Music in Pakistan
Hamid Mahmood February 22, 2003
#18 Posted by tahmed32 on February 23, 2003 2:07:51 pm
Hanif sahib: Thanks for an informative article that provides a fresh look at Indian classical music and how it provides the basis for many popular songs. I dont think there is any fear of music dying out in the frontier, just as there is no fear that the birds will stop singing out of deference to some ideology. We have too many music lovers in Pakistan, too rich a tradition of folk music, and too rich a tradition of arts and music in neigboring countries, for that to happen. In Bangladesh, girls are in fact expected to be able to sing and dance, and I believe the same is true for many parts of India.
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#17 Posted by hamid_81 on February 23, 2003 2:07:51 pm
#12 by amit
Amit Sahib!
You are very right! I agree that it is not that difficult. And till the time I was in Pakistan I was giving free concerts for Sampurna in Karachi, just to help them promote the cause of Classical Music. Now, what i do is that I help them by donations, and I try to inculcate a sense of Pakistani Classical Music in my western friends and shagirds. Here i have started to do soemthing a little different, and that is Fusion Music. Fusing my sitar with violin, fule and guitar and make all of these instruments play a compostion in a raag. I know that the revival will be difficult, but not impossible. But I think that the first step should be really to intoduce music as a subject at school level. Then we can start with music universities and institutes for serious music lovers and help them make a career.
Amit Sahib!
You are very right! I agree that it is not that difficult. And till the time I was in Pakistan I was giving free concerts for Sampurna in Karachi, just to help them promote the cause of Classical Music. Now, what i do is that I help them by donations, and I try to inculcate a sense of Pakistani Classical Music in my western friends and shagirds. Here i have started to do soemthing a little different, and that is Fusion Music. Fusing my sitar with violin, fule and guitar and make all of these instruments play a compostion in a raag. I know that the revival will be difficult, but not impossible. But I think that the first step should be really to intoduce music as a subject at school level. Then we can start with music universities and institutes for serious music lovers and help them make a career.
#16 Posted by hamid_81 on February 23, 2003 2:07:50 pm
#13 by ahmadzai
Dear Ahmad Zai Saheb!
The classical musicians have been keeping their knowledge in secret because the people don`t want it. If the people want the knowledge they should go and ask for it. If then they don`t get it then I can understand that it is the fault of classical musicians. But it has never happened that a person has been turned down by a classical musician. These people want to come out and tell people about their music. But they donot find the appreciation amongst the common folk to get the courage to do so.
About the books:
I agree strongly with you that it is the fault of musicians that other than a few very old ones, they have not come up new, beter and more comprehensive ones.
Dear Ahmad Zai Saheb!
The classical musicians have been keeping their knowledge in secret because the people don`t want it. If the people want the knowledge they should go and ask for it. If then they don`t get it then I can understand that it is the fault of classical musicians. But it has never happened that a person has been turned down by a classical musician. These people want to come out and tell people about their music. But they donot find the appreciation amongst the common folk to get the courage to do so.
About the books:
I agree strongly with you that it is the fault of musicians that other than a few very old ones, they have not come up new, beter and more comprehensive ones.
#15 Posted by SameerJB on February 23, 2003 8:19:29 am
As I mention before, the promotion or marketing of a product using dedication and various smart techniques play definite role in acceptance of that product. The promotion is perhaps a bigger problem than families` connections, relations and nepotism. With the promotion comes marketplace wherein quality of the product is more important than the nepotism.
The family connections and relationships play a positive role too. The younger generation of these families do have an edge from experience at home. In every area, family connections are used to advance certain causes, economic and power being the topmost. Look at the power of Nehru family. What is the source of their upper class livelihood? Just yesterday, I was reading the connections of some high ranking PAF officers who were killed in a plane crash. Most of them have relatives in high positions with in military. Three cousins of Akhtar Abdul Rehman of Zia era are generals now with his son a minister. Airforce chief was brother-in-law of DG Rangers, a general in the Army. Perhaps when late Mushaf Mir was married, he was a Squadron Leader of Flight Lietanant and his brother-in-law a Major. Given the fact that very few make it ot upper echelon, a large number from related families do mean family connections playing role along the way. Another AVM was the son and brother of another AVM and the husband of Oracle corporation chief in Pakistan. At the time of marriage all of these people were just like average Major or Squadron Leaders. same is true about gharanas but exceptions are always there. Ustad BaRe Ghulam Ali Khan did not come from big gharana and his children are not at the level of their dad.
