and rented out staircases for advertising. Currently, five stations including CST, Dadar, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli and Chembur are a part of the project. Officials hope that through the project, they would be able to raise around one crore every year. - Times of India". The Times of India.
6. ^ "Musician - Join Indian Navy | Government of India". www.joinindiannavy.gov.in.
7. ^ "Untitled Document". sainiksamachar.nic.in.
8. ^ "Navy band master's 30th and last parade". Deccan Herald. January 19, 2018.
9. ^ "Naval band to perform for civilians in Kharghar, Nerul | Navi Mumbai News - Times of India". The Times of India.
10. ^ Hiranandani, Vice Admiral GM. Transition to Guardianship: The Indian Navy 1991–2000. Lancer Publishers LLC. ISBN 9781935501664 - via Google Books.
11. ^ Hiranandani, G. M. (January 22, 2005). Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990. Lancer Publishers. ISBN 9788170622666 - via Google Books.
12. ^ "Indian naval ships arrive for Chinese Navy fleet review, Pakistan to miss". The Economic Times. April 21, 2019.
13. ^ "Indian Navy band to participate in international military music event in UK". hindustantimes.com. 30 July 2017.
14. ^ "Indian Navy Band to Participate in International Military Music Festival in Moscow (Russia)". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
15. ^ "The Indian Navy Band - 2392 817". Archived from the original on 2018-07-18. Retrieved 2020-01-22.
16. ^ "Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra – 2018 | Indian Navy". www.indiannavy.nic.in.
17. ^ "Indian Navy Band Joins Historic Edinburgh Military Tattoo". News18. 5 August 2017.
18. ^ Pioneer, The. "Indian Navy band to perform at Royal Edinburgh". The Pioneer.
19. ^ Répétition de l'Armée Indienne à Satory pour le défilé du 14 juillet 2009. YouTube. 13 July 2009.