Faculty members and some students of The Calcutta School of Music (CSM) braved inclement weather recently to reach Sandré Hall where the US Air Force Band of the Pacific, a squadron of airman-musicians on invitation to India from the US consulate general, was billed to perform.

“This is the first time in 50 years that a dedicated brass group has come to play in Calcutta. We have had saxophone performances, which is also a brass instrument, but never have we had this brass combination — trumpet, trombone, tuba and French horn,” CSM president Jyotishka Dasgupta sounded excited as the band members settled down on stage.

Four members of the band, popularly called Pacific Brass, are based in the Yokota air base in Japan, while David Wucher, one of the two trumpet players, joined them from the Pearl Harbor-Hickam joint base in Hawaii. “I had exactly three days to rehearse with them. I was in Alaska when they asked if I could join. After this, I go to Australia to perform. My kids will be in college before I get to go home,” he said, raising a roll of laughter.

“There are nine places where we have bases, including Hawaii, Japan, Germany and a small multi-national band in Belgium,” said Staff Sergeant Daniel Thrower, the second trumpet player of the quintet and the leader of the group. “I get to take credit for all their wonderful work,” smiled the award-winning composer.

The band, which performs at ceremonial and protocol events, has a repertoire spanning traditional military music to holiday and popular music that helps them connect with audiences of various cultures and age groups.

They have performed at significant events such as a programme for King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, the opening of Tokyo Disneyland, the Sapporo International Snow and Ice Festival in Japan, the centennial celebration of Korean and American relations, the Asian Aerospace Airshow in Singapore, among others.

At CSM, they started with Pacific Fanfare and Tuttarana, but went on to Justin Bieber’s Holy, a pop song with elements of gospel, followed by Christina Aguilera’s Come on over, baby. Also on the playlist was “a childhood favourite” piece, Friend like me, from Aladdin.

But what connected best with the audience was their sign-off with Kabhi alvida na kehna. “We were sent over a dozen Indian songs. We chose this one,” said Senior Master Sergeant Jason Foster, the trombone player.

Senior Airman Colby Parker faced a lot of questions as his tuba was the most imposing among the musical instruments. “I had no musical background. In sixth grade, our music teacher made me try all the instruments. I could produce sound from both the tuba and the euphonium. I said: ‘Give me the big one’.”

CSM president Jyotishka Dasgupta felicitates tuba player Colby Parker

Parker has since carried the tuba around to a dozen countries. “An airline allows 32kg of check-in. My box weights 31.5kg. Wish I had chosen the smaller instrument then,” he sighed in mock despair.

Senior Airman Jordan Miller, the horn player, is the lone woman in the quintet.

The musicians gave the music students some theoretical background about the classification of instruments into wood, string, brass and percussion and demonstrated the speciality of their respective instruments. A kid wanted to touch the tuba, which was taller and heavier than his frame.

The faculty members also asked the band some incisive questions. A piano teacher wanted to know about the cleaning regimen of the instruments, which got the players to speak about the organisms that can grow in the dark interiors if it is left damp with saliva.

Dasgupta wanted a demonstration on a trumpet with a plunger mute, which Thrower obliged, producing the trumpet’s iconic sound deadening effect by momentary muffling.

“It is unfortunate that we do not have teachers for these instruments in the eastern and northern parts of the country. So students don’t get the opportunity to learn these brass instruments. That is why this programme is special for us,” said the CSM president.

Chaitali Ganguly, head of the Western music and performing arts at the Calcutta School of Music

The Pacific band gave another performance at the Indian Museum and also visited Modern High School International. .

“The band will also perform in Guwahati and Shillong for the first time, following their performances here, as part of their three-city tour of India,” said American Center director Elizabeth Lee.