The classical music is one of the few areas that is least affected by nationalistic, religious and language politics. Different ragas developed at different times at different places in subcontinent have been accepted by all cultures without bias or politics. The popular music can not claim this. The language politics is definitely there in popular music but in classical, the language of lyrics is not at all important. It is ragas.
The family connections and relationships play a positive role too. The younger generation of these families do have an edge from experience at home. In every area, family connections are used to advance certain causes, economic and power being the topmost. Look at the power of Nehru family. What is the source of their upper class livelihood? Just yesterday, I was reading the connections of some high ranking PAF officers who were killed in a plane crash. Most of them have relatives in high positions with in military. Three cousins of Akhtar Abdul Rehman of Zia era are generals now with his son a minister. Airforce chief was brother-in-law of DG Rangers, a general in the Army. Perhaps when late Mushaf Mir was married, he was a Squadron Leader of Flight Lietanant and his brother-in-law a Major. Given the fact that very few make it ot upper echelon, a large number from related families do mean family connections playing role along the way. Another AVM was the son and brother of another AVM and the husband of Oracle corporation chief in Pakistan. At the time of marriage all of these people were just like average Major or Squadron Leaders. same is true about gharanas but exceptions are always there. Ustad BaRe Ghulam Ali Khan did not come from big gharana and his children are not at the level of their dad.
The classical music is one of the few areas that is least affected by nationalistic, religious and language politics. Different ragas developed at different times at different places in subcontinent have been accepted by all cultures without bias or politics. The popular music can not claim this. The language politics is definitely there in popular music but in classical, the language of lyrics is not at all important. It is ragas.
#14 Posted by Saminasha on February 23, 2003 8:19:29 am
Brilliant topic!
I appreciated the author`s intro to a very interesting issue. I would very much like to read dialogues on classical South Asian music on an ongoing basis on Chowk.
I appreciated the author`s intro to a very interesting issue. I would very much like to read dialogues on classical South Asian music on an ongoing basis on Chowk.
#13 Posted by amit on February 23, 2003 12:29:52 am
Hamid Sahib,
You have brought up a topic that is very dear to my heart - Classical Music. I believe that classical music is one of the most beautiful accomplishments of the entire subcontinent, a divine gift. It has amazing depth and breadth, and if performed properly, can literally mesmerize you. It is sad to hear that Pakistan is giving up on this art, when muslims were the leading patrons as well as performers of classical music for centuries. My all time favorites are Ustad Abdul Karim Khan followed closely by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Pandit D.V. Paluskar.
The good news is that classical music can be revived quite successfully in Pakistan, just as it has been revived in India. The first step is to separate classical music from the seedy elements, the kothas etc. and bring it to the drawing room. Secondly, classical music has to be accessible to ordinary people. The ustads tend to limit their students to people from their immediate family and treat outsiders like dirt. In India, Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar started the Gandharva Mahavidyala system, where clean, wholesome and affordable classical music schools were opened catering to the ordinary people. The objective was to create ``Kaansens`` rather than ``Tansens`` i.e. people who could appreciate and support classical music instead of becoming maesteros. Once middle class people saw the value of these schools, they responded very positively. In a similar vein, Pandit Bhatkhande created a notation system and transcribed popular raag compositions, so as to make it easier for people to follow and understand. In fact, he created a structured syllabus for people to learn classical music at different levels of sophistication.
