ISLAMABAD: The Lok Virsa presented a beautiful tribute to two musical legends of Pakistan who passed away recently. Ustaad Allah Rakha Khan and Ustaad Ghulam Hassan Shagan were among the last few stalwarts of classical music, who mastered the arts of Sarangi playing and classical singing.

Lok Virsa Executive Director Fouzia Saeed, while welcoming the audience to the reference concert, said “Instrumental music is very dear to us at Lok Virsa. We are determined to carry on these traditions of culture and we will begin the performance with Ustaad Allah Rukha’s student Taimoor Khan, going on to Zohaib Hassan and concluding with Ustaad Ghulam Hassan Shagan’s son Mazhar Hassan Shagan.”

She added, “We want to promote this tradition of disciples and masters. Playing the challenging instrument Sarangi is a dying art. It takes a lifetime to learn,” she said.

Dr Taimoor Khan, who after graduating from medical school devoted his entire time to learning the Sarangi, said, “I was always interested in music and was fortunate to be able to learn from a master like Ustaad Allah Rukha.”

Calling it a very organic instrument he described how the Sarangi is made with horse hair and goatskin, brass and wood.

Dr Khan began his performance with Raga Kafi Kanra with Sarfaraz Anwar accompanying on Tabla. The plaintive notes of the piece drew the audience into the world of an instrument referred to as “a hundred musical colours.”

He continued with Raga Bhairavi which he explained is a morning raag but since concerts no longer take place in the morning it was appropriate to play it.

Zohaib Hassan who belongs to the Amritsari Gharana (school) said, “There have been seven generations of Sarangi players in the Gharana. Ustaad Allah Rukha was not a blood relative but he was a student of my grand uncle Ustaad Nathu Khan. In truth, music is the greatest relation in the world.”

He presented the Raga Madhuvanti which is known in Pakistan as Raag Sultani, drawing applause as he moved from crescendo to crescendo of the Madhuvanti. Madhuvanti is a popular pre-sunset raga which has a lyrical and poignant mood.

Hassan, has been teaching sarangi via Skype around the world and has recently recorded an album, is using technology to promote the exquisite instrument he wields with such dexterity.

Mazhar Hassan Shagan, the last performer of the evening, said, “This organisation has been preserving classical music and I am very grateful to the audience for taking time out to listen to us performs. My father has passed away but his music lives on and memories of him will survive as long as music lives.”

Explaining the origins of the Rabab he said, “Bhai Mardana Sahab a companion of Guru Nanak used to play the Rabab.”

Playing the Raga Bhageshvari, a late night raag which invokes a sense of anticipation and awaiting, he brought the evening to a glorious end.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2015

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