MUSIC IN AFGHANISTAN
The music of Afghanistan is as diverse and beautiful as its people. Throughout the country, people from different social, ethnic, and religious backgrounds practice music in a variety of ways. Music can include the simple lullabies that a mother sings to her young child, or the poetry of Hafez sung to musical accompaniment. It can be the music that one dances to at a wedding, classical melodies played on a string instruments such as the tanbur or rubab, or the music and drumming accompanying nau ruz celebrations. Music, or rather musical chanting, can also be found in religious and spiritual contexts, the chanting itself being considered a means of devotion or reverence instead of music. Music can be enjoyed as entertainment, or it can act as a playful form of social critique. It can also be appreciated as an intellectual, philosophical, and sometimes spiritual endeavor.
The style of music you will hear largely depends on where you are in Afghanistan. In urban centers such as Kabul, Herat, Mazar-i Sharif, and Kandahar, popular forms of music prevail. Art music styles can also be heard in cities, though they are not as common as popular music. Spiritual and devotional music are played at important religious sites or shrines, which are also often located within cities. Outside of the major urban areas one finds a great variety of styles of poetry, music, and dance. A diversity of regional music styles can be heard throughout Afghanistan that highlight local stories, folklore, and use regionally distinct instruments, musical melodies, and rhythms.
Traditionally, music in Afghanistan has been practiced by a community of professional artisans. Music is a hereditary practice, with family members passing down their musical knowledge from one generation to the next. Today, many musical families from Afghanistan can trace their music heritage back several generations. Musicians have traditionally been of low social class, and often worked in other trades such as barbering, tailoring, carpentry, or butchering. Even so, musicians in Afghanistan play a key and vital role in the social life of the country. They are important culture bearers and their crafts, melodies, and rhythms will continue to be passed on through the generations. Well known forms of music in Afghanistan include mahali (folk), classical/ghazal, spiritual, pop, and instrumental.
Mahali (Folk)
Afghanistan has a rich and diverse tradition of folk music that reflects the country's complex history, cultural heritage, and ethnic diversity. The melodies, rhythms, and musical instruments used in folk music are different in each region. Rhythmic cycles of 6 and 8 beats are common in the north while 7-beat rhythmic cycles are more common in Kabul and the south. Folk music in Afghanistan is often performed at weddings, festivals, and other social gatherings, and it has been passed down through an oral tradition.
Ghazal
Afghan ghazal is a popular form of poetry and music in Afghanistan that originated in Arabic and Persian literature, and it is characterized by its use of rhyming couplets. In Afghan ghazal music, the poetry is typically set to music and performed by a vocalist accompanied by traditional instruments such as the rubab, tabla, and harmonium. The music is often slow and melodic, and the lyrics typically deal with themes of love, loss, and separation.One of the most famous Afghan ghazal singers was Ustad Mohammad Hussain Sarahang, who was known for his powerful and emotive singing style.
Spiritual (Tasawwuf)
Spiritual Afghan music is a form of music that is often associated with Sufi Islam and is characterized by its spiritual and religious themes. It is also known as Tasawwufi, Qawwali, Sufi music, Ruhani, Khanaqahi, and it is an integral part of the cultural heritage of Afghanistan. Spiritual Afghan music is typically performed in a "Khanaqah" by a group of musicians, including vocalists, drummers, and other instrumentalists. The lyrics are often based on the poetry of Sufi saints and mystics, and the music is intended to evoke a deep sense of spirituality and devotion in the listener.
Music of Kharabat
Kharabat is a historic neighborhood in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, known for its rich cultural heritage and traditional music. The music of Kharabat is characterized by its unique blend of Afghan, Persian, and Indian influences. Legendary artists such as Ustad Qasim, Ustad Shaida, Ustad Sarahang, Ustad Hashim, Ustad Mohammad Omar, Ustad Rahim Bakhs, and many others hail from this neighborhood of Kabul.
Pop Music
Pop music emerged in Afghanistan during the 1950s, and became very popular until the late 1970s. What helped the emergence of pop music in Afghanistan were amateur singers from non-traditional music backgrounds who wanted to showcase their talents in the studio Radio Kabul, which opened in 1940. Ahmad Zahir was among Afghanistan's most famous singers; throughout the 60s and 70s he gained national and international recognition in countries like Iran and Tajikistan.
Instrumental
Traditional Afghan instrumental music is characterized by its use of a variety of stringed, percussive, and wind instruments, many of which are unique to the region. One of the most well-known Afghan instruments is the rubab, a short-necked lute with a resonating chamber made from mulberry wood. The rubab is often used to accompany vocal music and is considered the national instrument of Afghanistan. Another important instrument is the tabla, a pair of small hand drums that are used to create rhythm and percussion. Other percussion instruments include the dhol, a double-headed drum, and the daf, a large frame drum played with a curved stick. Afghanistan also has a long tradition of wind instruments, including the flute-like sorna, the clarinet-like zurna, and the double-reed oboe-like shehnai. Afghan instrumental music is often performed at social and religious events, such as weddings and funerals, as well as in concerts and other cultural gatherings.