Afghanistan: Ustad Mohammad Omar | Mohammad Rahim Khushnawaz, produced by Cobie Ivens.
I– Ustad Mohammad Omar. (33:17 min)
Mohammad Omar (1905-1980), an Afghan rabbi virtuoso, contributed to the shaping of what many Afghans consider their “national” music. As director of the National Orchestra of Radio Afghanistan in the mid-20th century, he composed over a hundred melodies, known as naghma, and gained fame with the short-necked lute, the rabbi. On the airwaves, Mohammad Omar presented a diverse collection of songs from Afghanistan’s rich musical heritage. His radio orchestra, featuring regional folk instruments, introduced the country to a variety of folk traditions rooted in the country’s many ethnic and linguistic groups.
CD. Robab: The soul of sound – Music from Afghanistan – Mohammad Omar. LABEL: AIM Records (2009), code: AIMCD 004. VIDEO
II– Mohammad Rahim Khushnawaz. (26:08 min)
A remarkable 1994 recording by one of the greatest masters of Afghan traditional music, Mohammad Rahim Khushnawaz. He plays the rubab, the national instrument of Afghanistan. His beautiful renditions of folk music, classical songs, and two Afghan ragas were recorded by a friend in the relaxed atmosphere of his home in Herat, western Afghanistan. Particularly interesting is the beautiful singing of his two canaries; the remarkable expressive interaction between a musician and his songbirds makes these recordings unique. Some tracks feature solo rubab, but most are accompanied by musicians who visit the house.
CD. Afghan rubab with songbirds – Mohammad Rahim Knushnawaz. LABEL: Felmay (2016), code: FY 8238. VIDEO
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