Classical Masters of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan

14th July, 2016
Wigmore Hall, London, United Kingdom

Sirojiddin Juraev (dutar, tanbur, sato)
Alim Qasimov Ensemble
Alim Qasimov (vocals, daf)
Fargana Qasimova (vocals, daf)
Rafael Asgarov (balaban)
Rauf Islamov (kamancha)
Zaki Valiyev (tar)
Javidan Nabiyev (naghara)



Last night before the Proms: To set up the mood for a season of rather uninspiring programmes of the Proms, I was invited (read: forcibly dragged) to a concert of Uzbek and Azerbaijani classical music at the Wigmore Hall. I am not going to pretend I understand anything so I won't "review" it. However, it is interesting to note that coming from a Western classical perspective and with a reasonable amount of exposure to traditional Eastern cultures, going into the Central Asian sonic world of microtones and overtones is a rather unique experience. Sure, one would not enjoy this music in the same way as, say, a Shostakovich symphony, but these music are organic, raw and spontaneous. These cultures pass on their tradition and musical practices orally and they have nurtured some highly personal musicality that you would also find in, say, jazz. There are fascinating moments of polyphony where you simultaneously get a colourful melody, a dynamic rhythmic drive (the "bass line") and a percussive sound from a single plucked instrument which is essentially a long piece of wood with two silk strings (the dutar), all the more impressive with some dazzling virtuosity (that is comparable to, say, the Ysaye sonatas on the violin). I do not understand a single word of singing in the Azerbaijani language, but one can get a sense of the wide range of emotions and timbres from the vocal deliveries, ranging from the meditative, the festive to the downright ridiculous. Appreciating these "exotic" cultures does require one to remove expectations, avoid conforming to existing tastes and lots of patience, but it is a great reminder that no musical expression is necessarily more valid than others. It was standing ovation throughout, surely it hit the right chord amongst the informed minds.