Instrumental Ecstasy – a six part series of concerts will hold its final concert on classical music of subcontinent here today (Friday).
The event is being organized by the Institute for Preservation of Art and Culture (IPAC) and Kuch Khaas, Center for Arts, Culture and Dialogue featuring the instrument of `Rubab’ by artists Ustad Mazhar Hasan Shagganon accompanied by Ustad Muhammad Ajmal on Tabla.
The classical music of the subcontinent is one of the oldest unbroken musical traditions in the world. Its origins go back to the Vedic Period (roughly 1500 BC to 500 BC).
According to the organizers, ‘Rubab’, also known as “the lion of instruments” is a short necked lute-like folk musical instrument commonly found in northwest Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is probably the most popular instrument from the Pakhtun folk tradition and has become an icon of North West Frontier of Pakistan.
Ustad Mazhar Hasan Shaggan will play Classical music from the North Indian tradition on the Rabab. He is one of the leading Rubab players of Pakistan and has the distinction of developing his unique playing style on the Rubab by adapting this traditional folk instrument for North Indian classical music.
Mazhar hails from the Gwalior Gharana of classical music and has received training under his father, the vocal maestro Ghulam Hasan Shaggan.
Mazhar has served at Pakistan Radio in Peshawar and Lahore and has performed at numerous national and international forums where he has received acclaim from wide ranging audiences. He is also an accomplished mandolin player and composer. The concert will take the music lovers on an exciting journey to discover the melodic brilliance of the Indian subcontinent through Classical Instrumental Music.