For the young crowd, an organization called SPIC-MACAY started by Prof. Kiran Seth at IIT Delhi, has done wonders. They typically bring in classical music maesteros in a cozy setting with college students, where they have an interactive session called ``lecture-demonstrations``. These are very popular and drive up the interest in this art. The government backing in India has actually lagged behind these individual efforts. It is only now that public interest has increased, that government has stepped up its involvement.
A few years back Pt. Jasraj of India was performing in Lahore. After the concert, someone from the audience came and told him - ``Aaj aapne hume Allah ka Ahsaas karva diya``. So the apetite for classical music exists in Pakistan. It is simply dormant and below the surface. Instead of criticizing the new generation, a better strategy is to create the process of bringing classical music back into the mainstream. It is not as difficult as you may think.
You have brought up a topic that is very dear to my heart - Classical Music. I believe that classical music is one of the most beautiful accomplishments of the entire subcontinent, a divine gift. It has amazing depth and breadth, and if performed properly, can literally mesmerize you. It is sad to hear that Pakistan is giving up on this art, when muslims were the leading patrons as well as performers of classical music for centuries. My all time favorites are Ustad Abdul Karim Khan followed closely by Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Pandit D.V. Paluskar.
The good news is that classical music can be revived quite successfully in Pakistan, just as it has been revived in India. The first step is to separate classical music from the seedy elements, the kothas etc. and bring it to the drawing room. Secondly, classical music has to be accessible to ordinary people. The ustads tend to limit their students to people from their immediate family and treat outsiders like dirt. In India, Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar started the Gandharva Mahavidyala system, where clean, wholesome and affordable classical music schools were opened catering to the ordinary people. The objective was to create ``Kaansens`` rather than ``Tansens`` i.e. people who could appreciate and support classical music instead of becoming maesteros. Once middle class people saw the value of these schools, they responded very positively. In a similar vein, Pandit Bhatkhande created a notation system and transcribed popular raag compositions, so as to make it easier for people to follow and understand. In fact, he created a structured syllabus for people to learn classical music at different levels of sophistication.
For the young crowd, an organization called SPIC-MACAY started by Prof. Kiran Seth at IIT Delhi, has done wonders. They typically bring in classical music maesteros in a cozy setting with college students, where they have an interactive session called ``lecture-demonstrations``. These are very popular and drive up the interest in this art. The government backing in India has actually lagged behind these individual efforts. It is only now that public interest has increased, that government has stepped up its involvement.
A few years back Pt. Jasraj of India was performing in Lahore. After the concert, someone from the audience came and told him - ``Aaj aapne hume Allah ka Ahsaas karva diya``. So the apetite for classical music exists in Pakistan. It is simply dormant and below the surface. Instead of criticizing the new generation, a better strategy is to create the process of bringing classical music back into the mainstream. It is not as difficult as you may think.
#12 Posted by Ahmadzai on February 23, 2003 12:29:52 am
Hamid Mahmood:
The problem comes from:
1. our classical music ghiranas keeping the teaching and training very secretive and confined.
2. like some body suggested, unavailability of books.
3. lack of initiative from the classical musicians themselves to explore all the avenues of publicity. This is perhaps due to their lack of education or something. In this respect, it is good to see you write something on this aspect of our culture. It was really nice to know that some of the songs that we humm all day long have classical Raag scales.
The problem comes from:
1. our classical music ghiranas keeping the teaching and training very secretive and confined.
2. like some body suggested, unavailability of books.
3. lack of initiative from the classical musicians themselves to explore all the avenues of publicity. This is perhaps due to their lack of education or something. In this respect, it is good to see you write something on this aspect of our culture. It was really nice to know that some of the songs that we humm all day long have classical Raag scales.
#11 Posted by Ras on February 22, 2003 10:04:43 pm
Music is a window into many aspects of human behavior.
No matter what the Mullah says, Pakistanis love their music.
Rock on Pakistan!
