Colonialism impacted Indian music in myriad ways. One of the more obvious influences of Western music was evident in the manner that many princely states put together bands and orchestras. Art or classical music in India was and still continues to be predominantly a soloistic tradition, but contact with the West saw several such experiments featuring larger ensembles.
The Indian defence and police forces have bands that perform martial tunes, folk tunes and even popular Western and Indian film and non-film melodies. But there seem to rare occasions when raag music is also performed by these bands. Evidently, some band members if not all, are trained in Indian music in addition to the training they receive in Western music and sight-reading of Western notation.
Raag Lalit
Composed and performed by Lt MS Neer, Indian Navy
This track features a clarinet solo by Lt. MS Neer, a composer, arranger and musician. He played a significant role in the Indian naval band as the photos and description accompanying the track suggest. Here, he plays a short aalaap or introductory section to the morning raag Lalit followed by two compositions in the same raag set to the ten count Jhaptaal and the 16-count Teentaal, respectively. Notice that he deviates from the established form of the raag at times.
Raag Brindavani Sarang-Mishrat
Lt MS Neer, Indian Navy Symphonic Band
This tune has been composed, arranged and conducted by Lt. Neer, and is performed by the Indian Navy Symphonic Band. The accompanying text mentions that Lt. Neer plays solo saxophone on this track. The track is entitled raag Brindavani Sarang-Mishrat. The terms "mishrit" (spelt "mishrat" on the track) or "mishra" are used when there are deviations from the main melodic structure. In this case, the main melody is based on the afternoon raag Brindavani or Vrindavani Sarang, but it changes course to show traces of other raags interspersed with suggestions of popular melodies. The composition moves through different tempi and uses varying time signatures, at times even breaking into arrhythmic sections.
Suswagatham 2011
The Andhra Pradesh police band plays raag Bhupali in the next track. Here too, the band does not adhere strictly to the conventional framework of Bhupali.
Fusion Symphony Orchestra
Territorial Army
The Territorial Army Fusion Symphony Orchestra plays raag Yaman from 1.39” into the track. Students of the Graham’s Home, Kalimpong, collaborate with them in this recital.
Raag Kaapi Ematham
The Indian Navy Band
We conclude with a saxophone solo by a member of the Indian Naval Band. He plays the Carnatic raag Kaapi that corresponds to the raag Pilu from the Hindustani system.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
The Indian defence and police forces have bands that perform martial tunes, folk tunes and even popular Western and Indian film and non-film melodies. But there seem to rare occasions when raag music is also performed by these bands. Evidently, some band members if not all, are trained in Indian music in addition to the training they receive in Western music and sight-reading of Western notation.
Raag Lalit
Composed and performed by Lt MS Neer, Indian Navy
This track features a clarinet solo by Lt. MS Neer, a composer, arranger and musician. He played a significant role in the Indian naval band as the photos and description accompanying the track suggest. Here, he plays a short aalaap or introductory section to the morning raag Lalit followed by two compositions in the same raag set to the ten count Jhaptaal and the 16-count Teentaal, respectively. Notice that he deviates from the established form of the raag at times.
Raag Brindavani Sarang-Mishrat
Lt MS Neer, Indian Navy Symphonic Band
This tune has been composed, arranged and conducted by Lt. Neer, and is performed by the Indian Navy Symphonic Band. The accompanying text mentions that Lt. Neer plays solo saxophone on this track. The track is entitled raag Brindavani Sarang-Mishrat. The terms "mishrit" (spelt "mishrat" on the track) or "mishra" are used when there are deviations from the main melodic structure. In this case, the main melody is based on the afternoon raag Brindavani or Vrindavani Sarang, but it changes course to show traces of other raags interspersed with suggestions of popular melodies. The composition moves through different tempi and uses varying time signatures, at times even breaking into arrhythmic sections.
Raag Bhupali
Suswagatham 2011
The Andhra Pradesh police band plays raag Bhupali in the next track. Here too, the band does not adhere strictly to the conventional framework of Bhupali.
Fusion Symphony Orchestra
Territorial Army
The Territorial Army Fusion Symphony Orchestra plays raag Yaman from 1.39” into the track. Students of the Graham’s Home, Kalimpong, collaborate with them in this recital.
Raag Kaapi Ematham
The Indian Navy Band
We conclude with a saxophone solo by a member of the Indian Naval Band. He plays the Carnatic raag Kaapi that corresponds to the raag Pilu from the Hindustani system.
