NAVY  SYMPHONIC  BAND  CONCERT-11 NOV 2021  

A military band is not proud because it performs well, it performs well because its proud – George Parks

 Music and Rhythm find their way into the secret places of the Soul – Plato

A marching band works harder than a Football team

   --Kathleen Alcock

Military regiments the world over are proud of their martial bands and vice-versa. Every soldier of a platoon marches erect with pride in perfect  synchronous harmonics  to the sonorous beats of his musical band.

     The genesis of Indian Navy Band dates back to the Royal Indian Navy, when it was formed with a handful of musicians. Today the Indian Navy boasts of a number of trained musicans in various bands across our country. The Indian Naval Band has regaled and enthralled audiences of not only our country but around the world by their spectacular performances. The Bands accompanying the vessels sailing abroad for goodwill visits playing in ensemble to the bands of the host nations, act truly as effective Ambassadors of our great country. Indian Naval Band has distinguished itself through many international performances, noteworthy amongst these have been the Queen’s coronation in the Statue of Libert, the Australian Bi-centennial celebrations, the President’s Fleet Review in USA and International Fleet Review in Australia. In the recent past the Indian Naval Band has participated in the prestigeous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Scotland and the Russian Federation Navy Day.   

       As a runup to the Navy Day-2021, even as the Pandemic  is on the decline, the second event programmed after the Veterans invite for CinC Lunch (09 Nov), was the Indian Navy Symphonic Band Concert at 1700 hrs on 11^th Nov at Mulla Auditorium, organised by INS Kunjali. Cdr Vishal Nair was tasked with the seating plan. 25 Veteran couples received an e-invite, on first come basis. Albeit the organisers were kind to include names of more veterans till the final day and sent an E-invite to them. The parking at Mulla Auditorium was provost controlled. Electric carts were placed at the parking lot to convey Veterans to the Auditorium.

           The Auditorium was houseful with serving officers and ladies maintaining the Covid Protocol of masks and alternate vacant seats. Among the Senior Veterans who graced the occasion, it was an honour to meet our former CNS Adm VS Shekhawat & VAdm IC Rao. We had enough time to meet and greet each other prior to the arrival of our Chief Guest, VAdm R Hari Kumar, PVSM, AVSM, VSM, ADC , FOCinC (WNC). The CinC was gracious to confer the honour of Chief Guest to Adm Shekhawat, our former CNS. Lt Navneet Yadav, a young Gunnery Officer from INS Nashak, welcomed the Chief Guest and  Audience to this grand extravaganza and handed over the stage to the Emcee for the evening, the mesmerising Diva Ms D’Çunha to host the spectacular Show. Mrs Genevieve D'Cunha is a naval wife herself and presently Director Marketing with the Taj Group of Hotels. She is also an accomplished pianist from the Royal College of Music, London and has performed at the NCPA and many other concerts. The Indian Navy Symphonic Band in Concert captured the hearts and minds of  all present, as the musicians  regaled  an  electric audience  one performance after another with a wide repertoire of stirring martial music, arrangements of Western classical, Indian classical and other forms of contemporary popular   arrangements. It commenced with the Fanfare titled ‘Vande Mantaram’ composed by J Bhattachaya and arranged by Manoj Sebastian, that was followed by Beautiful light cavalry ‘Overture’, Mac and Mac, O Sole Mio, Second Waltz, Chariots of Fire, Sing Sing Sing, ABBA Gold, English Vocal Rise up, Raag Shanmughapriya, Within Attraction, traditional Folk tunes of Western India, culminating in the Patriotic Tri-Sevices ‘Desh Rakshak’ by various artists that raised everyones goose-pimples. Cdr Vijay D’Cruz, Director of Music, Indian Navy himself conducted some arrangements.  The Cohost Ms D’Cunha’s mesmerising voice and presentation added aroma and flavour to the entire an hour long musical fanfare. After the show, Adm Shekhawat accompanied by the CinC  felicitated the musicians, presenters, conductors and the Cohosts on stage that was followed by the National Anthem. 

        It was absolute delight to meet and greet the Veterans and guests  over Tea and Snacks at the Mulla Auditorium’s Lawns after the show.(Pics & Vids below). Veterans cheerfully congratulated the Commander-in-Chief for the prestigious appointment  of next CNS. Cdr Vijay Vadhera, President NFMC and I on behalf of all Veterans personally thanked the C-in-C for the magnificent evening and later spent  time with the organising officers of the grand show and Cmde Rishi Raj, CO Kunjali and his elegant lady.

Shano Varuna….Jai Hind 

PS- Videos below the Pics. Kindly double click on the videos to play.

CLASS MATES

VIDEOS 

(KINDLY DOUBLE CLICK)

👇👇

YOUTUBE LINK

👇👇

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bM3CiG946C4&t=6s