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Symphony of melodies
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The `Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra' which performed for the first time in Hyderabad, showcased its talent with an interesting musical montage comprising Western symphonies, rock, Indian classical, devotional and patriotic compositions, writes RADHIKA RAJAMANI.
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Photos: K. Ramesh Babu
HARMONIOUS SYNCHRONISATION: The Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra in concert.
ABIDE WITH Me, a hymn composed by Henry Monk, which was one of Gandhiji's favourite hymns is the piece de resistance of the Beating Retreat. Played by the Army, Navy and Air Force bands at dusk time, it reverberates through the air creating a solemn and poignant atmosphere. This atmosphere was almost replicated at the People's Plaza, Necklace Road by the Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra but with a difference. The backdrop was not the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhavan and there were no caparisoned camels and the sound of the tubular bell somehow did not sound the same. Yet by the side of the Hussain Sagar Lake, Abide With Me, was powerful enough to resonate through the air and create an impact on people who had not heard it before. The lyrics too though written in the 17th Century seem relevant even today: Abide with me fast falls the even tide. The darkness deepens, Lord with me abide. Change and decay in all around I see. Help of the Helpless Oh Abide with me. This hymn was one of the many compositions played by the Orchestra whose members tirelessly played with clockwork precision to enchant those present (sadly not a very large crowd given the area of the place) on a hot night with hardly any breeze blowing despite the waters of the lake nearby.
This was the first time the Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra performed in Hyderabad. This concert, along with another one at Shilpakala Vedika, showcased the talent of the Air Force officers. These concerts as well as the Air show, were organised to attract the youngsters to pursue a career in the Indian Air Force.
Besides a career where one can `touch the sky with glory' one can also hone one's talent and skills on the cultural front as well.
The Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra (it was renamed so last month) was formed from the seven existing bands (of each Air Command) of the Air Force which used to play on ceremonial occasions and guard of honour some time back. "When Air Chief Krishnaswamy took over he was keen that that the Air Force has a concert band. So this was formed and the members were chosen from the seven bands.
These musicians (holding various posts in the Air Force) underwent rigorous training. Since last year they have played in Bangalore (September 2002), Delhi (October 2002), Mumbai (January 2003), Nagpur (February 2003) and Kolkata (March 2003)," informs Flight Lieutenant P.K. Jena, the director of the band.
The orchestra comprises about 80 musicians with about 60 performing on stage. Right now the orchestra is stationed in Bangalore.
"We have added some instruments like the keyboard, guitar, jazz drum, violin, flute, tabla, mridangam and ghatam to the orchestra, " says P.K. Jena, a trained violinist and sarod player who has participated in the Festival of India in Russia and travelled to other places like Greece, Canada, Germany, Kuwait under the aegis of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.
VERSATILE OFFICER: Flight Lieutenant P.K. Jena directs the band
He has also conducted Beating the Retreat ceremony in 1999 and 2002.
For almost two hours the orchestra captivated the audience with their lilting melodies chosen from a wide spectrum - overtures, waltz, light classical, even a Carnatic classical number, film songs, a hymn and a patriotic song.
Their repertoire was indeed wide and the musicians effortlessly played along with just a break of a few minutes. The acoustics thankfully did not let them down (except for a minor disturbance).
The concert began with the Air Force song which was written by Kabir Mustafi and set to music by Zohra Shaw and rendered by Lata Mangeshkar for the first time.
Two large screens arranged displayed the history (of the Air Force aircraft) and heroism with reference to this composition. Fame and Glory (composer Albert Mat), an overture by Mozart from the opera Marriage of Figaro (where the screens showed extracts woven with a story) set the stage for the Austrian `melodies'.
A musical medley from The Sound of Music brought alive the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic of the Sixties.
As the select compositions like The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Music, Do-a-deer... , Raindrops on roses... , Climb every mountain... , How do you solve a problem like Maria, The Goatherd song were played, the audience also got to see clips from the film.
This montage wound up with a repeat of The Hills Are Alive... .
PIPED NOTES: The musicians are well-trained.
One sorely missed the beautiful anthem of Austria Edelweiss in this.
Journey to a Persian Market brought out the different sounds including the folksy rhythm.
Johannes Brahms' Hungarian Dance 5 and the waltz The Waves of the Danube, composed by Josef Ivanovici made one want to shake a leg. This was the last of the Western symphonies.
The next three songs were from films - Ek mein ek tu, Kalyan sangli (the Goan tune in Dil hai ki manta nahin) and Jagada... from the Telugu hit Geetanjali from Mani Rathnam's stable.
The orchestra began raga Hamsadhwani by playing the arohanam and avarohanam. Vatapi Ganapathim, the famous kriti, was played on the flute accompanied by musicians on traditional instruments, who in fact, sat on a platform towards the side of the stage.
The rendition was largely in pure classical (which certainly sounded better) except for a small portion (fast-paced play) which was more of a fusion effort.
The xylophone play in Kenneth J. Alford's Mac&Mac was the highlight of the composition.
It was time to move on to rock with Cornfield Rock. Yanni's Acroyali, a typical Yanni orchestration, involved complex sound patterns which involved the use of the synthesiser.
This difficult compositions was played with ease by the musicians.
The screen showed Yanni against the backdrop of the Taj Mahal (when he performed in Agra almost six years back).
The mood then swung towards the devotional with Abide With Me and the screen depicted devastation by war and human suffering with poignant images of children.
The grand finale was Vande Mataram (tribute to the men and women who marched to the gallows during the freedom struggle), written by Bankim Chandra Chatterji, composed by Hemant Kumar and immortalised in the film Anand Math by Lata Mangeshkar.
This fast-paced version from the movie signalled the end of concert which provided the audience with a taste of orchestral music.
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