Ras
#10 Posted by jay on February 22, 2003 10:04:42 pm
Nissar Ahmed awarded Sahitya Puraskar
DH News Service BANGALORE, Feb 22
The First Bhageerathi Bai Narayanarao Mane Sahitya Puraskar was presented to noted Kannada poet Prof K S Nissar Ahmed today. At a function organised by BNM Educational Institutions here, noted litterateur Vyasa-raya Ballal presented the award to Dr Nissar Ahmed.
Speaking after receiving the award, Dr Nissar Ahmed said that he was not a critics poet and said that there was no greater happiness than being called a people’s poet. Great poets like Kuvempu, D R Bendre and K S Narasimha-swamy were people’s poets.
////This reminds me of the front page article in Dawn when Abdus Salam was honoured by the pakistanis. A nation that can denigrate a noble laurette deserves only music of the hell, the sound of the cluster bombs punctuated with the big bang of the daisy cutters to the chanting of pakistan ka matlab kya, ......kashmir banega pakistan lilaha ...illaalla....
DH News Service BANGALORE, Feb 22
The First Bhageerathi Bai Narayanarao Mane Sahitya Puraskar was presented to noted Kannada poet Prof K S Nissar Ahmed today. At a function organised by BNM Educational Institutions here, noted litterateur Vyasa-raya Ballal presented the award to Dr Nissar Ahmed.
Speaking after receiving the award, Dr Nissar Ahmed said that he was not a critics poet and said that there was no greater happiness than being called a people’s poet. Great poets like Kuvempu, D R Bendre and K S Narasimha-swamy were people’s poets.
////This reminds me of the front page article in Dawn when Abdus Salam was honoured by the pakistanis. A nation that can denigrate a noble laurette deserves only music of the hell, the sound of the cluster bombs punctuated with the big bang of the daisy cutters to the chanting of pakistan ka matlab kya, ......kashmir banega pakistan lilaha ...illaalla....
#9 Posted by nazarhayatkhan on February 22, 2003 10:04:42 pm
Barring miracles, the Pakistanis are in for an eternal conflict:
Is our cultural base South Asian or Arabic?
Is democracy the total will of the people or it is bound by the religious scripture?
What is the status of Music, Art and drama in our lives?
Has the partition benefitted the people or has it caused further problems?
And so on.
This debate will continue while we keep trundling into the future, downhill, with these basic unresolved issues. BAD.
#8 Posted by PaagalInsaan on February 22, 2003 4:26:11 pm
I think the writer of this essay has an extremely poor comprehension of contemporary music.
The writer has completely failed to understand the fact that raags are only methods of composition.... the difference between contemporary popular music and the classical music is that of PRESENTATION of that composition and not the rules of the composition.
A melody in ``raag bhimpalasi`` presented in classical style, is too heavy for a contemporary teenager. The same raag if presented in the modern popular style, appeals to the youth! A raag is not classical music. It is only a METHOD that is followed by both contemporary and classical styles of music. Its the PRESENTATION that is different.
The writers` comprehension of the subject matter is extremely poor and erroneous. A Raag is not classical music. It is only a method of composition, and you can follow the method to compose a Naat. The MMA government in NWFP will not call such a Naat illegal. They may however declare a contemporary music video with a sexy bimbo, based on the same Raag, illegal! This is because they disagree to the PRESENTATION of the melody, and not the melody itself and its base raag!
Mature presentation covers up even the weakest of melodies. The future of popular music in Pakistan is dark if they continue with the cheap presentation. Haroons and Faakhirs are playing a definite role in taking us back to the stone-age! (Not the ``cave-age`` as termed by the honorable author)
#7 Posted by no_more_a_slave on February 22, 2003 4:26:11 pm
FarooqA #2
Classical music has tremendous cachet in America. Teens are more into pop, like everywhere, but they teach Western classical music in almost every school. I have attended some awesome performances by school music groups and individual kids.
Classical music has tremendous cachet in America. Teens are more into pop, like everywhere, but they teach Western classical music in almost every school. I have attended some awesome performances by school music groups and individual kids.
#6 Posted by harimau on February 22, 2003 4:26:11 pm
The author is right in lamenting the loss of one`s heritage, one`s culture.
