From ancient times, music has inspired man to lead troops in battle. Numerous folklores and songs talk of the heroic deeds of legendary soldiers, remembered even today for their valour and courage. The sounding of conches and the beating of drums heralded the might of armies that fought and faded away but left behind their martial music to inspire others to follow their deeds. Abide with me, Lilli Marlene and chal chal re nau- jawan are some of the musical scores which bring nostalgic memories.

A musical evening was recently arranged at Nagpur by the Commandant of the Brigade of the Guards Regimental Centre, Brig Tejinder Singh. The Brigade of the Guards Musical Group, performing under the baton of Ganesh Datt and Sub Balram Singh Yadav, with the sun slowly setting over the western horizon transported the enraptured audience from the world of Indian and Western classical to light music and ragas with martial overtones.

The musical evening started with the lilting tune composed by LB Gurung. The next number was light musical, Chand Aya, composed by Capt HK Thakur, with a touch of the music from Arabian Nights. The band then swung into the ever popular melodious hymn Amazing Grace composed by Newton John. It had the distinguished audience swaying in their seats. Raag Bhopali was followed by Donau Wellen, a waltz composed in 1880 and then Mariette Polka, the Spanish gypsy dance which had the audience tapping their feet to its lilting music.

Then followed the best known and beloved hymn of Mahatma Gandhi, Abide With Me. Composed by William Henry Monk, Professor of vocal music at King’s College, London, this tune brought tears of joy.

And then, the band swung into high gear overwhelming the audience with the Gallant Guards symbolising the charge of the Brigade of the Guards in the battle of Gangasagar in East Pakistan on December 3, 1971 which broke the defence-line of the Pakistani army to earn the battle honour, Gangasagar for the Guards Brigade. It has been modelled on the music of Light Cavalry, the famous overture composed by Austrian composer Franz Von Suppe in 1866.

The flow of martial music then merged into a patriotic note with Kaisa sunder aur bahadur bharat desh hamara hai a patriotic Hindi choir composed by Capt HK Thakur. It invoked in the listeners a feeling of great pride. The 34-piece Guards Musical Group has had the honour of performing at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on numerous occasions, playing at the Asiad 1982 and holding concerts at the World Polo Championship in 1996 and 2000.

The musical instruments, imported from the United Kingdom, were divided into the woodwind, bass and percussion sections. The instruments ranged from the French horn, flute, piccolo and oboe to the clarinet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, saxophone and bassoon.

The musical evening was attended, among others, by the Guardian Minister of Nagpur district, Mr Shivajirao Moghe, District Collector Manu Kumar Srivastava and a host of military and civil dignitaries. The programme was conducted by Lt Col Atul Bhandari and Ms Yuvika Singh.