Category Archives: Did You Know?

Bade Ghulam Ali Khan was a legendary classical singer, with an emphasis on the classical. He refused out of hand to work in the film industry, despite many requests from well-known film and music directors. He restricted himself only to classical music; which is why it was so surprising when he actually agreed to workContinue reading “Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Mughal-e-Azam”

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”

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”

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be so passionate about music that you were ready to leave everything behind you to learn it, your village, your province, your friends, even your family, at the age of only twelve? If you have, then maybe you should look at Ustad Allah Rakha’s story.Continue reading “Ustad Allah Rakha and the Tabla”

Remember that we told you that the rubab was widespread across much of Central Asia(you probably don’t, but that’s fine)? Well, now we have further proof; the theme song of Diriliş: Ertuğrul (also known as Ertugrul Ghazi in Pakistan in its Urdu-dubbed version), the wildly popular Turkish television series, features the rubab prominently. It isContinue reading “Diriliş: Ertuğrul and the Rubab”