trumpets music, patriotism, sunset.

Beating retreat--- INDIA, VI JAY CHOCK, 3.30P.M.29 January 2012

Mentioning India, first here not New Delhi, because India comes first.


Winters evening, sunset, cool breeze, trumpets music, patriotism, what else we need to feel mystical.

President arrives and altogether 14 Trumpeters, 32 Buglers and 14 Echo Buglers, playing together where surround sound comes tour ear because of colonial building built around. Listen to some upbeat melodious sound of Drummers Call’, a traditional performance by only the drummers.

Divine to listen open air belugas, reminds sunset in hilly mountains of my native place Garhwal. It is really happening here, New Delhi, where I born and brought up…respect the city and nations, which offers us a lot.

           It is music like blues or jazz paling live on Indian soil with Indian compositions. It is really delighted to listen. I must say this best live musical show happens to New Delhi.

 BEATING RETREAT-British army routine, this was originally known as watch setting. Initiated at sunset by the firing of a single round from the evening gun.


For India it officially marks the end of Republic Day festivities. On the evening of January 29, the third day after the Republic Day. It is performed by the bands of the three wings of the military, the Indian Army, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. The venue is Raisina Hills and an adjacent square, Vijay Chock, winged by the north and south block of the Rashtrapati Bhavan (President's Palace) towards the end of Raj path.


The ceremony was started in the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed the ceremony of display by the massed bands in which Military Bands, Pipes and Drums Bands, Buglers and Trumpeters from various Army Regiments besides bands Navy and Air Force take part.
Chief Guest is the President of India, arrives with cavalry of President’s Guard. Here comes the sound of trumpets of Brigade do the Guards. This sound really rare to listen in India, as it is not part of Indian culture or modern music composition.
Unfurling of Nation Flag with loud music of Indian national anthem, really gives nostalgic movement. For true Indian music lover and patriotic feel out of world. Really it is the best music live show I expect to attend every year for me for my country and for our music.

PRESS RELEASE OF THE SHOW. 

This will be followed by playing of the tune of National Anthem and a tune ‘Parameshwar’, composed by Captain Mahendra Das NK.

Thereafter, Army’s Massed Pipes and Drums Bands will play a total of six tunes, - ‘General Tappy’, a quickmarch tune, ‘Chipli Naach’, a slow march tune, ‘The Hundred Pipers’, a quick march tune, ‘Louden’s Bonnie Woods & Brass’, a strathspey tune, ‘The High road to Linton’, a reel tune and ‘Queen of Hill’, a quick march tune.

After these tunes, Air Force and Navy will play six tunes. Everest, Skylark, Rhythm of the Waves, Twilight, Renaissance and Sea Patrol.

This will be followed by the massed military bands of the Indian Army playing ‘Nakhreli Joban, Almora, Sarangi, Post Horn Gallop and Redetzky March’.  Thereafter, all the massed military bands will play the ‘Vijayee Himalaya’, after Pipe & Drums Band play ‘Drummer Call’. After that will be played ‘Abide with Me’, the eternally enchanting hymn, a favourite tune of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi.  The Buglers will retreat to the sound of ‘Sare Jahan se Achha’, penned by Iqbal, and arranged by Prof A. Lobo, before the illuminations. 

 My words on this event as simple music lover.

This event is like going out with mood saying you are in New Delhi, center of biggest democracy and feel melodious about have witnessed live musical shows in auditoriums, hotels, open grounds, stadiums, but here at Vijay Chock, New Delhi it is mystical, patriotic, spiritual and bit western because it is upbeat.

Love to be in NEW DELHI.

Shailesh Sharma Pokriyal

New Delhi