Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 20: Internationally acclaimed Army Symphonic Band thrilled the audience of Jammu with its captivating music today. The band had also mesmerized more than 5000 soldiers and their families at Zorawar Stadium in Sunjuwan Cantt on Tuesday.
Army’s Symphonic Band was raised in 1990 at New Delhi with bandsmen taken from all military bands of the Army to retain the true representation of the entire nation in one band. Subsequently, in order to add variety to the music, Indian classical musical instruments like Santoor, Sitar, Jaltarang and Tabla were also incorporated with the military band.
Army’s Symphonic Band has the unique privilege of performing during visits of various foreign dignitaries to India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan and during national level functions like Republic Day, Independence Day and Beating the Retreat ceremonies. Symphonic Band has also participated in various military tattoos and music festivals in Russia, France, Italy, Sweden, Japan, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Germany, Bhutan and Nepal.
Indian Army has 48 Military Bands and more than 400 Pipes and Drums ensembles and thus forms the largest Military Music assembly in any Army of the world. The bands belong to the various regiments of the Army and though all of them are Indian in character, they reflect the unique characteristics of the regions the troops come from, synonymous to the various hues and shades of our cultural diversity.
Speaking on the occasion, Maj Gen Surinder Singh, General Officer Commanding Tiger Division thanked the team of Army Symphonic Band for its soul-stirring and foot tapping musical performance. He said that Army bands have played a vital role of raising the morale of troops and motivating them to fight with valour.
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