Record

CodeDS/UK/19667
NameShree Muktajeevan Pipe Band; 1972-; British pipe band
Dates1972-
BiographyShree Muktajeevan Pipe Band was established in 1972 in honour of Gurudev Adya Acharyapravar Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa. In 1970, Jeevanpran Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa visited His followers in England and a procession was held in the streets of Central London, culminating in a service and religious dance/music concert in Trafalgar Square. A Scottish pipe band was hired to lead the procession, and His Holiness Swamibapa, upon hearing the pipe music liked the sound very much. At the special request of Swamibapa and with his blessings the devotees of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan, London, formed a pipe band. The pipe band was named "Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band, London" in the honour of Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa.

In the early years the band's repertoire was limited. Currently the number of tunes played by the band has increased to more than seventy. The music comprises not only of Scottish pipe music, but also Indian melodies, bhajans, and original tunes composed by band members. Members of the band transpose newly released Hindi film songs and set them onto the bagpipe scale. Furthermore the teaching and training of new and existing members is conducted exclusively by the senior members of the band. As a testament to the professionalism attained by the band it has enrolled as a member of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and remains a current member.

The band is dressed in tartan uniforms, plays traditional and Indian music on Scottish instruments and is based in London with Hindu members

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