“The Polish concert in Islamabad did live up to its promise. It was indeed a concert without borders,” said a Pakistani guest. “I was equally impressed by the Polish guests as the Pakistani musicians,” she said.

Maria Pomianowska is a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer. She has travelled to a number of countries studying folk music. At home in Poland, she is an assistant professor and a director of the Warsaw Cross-cultural Music Festival.

The programme fascinated the large audience of diplomats, local and foreign guests on the poolside of a local hotel.

Maria Pominowska performed along with Pawel Betley playing the flute and Balochistan’s traditional folk music master Sachu Khan, vocalist Khadim Hussain, dambura player Riaz Hussain and Ashraf Ali on percussion.

“I know the famous Polish composers, notably Chopin, Lutoslawski and others. I am also aware of the country’s many regional folk musicians with the traditional art form of ‘poezja spiewana’ (sung poetry),” said a diplomat from southern Europe.

“And I am impressed by the current dynamic Polish folk music. I always enjoy when foreign musicians perform along with local artists in fusion,” he said.

Another diplomat added: “We have that last few weeks become spoilt on European concerts in Islamabad with visits by virtuous performers from Hungary, France, Italy, Poland and even other countries. I have noticed that they all show a great joy in performing. That is indeed important and the audience get smitten, and it inspires the local musicians and singers.”

Music is a serious business. But it is also fun and enjoyment, like all cultures. We need it so that we can re-energise ourselves after our daily chores, said the cultural attaché.

“I am very pleased with it all,” said the Polish ambassador, Dr Andrzej Ananicz, who has taken time to study Urdu language and culture and was full of praise for the Polish and Pakistani artists.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2015

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