Aziz Herawi - Master of Afghani Lutes

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Music reviews of Master of Afghani Lutes

Music Review: If You're Only Going to Buy One Afghani CD ...
Rating: 2 Stars

However, the music itself is not up to par. The string instruments (dutar and rabab) have very short sustain, much like the Arabian oud and other simpler lutes, and so do not facilitate much bending of the notes (meend), a crucial ingredient in Indian classical music. Instead, the music is similar to the (in my opinion unbearable) diri-dari sarod traditions (Buddadev Das Gupta, Amjad Ali Khan etc) that trace their ancestry to Afghan rababiyas but Aziz Herawi's playing seems less melodicaly and rhythmically imaginative, presumably because his style is less cross-pollinated with other Hindustani gharanas. The disc also features folk music.

The album is not totally worthless; if you're curious about Afghani classical music, it showcases both rabab and dutar and may well be a better buy than a rabab-only CD. Nevertheless I am not as a Hindustani listener enthusiastic about the musical content at all.

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