Aziz Herawi - Memories of Herat. Instrumental Music of Afghanistan

Beautiful instrumental music and folk songs from Afghanistan are performed by Aziz Herawi, a virtuoso on the 14 stringed dutar and rubab (Afghan lutes). He is joined by Siar Ahmad Hazeq on tabla, Omar Herawi on the zirbaghali drum, and others.



Tracks:

1. Naghman-ye Klasik In Rag Ezatullahi
2. Kashal In Rag Pilu
3. Amaturi
4. Kushti Tu Mara
5. Khandan-e Kiliwali
6. Kabuli & Pashtu
7. Klasik In Rag Ahir Beiru
8. Aushari-Naghmaha-ye Logari
9. Pashtu



Aziz Herawi

Aziz Herawi, or Aghasah as he is reverentially addressed (due to his direct lineage to the prophet Mohammad), carries the melodies of his native Herat to Afghan refugee communities around the world. Born into a family of noted Sunni clerics, he was forced to practice clandestinely, teaching himself to play his main instrument, the dutar (14-stringed lute). In spite of his father’s disapproval, Herawi’s passion for music ultimately saved his life. In 1979, when massive government bombing leveled the city of Herat, and Soviet-backed troops came to round up local leaderships, Herawi was away with musician friends. Escaping with his life, he eventually joined the Mujaheddin, spending several years in the mountains lifting the spirits of the guerrilla forces with his powerful playing.

Well known in Herat as a performer and a generous patron of other musicians, as well as for his broadcasts on Radio Afghanistan, Herawi finally left Afghanistan in 1983, taking his family to safety across the border to Peshawar, Pakistan, and then on to California in 1985. Herawi’s music may be found on the recordings Master of Afghani Lutes (Arhoolie), Memories of Heart (Latitudes), and Cry of the Mountains (7/8 Music Productions).

Download:

FLAC + scans (196 MB):

http://rapidshare.com/files/38277436/HerawiHeratFlac.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/38278609/HerawiHeratFlac.part2.rar

MP3 320k + scans (65 MB):

http://rapidshare.com/files/38279740/HerawiHeratMP3.rar