As the V-Day military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War approaches, the joint military band, comprising members from all services of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), is undergoing intensive training to put the final touches to the grand event.
The military parade, set to take place on September 3 in the iconic Tian'anmen Square, will honor the heroic legacy of the 14-year War of Resistance and showcase the strength and unity of modern China.
Military music has always been a highlight of the previous parades, and this year is no exception. The band, selected from elite performers across the armed forces, is poised to deliver a powerful musical tribute to the historic event.
This year's repertoire includes classic songs from the War of Resistance era as well as modern military marches such as March of Steel Torrent and Battle Song of a Strong Force.
To achieve perfect synchronization among over 1,000 performers, the band has conducted rigorous training in individual, sectional, and full ensemble formats, with additional emphasis on formation precision and seamless musical transitions.
"Although the musicians of the joint military band come from different posts and different places, when they gather together, they form a highly powerful combat capability. Therefore, during our training process, we must place even greater emphasis on our teamwork effectiveness," said Cheng Yuanwen, a member of the band.
In the band, every performer is a fighter. They say that each parade is a process of personal and spiritual transformation for themselves, and they pour deeper emotions into their performances.
"Especially when we perform these military tunes in sync with the display of our national defense forces on the parade ground, the impact is incredibly powerful. Another distinctive aspect of this year's parade is the subtle adjustments we have made to certain musical pieces. For instance, in 'March of Steel Torrent,' we changed the tempo from 90 to 88 beats per minute. This, combined with the presence of our honor guard unit, creates a more solemn, robust, and majestic atmosphere," said Zhou Lei, a member of the band.
"What impressed me most was the moment we performed 'I Love the Blue Sky of My Motherland.' Just as we were playing this melody, the aerial formation flew overhead. At that instant, while we were producing this soaring music, I also heard the roar of the fighter jets. It made me reflect on the journey of the Chinese Air Force—from having virtually nothing during the War of Resistance against Japanese aggression to today's robust development with a diverse array of aircraft. This magnificent journey of progress moved me incredibly," said Lyu Jiajie, a member of the band. To better align with the thematic elements, the band has increased the proportion of the woodwind section in the choral prelude music during this year's pre-parade performance.
"The clarinet section has been expanded from the traditional 100 players to 200. This is because the instrument possesses exceptionally rich expressive capabilities: its tone is exquisite and mellow, its high register is particularly brilliant, and its range is remarkably wide with tremendous dynamic versatility. Its presence makes our choral pieces sound even more magnificent," said Gu Jinqiu, a member of the band.
This year, in some of the trumpet music, the band will also add more brass and percussion sections on top of the traditional ceremonial trumpet section to make the music more grand and magnificent.
"For example, the trombones from the brass section add a rich, deep timbre to the traditionally bright and resonant trumpet melodies, enhancing the ceremonial grandeur of the entire horn ensemble. The expansion of the percussion section, such as the addition of bass drums, allows us to emulate the sound of ceremonial cannons. This makes the live trumpet music more solemn and majestic, embodying the dignity of a great nation," said Gu.
To achieve a seamless audio-visual effect, the band will set up 10 command points at the event site.
Each command point will issue over 20 commands based on key time nodes, the transition between foot formations and equipment formations, etc. Each command corresponds to a precise time point, clear actions, and a command operator.
"Verbal commands are but the manifestation of this integrated command system. Its true core lies in standardized procedures, clearly defined responsibilities, reliable communication networks, and rigorous execution. Simultaneously, our composition studio has developed new musical pieces tailored to the characteristics of each equipment formation's combat units, along with comprehensive orchestration arrangements. Much like how different military branches wear distinct uniforms, this approach ensures seamless and fluid musical transitions," said Xu Yang, a member of the band.
"The joint military band was established to fulfill major state ceremonial duties for the Party and the nation, aiming to create a solemn and grand ceremonial atmosphere. The essence of the band lies in its 'joint' nature. Musicians playing diverse instruments share the same mission to collectively sound the bugle call for a world-class military forces in the new era. This fully reflects the contemporary emphasis on integrated joint operations across multiple service branches. Through music, we seek to stir the passion of officers and soldiers, unite strength through melody, and ensure military music resonates in harmony with the cause of building a strong military," said Huang Yanhui, a member of the band.
Military band intensifies training to put final touch to grand performance at China's V-Day parade
