“What is happening in Afghanistan is cultural genocide and gender apartheid.” Ahmad Sarmast, Founder and Director of Afghanistan National Institute of Music called it out in a powerful speech at the concert given by the Afghan Youth Orchestra at Stoller Hall, Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, on Monday 11th March 2024.
These talented and dedicated young people have, for two years, been rebuilding their lives in Portugal where they have been given hope for the future of their education and specialist musical studies. Of the orchestra’s 47 players, more than half that number are girls, whose human rights would have been curtailed had they stayed in Afghanistan.
Their concert opened with two small ensembles. First, two sitarists and a tabla player played Rag Yaman with great skill and musicality. Then, four young rubab players delighted us with the sound of Afghanistan’s national instrument, accompanied superbly by the tabla player.
Then the full orchestra performed a programme of traditional Afghan music plus Brahms’ Hungarian Dance no 5. Each piece was skillfully orchestrated for this unusual ensemble that integrated rubab, sitar and tabla with western instruments. There were beautiful moments where the melody heard on the rubabs was echoed in the cello section, or taken up by the violins. We heard some exquisite solos, within the texture, from some of the more advanced musicians. And I was particularly impressed by the orchestra’s mastery of rhythm and their superb ensemble playing under the baton of conductor, Tiago Moreira Da Silva.
Most pieces were upbeat and concluded with a flourish but there was one that had a different style. It began with dramatic discords in the bass and piano, before the melodic themes were introduced, including some virtuoso playing in brass and woodwind. Towards the end of the piece the musicians began to sing, quite softly. I found it emotional to hear their voices, so nearly silenced. The piece ended poignantly and quietly. For me, it was a moment of reflection on the reality of life for these musicians, amongst the evident joy of their music-making.
Then, the programme reverted to lively pieces, including one where we were encouraged to clap along. There followed a rapturous reception for these wonderful, brave musicians, who responded with an encore … Hey Jude!
After a standing ovation, Sarmast spoke again to remind us that although Afghanistan had fallen off the news agenda, the crisis in his country continues. He explained that this is one of several worldwide concert tours aimed at bringing attention to their plight. He asked us to do what we can to highlight the issue. He pointed out that within five years, music could be forgotten in Afghanistan. People are not allowed to listen to music, play music, make a living from music. The situation is not peaceful. As one of these young musicians said in a recent Channel 4 interview, “being human in Afghanistan is a crime, especially for a woman”. Channel 4 News, 09/03/24
Shamefully the UK does seem to have forgotten. We have a government which almost put a stop to this UK tour by denying visas, until public pressure and social media caused the Home Office to reverse its decision.
Human rights, women’s rights, the right to listen to and play music freely wherever you are – I can’t imagine not having these rights.
Next time I switch some music on, I will think about my less fortunate fellow humans, living without the freedom to do such a simple thing.
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Find out more here: Afghanistan National Institute of Music
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