Indian Navy Band
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=Indian Navy Band
|image=The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind with the Indian Navy Band Contingents (participants of the Beating Retreat Ceremony) and Provost Outrides, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on January 30, 2018.jpg
|caption=The President Ram Nath Kovind, with the Indian Navy Band contingent for the Beating Retreat at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in January 2018.
|country={{flag|India}}
|branch={{navy|India}}
|dates={{start date and age|df=yes|1945}}
|command_structure=INS Kunjali
|size=125 members
|garrison=Bombay
|nickname=
|march=Jai Bharati (Victory to India)
|current_commander=Commander Vijay Charles D'Cruz
|notable_commanders= M.S.Neer, VSM;{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-ZVDsRcH-c|title = INDIAN NAVY BAND "XYLOPHONICS" Conducted by MS Neer, VSM|website = YouTube}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbGND7ag5Hw|title = INDIAN NAVY BAND - MS Neer performing LIVE in New York (Audio Recording), INS Godavari 1986|website = YouTube}} Jerome Rodrigues{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Review/Goa-Social/Orchestrating-a-MUSICAL-CAREER/114852|title=Herald|website=www.heraldgoa.in}}{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Top-brass-South-Goas-classical-warrior/articleshow/47409246.cms|title=Top brass: South Goa's classical warrior | Goa News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}
Commander Sebastian Anchees
}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/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-/articleshow/6743162.cms|title = 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|website = The Times of India}} All band members have a bachelor's degree from recognized university and can play competently in at least one military sponsored instrument.{{cite web|url=https://www.joinindiannavy.gov.in/en/page/musician-1.html|title=Musician - Join Indian Navy | Government of India|website=www.joinindiannavy.gov.in}}
Symphony Orchestra
File:Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra performs in Delhi, 2016 (01).jpg 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.{{cite web|url=http://sainiksamachar.nic.in/englisharchives/2008/dec01-08/h6.html|title=Untitled Document|website=sainiksamachar.nic.in}}
Other ensembles
File:Indian Navy Band in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2017 at United Kingdom (2).jpg 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
=General events=
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/654770/navy-band-masters-30th-last.html|title=Navy band master's 30th and last parade|date=January 19, 2018|website=Deccan Herald}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/Naval-band-to-perform-for-civilians-in-Kharghar-Nerul/articleshow/25526101.cms|title=Naval band to perform for civilians in Kharghar, Nerul | Navi Mumbai News - Times of India|website=The Times of India}}
=Others=
It has visited countries such as France, Italy, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, China, South Africa and Eritrea.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w2snz5Cfb0gC&q=Indian+Navy+Central+Band&pg=RA2-PT596|title=Transition to Guardianship: The Indian Navy 1991–2000|first=Vice Admiral GM|last=Hiranandani|publisher=Lancer Publishers LLC|isbn=9781935501664|via=Google Books}} In 1971 and 1973, the band took part in the Ethiopian Navy Day celebrations.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1WxI9TlAxIQC&q=ins+chilka+band&pg=PA379|title=Transition to Eminence: The Indian Navy 1976-1990|first=G. M.|last=Hiranandani|date=January 22, 2005|publisher=Lancer Publishers|isbn=9788170622666|via=Google Books}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/indian-naval-ships-arrive-for-chinese-navy-fleet-review-pakistan-to-miss/articleshow/68974656.cms?from=mdr|title=Indian naval ships arrive for Chinese Navy fleet review, Pakistan to miss|date=April 21, 2019|newspaper=The Economic Times}} The same band took part in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the Spasskaya Tower Military Music Festival and Tattoo in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/indian-navy-band-to-participate-in-international-military-music-event-in-uk/story-jyb7NMxhwgUXVaxmWKLItJ.html|title=Indian Navy band to participate in international military music event in UK|website=hindustantimes.com|date=30 July 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=170196 |publisher=pib.nic.in |access-date=2020-01-22|title=Indian Navy Band to Participate in International Military Music Festival in Moscow (Russia) }}{{Cite web |url=https://ngh.co.in/the-indian-navy-band-2392-817.html |title=The Indian Navy Band - 2392 817 |access-date=2020-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718205302/https://ngh.co.in/the-indian-navy-band-2392-817.html |archive-date=2018-07-18 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.indiannavy.nic.in/content/indian-naval-symphonic-orchestra-%E2%80%93-2018|title=Indian Naval Symphonic Orchestra – 2018 | Indian Navy|website=www.indiannavy.nic.in}}{{cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/indian-navy-band-joins-historic-edinburgh-military-tattoo-1483657.html|title=Indian Navy Band Joins Historic Edinburgh Military Tattoo|website=News18|date=5 August 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2017/india/indian-navy-band-to-perform-at-royal-edinburgh.html|title=Indian Navy band to perform at Royal Edinburgh|first=The|last=Pioneer|website=The Pioneer}} 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.{{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}}