Grand Musical Concert with Army Symphony Band

on 11^th May, 2014  at Ridge

Vijyender Sharma

SHIMLA-----11^th May, 2014 will be a memorable day for the tourists, visitors and residents of Shimla town when they will enjoy the unique memorable presentation by the Indian Army Symphony Band at Ridge at 5.30 pm. This is a chain of events being celebrated throughout the year under ‘Shimla Celebrates’.  This was disclosed by Smt. Upma Chaudhary, Additional Chief Secretary here today.

She said that the Indian Army Symphony 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. She said that in order to add variety to the music, Indian classical music instruments like santoor, sitar, jaltarang were also incorporated with the military band. 

Additional Chief Secretary said that the Indian Army Symphony band has the unique privilege of performing during the 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.

Smt. Chaudhary said that the Army Symphony Band consists three sections, the Wood Wind Section consists of flute, Piccolo, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone and Bassoon. The  tone is produced by a column of air vibrating with a pipe that has little vents in its side.

The second, the Bras section comprises of the Horn, Cornet, Trumpet, Trombone, Euphonium and Tuba. These instruments are indispensable  for melody, sustaining harmony, rhythmic accent and for the weight of their massive tone and flame like sonority thus contribute to climaxes.

The Percussion section has a variety of instruments that are made to sound by striking or shaking. The Glokenspiel, Xylophone, Vibrophone, Chimes, Drum, Timpani and several others make up the ‘Battery’ as it is sometimes called.

The Symphony Band will present the programme composed by  renowned composers like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Maurice Jarre, Venga Boys, AR Rahman etc.

Additional Chief Secretary said that other impressive presentations of Army band could also be enjoyed at Ridge on 13^th, 15^th, 17^th and 18^th May, 2014 at 5 pm.

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