Daud Khan Sadozai Ι Afghan Rabab & Repertoire

Type of seminar: Open – Instrument centered

Participant level: Basic to intermediate

Sight Reading: not necessary

Ustad Daud Khan Sadozai is one of the foremost exponents of the rubab, the emblematic lute of Afghanistan, known as the “lion of instruments”.

His seminar is dedicated to the transmission of the art of playing the rubab, together with the precious oral repertoires of Afghan and Hindustani music.
Throughout classes, the pieces studied will cover the various forms of the Afghan repertoire: from classical instrumental compositions, delving into the intricacies of Hindustani raga (melodic modes) and tala (rhythmic modes) ocean, through the ghazal of Kabul and the beauty of classical Persian poetry, to the rich Afghan folk music with its many colours and other types of songs.
Ustad Daud Khan’s teaching follows the traditional way: pieces are learnt by ear, repeating the melodies till they are memorized, internalizing as such the underlying principles of the music. Structures unfold from the practice, while getting familiar with the repertoire, technics and idioms, and are clarified at appropriate times so that students may gain both solid practical and theoretical knowledge of Afghan music.
Based on this knowledge of raga and tala, and the specificities of Afghan music, improvisation and composition become possible and will also be explored during classes.
Though part of the classes will be focused on developing one’s rubab playing style with its specific technics (left hand ornaments, right hand rhythmic patterns and decomposing of the melodies using the high-pitch drone “bachegi”, which make the rubab a highly rhythmic instrument) and specific approach to playing the compositions, the seminar is open to other musicians wishing to receive an introduction to Afghan and Hindustani music and repertoire. Over the year, many people with various melodic instruments have successfully enrolled. Quarter tones are not used.

*Musicians of all levels are welcome, as the format of teaching allows each one to learn at one’s pace and present abilities. Notating or recording the compositions allows to work on the pieces which may not have been fully memorized by the end of the seminar. Students must be willing to follow the way of teaching which may be quite different from what they have known as standard western teaching methods.

Timetables:

Daud Khan Sadozai/ CV & Contact Info

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