Virtuoso From Afghanistan

Amazon.com
When the whole world seems to be losing its collective mind, music remains an important--sometimes only--means of communication between battling factions who actually know very little about one another. Ustad (an honorific granted to Muslim musical icons) Omar is a revered master of the rabab, a short-necked plucked lute with a plangent, gutty tone. He performs here with a youthful Indian tabla (a hand drum capable of wide variations of pitch) player named Zakhir Hussain, who has since achieved international stardom. Stylistically, the music seems to have much in common with Indian classical traditions, although it is less languid, more direct, and not constructed over an underlying drone. These five tracks were recorded during a 1974 performance at the University of Washington in Seattle. Both men are captured at their fiery best, goading one another into explosive bursts of complex time signatures and breathtaking melodic invention. --Christina Roden

Product Description
Afghan rebâb virtuoso Ustad Mohammad Omar, who was born sometime in the early 20th century, came to the United States in 1974 to Seattle’s University of Washington as an artist-in residence in the ethnomusicology department. On 18 November 1974, he gave his only U.S. concert, at the university’s Meany Hall. He was accompanied by 24-year-old Zakir Hussain, a budding Indian tabla player. Hussain went on to become a world-renowned tabla virtuoso. Ustad Mohammad Omar returned to Afghanistan after his year in Seattle and died in 1980.

Virtuoso From Afghanistan,Ustad Mohammad Omar,Smithsonian Folkways,Afghanistan,Int'l & World Music,Pop,World Beat,World Music

Average customer rating: Ancient Music From Afghanistan EXCELLENT AFGHANISTANIAN SOUNDS If only there were more where this came from!

Virtuoso From Afghanistan Ustad Mohammad Omar Manufacturer: Smithsonian Folkways ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | International | Styles | Music Afghanistan | Middle East | International | Styles | Music World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Smithsonian Folkways Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Inside Afghanistan Master of the Afghani Lutes Afghanistan Untouched Air Mail Music: Afghanistan Anthology of World Music: Afghanistan ASIN: B000063NC8 Release Date: 2002-04-23

Tracks:

1. Emen/Tintal
2. Bopali/Jhaptal
3. Tabla Solo
4. Pelo/Tintal
5. Keliwali

Amazon.com

When the whole world seems to be losing its collective mind, music remains an important--sometimes only--means of communication between battling factions who actually know very little about one another. Ustad (an honorific granted to Muslim musical icons) Omar is a revered master of the rabab, a short-necked plucked lute with a plangent, gutty tone. He performs here with a youthful Indian tabla (a hand drum capable of wide variations of pitch) player named Zakhir Hussain, who has since achieved international stardom. Stylistically, the music seems to have much in common with Indian classical traditions, although it is less languid, more direct, and not constructed over an underlying drone. These five tracks were recorded during a 1974 performance at the University of Washington in Seattle. Both men are captured at their fiery best, goading one another into explosive bursts of complex time signatures and breathtaking melodic invention. --Christina Roden

Album Description

Afghan rebâb virtuoso Ustad Mohammad Omar, who was born sometime in the early 20th century, came to the United States in 1974 to Seattle's University of Washington as an artist-in residence in the ethnomusicology department. On 18 November 1974, he gave his only U.S. concert, at the university's Meany Hall. He was accompanied by 24-year-old Zakir Hussain, a budding Indian tabla player. Hussain went on to become a world-renowned tabla virtuoso. Ustad Mohammad Omar returned to Afghanistan after his year in Seattle and died in 1980.

Customer Reviews:

Ancient Music From Afghanistan.......2006-02-25

An extremely intersting and valuable document. This music is the precursor of Indian Classical Music. This great master is i beleive the only great master of Rebab that has left us a modern recording. The recording is excellent and the music haunting and deep. If the preceding words have frightened you i must also add it is really enjoyable music though not for easy listening. Giorgio from italy

EXCELLENT AFGHANISTANIAN SOUNDS.......2005-07-09

Afghanistan has a rich musical heritage less evident in these lands ravaged by war and poverty. It's the same with Iraq--wonderful musical heritage (like Omar and Munir Bashir). You can really hear it in "Virtuoso from Afghanistan" and I recommend this album highly.

If only there were more where this came from!.......2003-02-09

Congratulations! Whether on purpose or by accident, you just came across the single best "live" cd release of 2002! This disc was recorded in 1974 at Ustad Mohammad Omar's only public performance in the United States, a concert that I'm sure everyone who attended still remembers with extreme joy.

I'm not sure why, but I just didn't seem to be in much of a review-writing mood for alot of 2002. If I had been, I would have reviewed this cd much earlier, as it deserves.

Fans of Hindustani music will be pleased to know that the rabab is the instrument that the sarod evoled out of. If you're a fan of Buddhadev Das Gupta or Amjad Ali Khan or Ali Akbar Khan (etc...) then that in itself would be enough reason to be curious about hearing this cd. Obviously it's all about personal taste, but I couldn't fault someone if they preferred the tone of the rabab over that of the sarod. The rabab tone in Ustad Mohammad Omar's hands is beautifully tough to describe. I'd almost just say that it's sort of dreamy and ethereal yet aggressive, whereas the sarod is oftentimes more percussive and punchy. Hey, they are both amazing instruments tied to amazing master musicians. It's tough to go wrong either way.

It's saddening that music of this caliber isn't more well known. Hindustani music (particularly Ravi Shankar) is world famous, yet this music, an older cousin, is so underappreciated and little-known (in comparison) even though it is incredible. Mohammad Omar and Zakir reach moments of perfection on this disc.

Obviously, and unfortunately, most of America's view of Afghanistan is that it is some sort of backwards dirt-hole. A few decades of war, internal divisions, and political repression will do that to you. I just hope the world starts to realize that there is more to Afghanistan's story and people than what makes the headline news. This cd is an excellent place to start that journey of discovery for yourself. Once you listen to the music on this cd you will certainly find yourself wondering how and why the Taliban could grow up in a country with music like this and still choose to outlaw music.

Sometimes our world seemingly tries to find the bad in everyone else, but you pop in a cd like this and all you can think of is the beauty, emotional depth, and creativity that can be at the heart of humanity if we let it.

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