Date and Time:
Monday, February 21, 2005 at 7:30 p.m.

Single Ticket Prices:
$10, 15, 22, 34, 45 (discounts available for seniors, youth, and groups)

Season Ticket Packages:
This concert is part of the Artist Series and Music in Motion Series season ticket packages.

Location:
Macky Auditorium

Running Time:
1.5 to 2 hours

Preconcert Conversation:
Brenda Romero, Professor of Ethnomusicology at 6:45 p.m. in Macky Room 102

Other Events:
A panel discussion entitled “From Boulder to Kabul: The Reconstruction of Afghanistan”will be held Monday, February 21 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. in the Old Main Chapel. The discussion, hosted in conjunction with Afghans4Tomorrow, will feature six panelists and will be moderated by John Beynon, chair of the Boulder County Chapter of the United Nations Association. This event is free and open to the public.

A workshop with the musicians will be held Tuesday, February 22 at 1 p.m. in the Imig Music Building’s Room C199. This event is free and open to the public.

Event Overview:
Travel to Afghanistan, one of the world’s most fascinating and turbulent cultural crossroads, without ever leaving Macky. Radio Kabul features Afghanistan’s greatest female vocalist Ustad Farida Mahwash. Listen for Indian, Persian, and Arabic musical influences in a program of traditional music including airy melodies from Tajik minstrels, ecstatic festival songs, and subtle classic ragas.

Program:
Nastaran (Instrumental)
Khorchid guna-e-man (H. Arman - voice)
Qadbala (H. Arman - voice)
Instrumental Duo (Flute & Zerbaghali)
Laili Djan (H. Arman - voice)
Instrumental Duo (Rubab & Zerbaghali)
Bedel Choda Am (Ustad Mahwash - Lead Vocal)
E zema porsan la racha (Ustad Mahwash - Lead Vocal)
Beshnaw Az Nai (Ustad Mahwash - Lead Vocal)
Mola Mamad Djan (Ustad Mahwash - Lead Vocal)
Kanari (Ustad Mahwash - Lead Vocal)

Artist Bios:
USTAD FARIDA MAHWASH, Vocalist
Ustad Farida Mahwash is unanimously acknowledged as the greatest female singer of Afghanistan. She studied under the great masters Nabi Gol, Khyal, Sarâhang and Naynawaz.  Mahwash became popular through her broadcasts on Radio Kabul, and was named “Artist of the Year” in 1970, before receiving in 1977 the coveted title of Ustad (“Master”). She has been living for the last twelve years in California and makes tours throughout the world to promote a better understanding of the music of her country.  The BBC granted her the Asia/Pacific Award of World Music in 2003.

AZIZ HERAWI, Rubab & Sitar
Aziz Herawi, or Aghasab as he is reverentially addressed, carries the melodies of his native Herat to Afghani refugee communities around the world. Being born into a family of noted clerics was not an ideal circumstance for a budding creative musician; he was forced to practice clandestinely to avoid the wrath of his elders. Since Herawi's father did not approve of playing music, as a boy Herawi taught himself to play his main instrument, the dutar (a long-necked 14-stringed lute), in secret.

Born to a family of mullahs, or religious clerics, the musician´s father was extremely conservative and allowed his children to listen to news on the radio but turned it off before music was broadcast. Like other religious conservatives, he believed that music caused "people to dance and lose control of themselves," Herawi told the Los Angeles Times. The self-taught musician was still a young man when his father died, and he was able to pursue his passion openly. "I invited well-known Ustads (master musicians) from India and other regions to learn from and to play with," he said. "Because what drove me to music was my God-given love for it. When I am holding one of my instruments-especially the rubab-it is like I am holding on to the universe." While still in his 20´s, Herawi became a well-known performer in Afghanistan. He played before the king, Zaher Shah, with pop artist Ahmad Zahir, and went on the road to Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, and other Central Asian nations.

His career came to an abrupt halt in 1979 when the Soviets bombed Herat and troops arrived to round up local leaders. Herawi was away at the time, practicing with musician friends, but most of his family was killed. "I went to the mountains, sometimes on horseback, sometimes on foot," he said. "Risk was everywhere, from the Soviets, as well as from the Soviet-sponsored local tribal forces. The risk was death and death was common." Traditionally, music accompanied nearly every private and public ceremony, with the exception of funerals. During those grim and desperate times of the late 1970s and early 1980s, Herawi lived in the mountains with the moujahadeen. He did not play or even hear much music for more than five years. "I was not happy, and that is why I did not play," he said, "it did not feel right, since the country was at war, and my family members were killed. I was given the opportunity to lead 1,500 men. And, as a commander, my mind was in the war, not music, at the time." As things worsened in his homeland, Herawi fled to Pakistan in1983 and settled into the Afghan expatriate community in northern California two years later.

Herat's music is a blend of Persian and Hindustani instruments and styles. His playing of the dutar and rabab (a short-necked, double-chambered plucked lute and Herawi's second instrument) is very typical of the Herat style although Herawi plays the folk melodies of several distinct cultures from many regions of Afghanistan. The pieces have the varied rhythms of the Hindustani raga forms, but are much shorter and more intense than most Hindustani music. Herawi often builds up to very fast tempos, and employs a wide range of dynamics, sometimes playing very quietly for dramatic effect.

KHALIL RAGHEB, Harmonium & Vocals
An exceptional talent and frequent accompanist for Ustad Mahwash, Khalil Ragheb started his career as drummer for one of the most heralded Afghan singers in the world, Ahmad Zahir. Later he moved to Iran and worked in radio and television. Upon arriving in America, Raghed established SS Afghan TV, currently in its eleventh year on the air.

AHSAN AHMADI, Tabla
Ahsan Ahmad was born in Kabul. He started to learn tabla with the great Ustad Tari Khan. He is equally versed in classical traditions as well as in contemporary compositions. He moved to United States with is family in 1988 and continue his artistic activities there. Ahsan Ahmad performed all over the country with many Afghan musicians and singer. He is particularly honoured to share the stage with Ustad Mahwash.

HENRI TOURNIER, Flute
Henri Tournier is considered the best French flute player playing Indian flute, used in afghan music. He studied North Indian traditional music at the Conservatoire National de Musique de Paris, before becoming a disciple of the master of the bansuri flute Hariprasad Chaurasia, to whom he became the assistant at the conservatory of Rotterdam. He recorded the CD Radio Kaboul with Ustad Mahwash and also has recorded with the great Pakistan singer Abida Parveen.

Audio:
Listen to or purchase music from Ustad Farida Mahwash at Barnes&Noble.com. A portion of your purchase will be donated to CU Concerts.
• Radio Kaboul