If he finds greater appreciation for Classical Music in India, that is due to the fact that there is no religious prohibition against singing; in fact, the Hindu religion requires that the priest sing to the gods. Thus, when a properly trained priest offers a puja reciting the 108 names of the god installed in a temple, you can here the musical tones. In addition, there is the tradition of waking up the gods in the morning to music.
The younger crowd in India listens to film music and ignores classical music. But parents do make an effort to teach their children the arts. After being reviled for centuries as a thin cover for prostitution, classical dance has revived in the last 70 years and middle-class parents take pride in sending their daughters off to dance classes. The latest casualty to this craze for Bharatha Natyam is someone named Zakir Hussain. The review of his dance performance in the local paper mentioned that it was a special one dedicated to praise of Nature. I wondered if Zakir Hussain had a problem dancing to some of the more traditional pieces such as songs that pay homage to Siva as Nataraja (Lord of the Dance). I have also heard of a bearded Sikh who learnt Bharatha Natyam -- at least, he wouldn`t have to wear a wig if he was going to take the role of a `rishi` in a dance drama!
AR Rahman of Indian fim music fame is well known for using dashes of classical music in some of his songs. Some 10 years back, there was a weekly program on TV in Madras that showed film music and its classical basis by having a musician briefly sing a raag and then playing a film song based on that raag. Now, I see a program that showcases film songs but the captions at the bottom of the screen show the raag. These may be ways to spread the appreciation for classical music.
Just 12 hours back I was on the beach in Chennai and a small group of 4-5 students were chatting among themselves nearby. When they fell to singing film songs and sang `Alaipayude` from the Tamil film of the same name, I wondered how many of them knew who wrote that song, when it was written and what raag the song was in.
The larger business houses in South India have made it a point to employ classical musicians -- most of them have a professional education in accounting or some such field -- but grant them generous leave so that they can travel out of town for performances, in much the same way some of them used to employ sportsmen. This has encouraged people to take up music seriously. I know of a girl who finished her degree in Electrical Engineering but who is now aiming for a full-time career as a concert musician.
Re Pakistani musicians, I remember a musician friend of mine recommending that I listen to Dagar Brothers (I think that is the name; he always referred to them as the Pakistani Brothers) if I want to listen to true Dhrupad music. Coming from someone who has spent his professional career in Madras 1500 miles from Pakistan, that is high praise indeed.
If he finds greater appreciation for Classical Music in India, that is due to the fact that there is no religious prohibition against singing; in fact, the Hindu religion requires that the priest sing to the gods. Thus, when a properly trained priest offers a puja reciting the 108 names of the god installed in a temple, you can here the musical tones. In addition, there is the tradition of waking up the gods in the morning to music.
The younger crowd in India listens to film music and ignores classical music. But parents do make an effort to teach their children the arts. After being reviled for centuries as a thin cover for prostitution, classical dance has revived in the last 70 years and middle-class parents take pride in sending their daughters off to dance classes. The latest casualty to this craze for Bharatha Natyam is someone named Zakir Hussain. The review of his dance performance in the local paper mentioned that it was a special one dedicated to praise of Nature. I wondered if Zakir Hussain had a problem dancing to some of the more traditional pieces such as songs that pay homage to Siva as Nataraja (Lord of the Dance). I have also heard of a bearded Sikh who learnt Bharatha Natyam -- at least, he wouldn`t have to wear a wig if he was going to take the role of a `rishi` in a dance drama!
AR Rahman of Indian fim music fame is well known for using dashes of classical music in some of his songs. Some 10 years back, there was a weekly program on TV in Madras that showed film music and its classical basis by having a musician briefly sing a raag and then playing a film song based on that raag. Now, I see a program that showcases film songs but the captions at the bottom of the screen show the raag. These may be ways to spread the appreciation for classical music.
Just 12 hours back I was on the beach in Chennai and a small group of 4-5 students were chatting among themselves nearby. When they fell to singing film songs and sang `Alaipayude` from the Tamil film of the same name, I wondered how many of them knew who wrote that song, when it was written and what raag the song was in.
