The Hindu : New Delhi News : Air Warriors orchestra attempts to ‘touch the sky with glory’

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Oct 27, 2007
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New Delhi

Air Warriors orchestra attempts to ‘touch the sky with glory’

Staff Reporter

The orchestra will perform before President Pratibha Patil today at Rashtrapati Bhavan

To present classical, pop, jazz, medley compositions
Has performed at various festivals in India, abroad

NEW DELHI: In the state-of-the-art auditorium of Rashtrapati Bhavan, notes of music rose to a crescendo as the celebrated Air Warriors Symphony Orchestra of the Indian Air Force attempted to live up to its motto -- touching the sky with glory -- during a press preview here on Friday.

When the Orchestra performs before President Pratibha Patil on Saturday, it will the first major function to be hosted at the brand new auditorium of Rashtrapati Bhavan that has a seating capacity of 300.

The Air Warriors Symphony will present well-known classical, pop, jazz and medley compositions before a select audience. The concert will begin with Mozart’s Symphony Number 40, which inspired composer Salil Choudhary to use it for his popular track “Itna na mujhse tu pyaar badha….” for Hindi film “Chhaya”. Next comes “Fusion with Devotion”, a piece arranged by T. J. Rajaraman, a mridangam exponent, and “Beatles Medley”, which was specially arranged for the brass section and no woodwind instrument was used.

The audience will be treated to an aural delight when the band performs Frank Sinatra’s immortal “Strangers In The Night”. The flawless performance will be carried further with a jazz number composed by Dr. L. Subramaniam and music director A. R. Rahman’s “Dil Hai Chhota Sa” from the acclaimed film “Roja”.

The Air Warriors Symphony that has performed at various festivals across the country and abroad was formed in 2002 by selecting musicians from various air force bands. It comprises musicians who play brass, woodwind, reed, electronic and percussion instruments.

The band, whose objective is to create awareness about the IAF through music, will also enthral the audience with its rendition of “Motherland”, a classical fusion composed by Dr. L. Subramaniam, blended with three different recitals in the raga Jog.

The audience will be taken down memory lane with the Swedish pop group “Abba’s Medley”. The 14-piece concert will conclude with Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s “Vande Mataram”.

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