Music of Afghanistan
More than a decade ago the Taliban banned all music and publicly broke and burned every musical instrument they could find in what was to become the most severe prohibition of music in world history. But following the Taliban’s departure, musicians at home took up new instruments or recovered their old ones that had been carefully hidden, and Afghanistan began to wake up to a new musical dawn…
Reel Afghanistan is extremely proud to present two performances by two Afghan musical ensembles direct from Kabul:
Kharabat (taking their name from the Musicians Quarter in Kabul) is a collective of talented artists from within Afghanistan and the UK. Playing a variety of traditional instruments including Rubab, Dilrobah and Dolak, they will be joined by Yusuf Mahmoud - one of the world’s finest Afghan Tabla players.
The Qawali Sham Sufi Group has been performing music for more than 30 years and is one of the most highly regarded Qawali groups in Afghanistan.
Featuring an array of instruments rarely heard outside of Afghanistan, the Qawali Sham Sufi group are part of a vibrant musical tradition that stretches back more than 700 years. (presented in conjunction with the Mawlana Foundation)
Join us for the extremely rare opportunity to hear some of the oldest, most beautiful and emotionally evocative music in the world as performed by some of the most skilled musicians in Afghanistan and the UK.
UK Debut Performances and only Scottish Performances
23rd February - 4pm - Introducing: Music of Afghanistan
Lecture and recital providing a rare opportunity to find out more about the challenges faced by musicians in Afghanistan and hear artists’ stories, as well as to listen to the timeless sound of Afghan music. Introduced by Nigel Osbourne (Institute for Music in Human and Social Development). 4pm - Reid Concert Hall, Edinburgh University - £5/2 (conc.)
Tickets for this event available from the University of Edinburgh School of Music, The Queens Hall and from Saraswati Afghan Shop, 35 Guthrie St, Edinburgh, EH1 1JG.
24th February - 7pm - Music of Afghanistan Main Concert
This concert at the Queens Hall will feature a full concert performance by both groups. It will be unmissable. 7pm - Queen’s Hall - £10/7 (conc.)
Tickets Available for this performance from the Queens Hall and from Saraswati Afghan Shop, 35 Guthrie St, Edinburgh, EH1 1JG.
NEW! Special Tabla Workshop by visiting master Yusuf Mahmoud
Friday 22nd Feb venue: Alison House, 12 Nicolson Sq Level: Intermediate This workshop is open to anyone who has some experience in tabla playing, please bring your own tabla. Numbers are restricted to only 12 participants. Contact University of Edinburgh School of Music ASAP to register your interest.
Yusuf Mahmoud - Yusuf is an Afghan musician, living and working in the UK , and teaching in Goldsmith’s College, University of London for the past 10 years. Yusuf performs Afghan and Indian classical and traditional music in Afghanistan and around the world. He comes from a traditional musical family from the old musicians’ quarter of Kabul , called Kharabat. He is the son of Ustad Asif Mahmoud, the renowned tabla player and professor of Afghan music, now teaching in Aga Khan Music Academy in Kabul .