“Where words fail, music speaks.” A quote by Hans Christian Andersen, who was a 18th century Danish poet and author. Music has no boundaries and language barriers. Over the years, there has been a great wave of music by youngsters in the country that’s why one comes across many music studios and FM stations frequently playing music be it Coke Studio or Nescafe Basement.

Now a government-run art institution, the Lahore Arts Council (LAC), is going to make a qualitative addition to this music stream in the shape of Alhamra Unplugged. It’s the first initiative by a government department when it comes to composing and releasing contemporary music. The credit goes to Abu Bakar, a young musician who can play 20 music instruments and of course to LAC Executive Director retired Capt Atta Muhammad Khan who facilitated Mr Bakar and his team in setting up a state-of-the-art studio at Alhamra, The Mall, that is fully equipped with the latest technology, equipment and instruments to record high-quality music.

Abu Bakar told this scribe in a recent chit-chat that Alhamra Unplugged Season One had been completed. “We visited almost all prominent educational institutions of the city such as National College of Arts, Beacon House National University, Lums, Kinnaird College, University of Punjab too to make a team of talented singers and instrumentalists to introduce new voices to music canvas and new hands to paint a novel painting of instrumental music. After hectic efforts and a series of auditions we selected 23 such singers and instrumentalists whom I thought to be the most fit choices for the music generation at the Alhamra Unplugged.”.

Abu Bakar, who has studied music extensively both in Pakistan and abroad and has a Chartered Accountant degree, said that in the Season One eight songs had been recorded with visuals. Out of the eight songs five were the cover songs whereas the remaining three were original compositions by Alhamra Unplugged.

“Soon we shall air our first song on different TV channels. We are just in the process of shooting videos for some of the songs we recorded at the Alhamra music facility”, he added.

Project Coordinator Syed Khuram Naveel said introducing new and wonderful voices to enrich the music scene would be a feather to the cap of Alhamra. All the singers and instrumentalists who have become part of Alhamra Unplugged are below 23 but their talent is immense which could be seen through the songs Alhamra was going to release, he added.

Astreet theatre festival’ titled ‘Lahore Theatre Festival’ -- an offshoot of Celebrating Culture and Art; and an initiative of the Society for Cultural Education (SCE), in collaboration with THAAP, will be held at different public places in the city from April 28-30. The initiative aims to put in perspective the cultural practices and artistic expressions. It is an effort to create a theoretical framework that may explain the linkages between concept and practice. The festival is an attempt to free theatre from the bounds of auditoriums and halls and to bring it back to open public spaces of Lahore; both its old and new parts.

The festival would help connect the performers with common people by showcasing plays based on people’s stories, folk perspectives and local narratives. It will rotate the performances at various locations whilst engaging a wider audiences with diverse backgrounds. Additionally, the festival will provide a creative space to young performers to experience each other’s work and learn.

The SCE focuses on imparting quality education through various initiatives. Its main initiative is sponsoring a university, which will be functional by the autumn of 2016. SCE is also offering short courses focusing on areas of great need and interest of the people. In collaboration with THAAP (a non-for-profit organisation), the society is working for the growth of purposeful education and for strengthening of creative arts.

Muniba Mazari, the first Goodwill Ambassador for UN-Women Pakistan and an artist, will put on display a solo show of artworks at the Collectors Gallery on April 19th. Ms Mazari is a mix media artist and believes in depicting the ethnic jewels of her region in an abstract manner. The exhibition will continue till 24th April.

Abook on the life and works of Intazar Hussain titled ‘Intazar Hussain Aik Ahed Aik Dastaan’ has been published by Qalam Foundation International.

The book has been jointly written by Abdul Sattar Asim and Iftakhar Majaz, a former Director News of the PTV.

The book also has notes and opinions written by Masood Ashar, Amjad Islam Amjad, Zafar Iqbal, Dr Ajmal Niazi, Kishwar Naheed, Mustansar Hussain Tarar, Dr Anwar Sadeed, Abdul Qadir Hasan, Munoo Bhaie and Atta-ul-Haq Qasmi.

Published in Dawn, April 18th, 2016