Audience relish Pak-Egyptian music fusion at PNCA
ISLAMABAD: The Egyptian Embassy in association with Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA), Ministry of Culture, organised a musical night at National Art Gallery (NAG) on Saturday night to strengthen the diplomatic relations between Cairo and Islamabad through art and culture.
Egypt Ambassador Magdy Amer, PNCA Director General Tauqir Nasir, diplomats, government officials, a large number of art lovers and the Egyptian community living in and around the federal capital relished the different flavours of fusion of Egyptian-Pakistani musical night marking the National Day of Egypt.
The cultural performance by a group of Egypt’s famous artists- the Sufi thought based Al-Tannoura Troupe for Cultural Heritage and Pakistani artists Ustad Rais Ahmed Khan on Violin, Muhammad Ajmal on Tabla, Gulab Khel on Rubab and Nawazish Ali Hazravi on keyboard enthralled the capacity crowd as it was hard to pick who is the best.
The performance by Al-Tannoura began with the introduction of the group. The first part was only instrumental, with the musicians playing the ‘rebaba’ (fiddle) ‘ney’ (flute) ‘sagat’ (cymbals) frame drums (tambourines); ‘tabla’ and ‘mizmar’ (single or double reed wind instrument – in Egypt, the conical shawm). The ‘ney’ is a very ancient instrument, with depictions of players appearing in wall paintings in the Egyptian pyramids. It figures prominently in Arabic music and has importance in the ‘Tannoura’ performance.
The second and third parts of the musical night comprised the long ‘Tannoura’ dance, which is religious in focus. In the first of these, six group dancers stood or moved in various formations, circling the central dancer in the same direction, with the speed of the circling varying from slow to fast and vice-versa.
The highlight of the event was the performance of three twirling dancers also outfitted in colourful costumes. They also gave a mesmerising performance with twists and turns.
Source: Daily Times
Date:7/26/2010
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