According to Xinhua on Aug. 23, a joint military band comprising over 1,000 service members will perform at the military parade marking the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. This will be the largest military band in the history of China's V-Day military parades, showcasing new compositions, arrangements, and configurations as they undergo review by the Communist Party and the public.
Members of the joint military band of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes musicians from the military band of the PLA honor guard, as well as outstanding military music personnel selected from other military units. The three chief conductors leading the performance are all from the PLA honor guard.
Huang Yanhui, head of the joint military band, said that the music program consists of five segments: the warm-up, the ceremony, the parade inspection, the march-past, and the finale. Many of the pieces are newly composed specifically for this event. The band will feature four noteworthy highlights:
- Emphasis on the theme of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression: The 14 rows of the band symbolize the 14 years of the war, whereas the 80 salute buglers in the front signify the 80th anniversary of the war's victory. The warm-up session will include a medley of four wartime songs, while the march-past will feature newly composed pieces celebrating the victory.
- Showcasing contemporary military characteristics. During the passage of the equipment formations and aerial formations, new marches tailored to different military branches will be performed, reflecting the modernized structure and spirit of the PLA.
- Innovative musical performance. The band has increased the proportion of woodwind instruments and creatively combined bugles, brass, and percussion to enhance the music's depth and grandeur. The performance also integrates choreographed movements to enrich the visual and auditory experience.
- Enhancing ceremony atmosphere. Specific pieces will be used to distinguish key segments of the parade, heightening its solemnity and ceremonial impact.
The massive V-Day military parade is scheduled for Sept. 3 in Tian'anmen Square in Beijing.
Related News:
OMG | Shocking foreigners with China's military parade!
Opinion | From Lugou Bridge to the parade ground: Historical memory must not end in ceremony
Comment