Sahawat Ali, a seasoned musician, has spent much of his life on the harmonium. Playing the harmonium has been his passion, skill and the only way to earn a living. But nowadays, more than ever before, he needs these skills to survive in times when Pakistan is under a Western musical invasion. He now spendsContinue reading “The Harmonium’s Voice”
Author Archives: savethesitar
The Tabla
The fingers dance in a blur of motion, whistling through the air. The audience leans in, intent not to lose a moment. A swift succession of sounds fills the air as the intoxicating rhythm pulls you in. The audience rise to their feet, swaying in time with the beat. In and out of this beautifulContinue reading “The Tabla”
The Dying Voice of a Forgotten Civillisation
When peoplehear the term ‘wind instrument’, most people think of a flute or trumpet like instrument, which is played by a large amount of people. The borrindo, a traditional wind instrument of Sindh, does not fit this description. Played by an ever-decreasing amount of musicians, the borrindo looks more like a clay pot than aContinue reading “The Dying Voice of a Forgotten Civillisation”
In the Footsteps of the Masters: Episode 2
Guess what’s here? Our second episode in our series ‘In the Footsteps of the Masters’! In this segment we will play our first tabla phrase and will also explore some tabla theory, but don’t worry, it won’t get too boring! And remember, comments and queries are always welcomed at Save the Sitar.
A Tale of Swords and Spinning
How would you react if you saw several people, holding two large, pointy swords (one in each hand) dancing energetically to some music? You would most probably: a) assume that several eccentrics who collect antique swords and like dancing have met up together; b) assume that your eyes are getting rather weak and proceed toContinue reading “A Tale of Swords and Spinning”
Save the Sitar 