Indian Army Chief's Band
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Indian Army Chief's Band
|image=File:Indian Army marching band-1.jpg
|caption=The band during the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
|country={{flag|India}}
|branch={{army|India}}
|dates={{Start date and years ago|df=yes|1990}}
|command_structure=Headquarters, Indian Army
|size=44 members
|garrison=New Delhi
|nickname=
|march=Quick: Qadam Qadam Badhaye Ja
Slow: Samman Guard
|current_commander=Subedar Major Suresh Kumar Sharma
|notable_commanders=
}}
The Indian Army Chief's Band is the Indian Army's full-time music band. It was founded in 1990 as the official band of the Indian Army and the foremost in the armed forces. It also, as its name implies, represents the Chief of the Army Staff at events involving the COAS's presence. The band represents India in most important state events held in the Indian capital. It was raised in 1990 with bandsmen being drawn multiple Indian military bands in order to "retain the true representation of the entire nation in one band". In April 2011, a string section was added, consisting of cellos, violas and violins, elevating it to a symphony orchestra comprising 72 musicians.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2013/state-editions/army-symphony-band-enchants-audience.html|title=Army Symphony Band enchants audience|first=The|last=Pioneer|website=The Pioneer}} Outside of the Indian Army, it has also represented the Indian nation at various military music festivals in France, Italy, Sweden, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and Bangladesh.{{cite web|url=http://president-concert.ru/orkestry/proekty/orkestr-verhovnogo-komandovaniya-vooruzhennyh-sil-indii.html|title=Оркестр Верховного командования Вооруженных сил Индии - Проекты|website=president-concert.ru|language=ru}}
Structure
The band consists of the following ensembles:
- Parade Band
- Symphony Orchestra
- Brass ensemble
- Percussion ensemble
- Woodwind ensemble
- Jazz ensemble
- Vocalist group
Initially, the band played with percussion, brass and woodwind sections. Today, the band uses traditional Indian instruments such as the Mridangam, the Tabla, and the Carnatic{{explain|date=February 2020}}.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} In addition other traditional instruments such as the Santoor, Sitar and Jaltarang have been incorporated in the band.{{cite news |title=Archive of One Strike Corps of Indian Army in Mathura opens tomorrow |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/archive-of-one-strike-corps-of-indian-army-in-mathura-opens-tomorrow/articleshow/48532692.cms |accessdate=11 February 2020 |work=The Economic Times |date=11 July 2018}}
Events
The band performs at ceremonial events with the Indian Army, including the Presentation of Colours and the annual Delhi Republic Day parade on the Rajpath. In the latter, the band is not a marching contingent but rather is located away from the road in an area near the national flag during which it performs Jana Gana Mana the presentation of honours by the President's Bodyguard. It also 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.{{fact|date=December 2022}}
=Specific events=
- The band took part in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world/great-indian-band/story-09zQmpQv5D0Pxz0ojD05DL.html|title=Great Indian band|date=2008-10-20|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|access-date=2020-02-07}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-tattoo-scotland-idUSL2278594420080722|title=Edinburgh Tattoo: 100 years of citizen soldiers|work=Reuters|access-date=2020-02-07}}
- In July 2009, Indian military bands, a bands from the three services, with the Army 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.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBnZjWQ77A8|title=Répétition de l'Armée Indienne à Satory pour le défilé du 14 juillet 2009|date=13 July 2009|publisher=YouTube}}
- In September 2009, the band visited Russia to take part in the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo. During its performance on Moscow's Red Square, it went under the name of the Orchestra of the Supreme Commander of Chief of the Armed Forces of India ({{Langx|ru|Оркестр Верховного Главнокомандующего Вооруженными Силами Индии}}).{{cite web|url=http://www.brahmand.com/news/Indian-Army-band-for-Moscow-music-festival/1899/1/12.html|title=Indian Army band for Moscow music festival | Brahmand News|website=www.brahmand.com}}{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Army-band-for-Moscow-music-festival/articleshow/4933864.cms|title=Army band for Moscow music festival - Times of India|website=The Times of India|date=26 August 2009 }}
- In June 2012, the band The performed at the Jammu Garrison for over 5000 soldiers and their families at Zorawar Stadium in Sunjuwan Cantonment.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/armys-symphonic-band-thrills-jammu-audience/|title=Army's symphonic band thrills Jammu audience|first=Daily|last=Excelsior|date=20 June 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/armys-symphonic-band-mesmerises-jammu-audie/964987/|title=Army's symphonic band mesmerises Jammu audience - Indian Express|website=archive.indianexpress.com}}
- The Band was part of the Indian Army's Grand Symphony band that performed at Amity University, Noida campus during the 70th Independence Day celebrations in August 2016.{{cite news |title=Army's Grand Symphony Band performs at Amity ahead of Independence Day |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/army-s-grand-symphony-band-performs-at-amity-ahead-of-independence-day-116081201551_1.html |accessdate=11 February 2020 |work=Business Standard India |date=12 August 2016}}
- The band under the direction of Sub Nawan Khan took part in the JSDF Marching Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/indian-military-band-is-all-set-to-perform-at-the-japanese-marching-festival-in-tokyo-this-week-265000.html|title=Indian Military Band Is All Set To Perform At The Japanese Marching Festival In Tokyo This Week|date=7 November 2016|website=indiatimes.com}}
- In April 2017, the band performed at a concert sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Indian Embassy in Hanoi. During the performance, three Vietnamese artists accompanied the band in performing the music arranged.{{cite web |url=https://m.english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/what-s-on/176924/indian-dancers--army-band-on-vn-tour.html#ui=mobile&ui=mobile&ui=mobile |title=Indian dancers, army band on VN tour |website=VietNamNet News |date=2017-04-20 |accessdate= }}{{Dead link|date=September 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://en.dangcongsan.vn/culture/indian-army-symphony-band-to-perform-in-vietnam-434957.html|title=Indian Army Symphony Band to perform in Vietnam|website=en.dangcongsan.vn}}{{cite web|url=http://vietnamnews.vn/life-style/374943/indian-dancers-army-band-on-vn-tour.html|title=Indian dancers, army band on VN tour|website=vietnamnews.vn}}