The larger business houses in South India have made it a point to employ classical musicians -- most of them have a professional education in accounting or some such field -- but grant them generous leave so that they can travel out of town for performances, in much the same way some of them used to employ sportsmen. This has encouraged people to take up music seriously. I know of a girl who finished her degree in Electrical Engineering but who is now aiming for a full-time career as a concert musician.
Re Pakistani musicians, I remember a musician friend of mine recommending that I listen to Dagar Brothers (I think that is the name; he always referred to them as the Pakistani Brothers) if I want to listen to true Dhrupad music. Coming from someone who has spent his professional career in Madras 1500 miles from Pakistan, that is high praise indeed.
#5 Posted by hari on February 22, 2003 1:08:58 pm
hamid,
i agree that music ought to be compulsory.
in south india, it is now common for someone in every family to learn
vocal or an instrument or even classical dancing. art is so important.
if you happen to watch sun-tv which is madras based, then every sunday
they have dance program(more commercial) like lip singing with dance
sequels. even though it is crass to watch, atleast it gives students from all
economic background to participate and appreciate music.
in the united states, it is difficult to graduate high school in good grade unless the student gets to know/masters atleast one musical instrument.
it doesn`t matter which one.
i agree that music ought to be compulsory.
in south india, it is now common for someone in every family to learn
vocal or an instrument or even classical dancing. art is so important.
if you happen to watch sun-tv which is madras based, then every sunday
they have dance program(more commercial) like lip singing with dance
sequels. even though it is crass to watch, atleast it gives students from all
economic background to participate and appreciate music.
in the united states, it is difficult to graduate high school in good grade unless the student gets to know/masters atleast one musical instrument.
it doesn`t matter which one.
#4 Posted by mohar11 on February 22, 2003 12:59:03 pm
//...What about the 1000 year old traditions of muslim sufi music .......Why are we so ashamed to admit that these are our traditions and this is our music?...//
It is all about ``Purity``. For the Land of Pure - music, art etc brings in impurity of the worst kind. Sufism is for cowards, it is some sort of Hindoo stuff. Don`t you see - the names of Raags you have mentioned - ``Bhimpalasi`` , ``Bageshri`` - these are all hindoo-sounding names. These stuff has no place in today`s pakistan which claims to derive its culture from Arabia/Central-Asia rather than from the subcontinent.
I am sure this is not only reason, but it does play a greater part for rejection of classical music in Pakistan.
It is all about ``Purity``. For the Land of Pure - music, art etc brings in impurity of the worst kind. Sufism is for cowards, it is some sort of Hindoo stuff. Don`t you see - the names of Raags you have mentioned - ``Bhimpalasi`` , ``Bageshri`` - these are all hindoo-sounding names. These stuff has no place in today`s pakistan which claims to derive its culture from Arabia/Central-Asia rather than from the subcontinent.
I am sure this is not only reason, but it does play a greater part for rejection of classical music in Pakistan.
#3 Posted by cmp99 on February 22, 2003 12:14:54 pm
I second what #1-sameerJB wrote. I`m not a big fan of classical music. I dont understand raags. I like to sing. My initial fascination with 90s Indian film music & pakistani pop-music was based on copying indian/pakistani singers. Usually they were all so very easy to copy. Except maybe Ali Azmat(Junoon), in some of his difficult songs.
Then I started with indian film music of yesteryear. Kishore Kumar didnt prove much of a challenge ... plus the majority of his songs had the commercial feel to them. Soon got bored of him. Rafi, in the end, proved to be a treat ... and still is. Slowly and gradually going over Talat Mehmoods` work right now.
``If we hate music so much then why do we recite naats, hamds and qirat? I can tell you hundreds of naats and hamds, which have been composed in raags. ``
I actually was present at one such occasion where the naat was sung to the tune of Mohammad Rafi`s classic `Awaaz dae ke humein tum bulao, muhabbat mein itna na humko satao`
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