Afghanistan was well known for its cultural diversity, and equally renowned for its music. Under the Taliban regime, music was forbidden but many master musicians survived and, along with them, their knowledge.

The end of the Taliban regime saw many master musicians returning to Afghanistan. Since then, they have worked to pass on their wealth of knowledge to younger generations.

A musical journey

With the Safar project, (‘safar’ means ‘journey’) the “Afghanistan National Institute of Music”, AMRC, supports Afghan musicians in their efforts to maintain and pass on their invaluable musical traditions and knowledge. What we now call Afghan art music, is very close to the North Indian classical music with his melodic scales. It was maintained especially in the 19th century and later at the court of the Afghan king, numerous musicians from British India brought to Kabul. Musicians from Kabul studied with masters in India and Pakistan. It was a lively musical exchange in the region. Instruments such as the Indian tabla drum boilers were included in the Afghan music, and the Afghan Rubab was modified in India sarod. The pieces can be mainly divided into three kinds: simple instrumental pieces mainly played with Rubab and Tabla, instrumental pieces in four parts and long instrumental suites. Safar will give insight into the most beautiful flowers of various musical traditions of Afghanistan.

• Ustad Rameen Saqizada: rubab
• Ustad Murad Sarkhosh: ghichak, voice
• Ustad Fraidoon: tabla
• Ustad Abdul Latif: dhol, thul
• Ustad Rasol Aziz: tanbur