‘Classical music hurting from lack of support’

LAHORE: Classical music is being affected by lack of support from government, said Anjum Sherazi, Pakistan Music Council general secretary.

She said this at a musical evening organised by the PMC at the APWA College to pay tribute to Indian singer, Muhammad Rafi.

Sherazi said multinational companies were using only pop singers for their promotional activities, ignoring the ‘real’ music of the Sub continent. She has written two books on music, Mubadiat-e-Mosiqi (fundamentals of music) and Ghazal Gaiki (ghazal singing).

She said artistes did not belong to one country and that their legacy could be claimed by the whole humanity. She said Lahore being the birthplace of Rafi, was a suitable place to pay tribute to the singer.

The PMA was working for the promotion of classical and folk music, said joint secretary Major (retd) Mujib Aftab.

He said the purpose of organising such events was to allow fans of classical music to gather under one roof.

Anwar Rafi, who had been a student of Muhammad Rafi, was the chief guest on the occasion. He said he listened to Muhammad Rafi singing Jayen Ge Jab Yahan Se during his first meeting with the singer. Later, he sang the same song. He dedicated Yad Dilanay Ko to Muhammad Rafi and his own father.
11-year-old Noshad Ali Khan was praised by the audience on playing Baharo Phool Barsao on flute. Talking to The Express Tribune, he said he had been learning the instrument for one-and-a-half years.

Other performers included Nadeem Shahzad, Kashif Sonu, Dr Nasir Baluch, Zarqa Arshad, Arshad Nawaz, Mubarak Ali, Amir Rafi and Khwaja Asmat.

Fakhar Sonu, an audience member, said he was a big fan of Rafi’s singing. He said he enjoyed all performances but Chun Chun Say Chanakna Sikha Day by Khwaja Asmat and Baharo Phool Barsao on flute by Kashan Arif stood out.

Some people, however, were not impressed by the performances. Faryal Alam said not every singer was qualified to perform Rafi’s songs. “They’ve ruined his songs. Is it a tribute or mockery of the songs he sung?” she asked.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2011.