Daily Times

LAHORE: Several performances by renowned tabla player Salar Nader and classical music singer Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan rocked the musical evening titled “Sur Taal” as the audience got entertained with the tremendous music.

Both artists performed on several music forms like thumri, khyal, Sufi music and classical songs at Shakir Ali Museum on Tuesday.

The musical evening was jointly organised by Shakir Ali Museum and the Pakistan National Council of the Arts in collaboration with Sham Chaurasi Musical Circle. Other artistes who performed included Faizan Ali Khan, Nadir Ali Khan and Aris Ali Khan.

A large number of classical music lovers, fans of the performing artists, music students and especially youngsters attended the music fusion in the lawn of Shakir museum.

Both artists inspired audiences with the universal sound of the tabla and classical vocals at the event. Salar performed a solo performance with the help of the rhythmical instrument which a rich tone, enthralling everyone. The tabla is a South Asian membranophone percussion instrument, consisting of a pair of drums, used in traditional, classical, popular and folk music. Shafqat’s performance also fascinated the audience with their classical music through a powerful melodic voice. Salar simultaneously weaved the tabla into today’s hip-hop, EDM, and popular musical genres.

Before starting his performance, Salar expressed his happiness on having performed with the late mastersinger Ustad Salamat Ali Khan and now with Salamat’s sons Shafqat, Sukhawat and Sharafat. “Once again, I’m going to present a show with Ustad Shafqat Ali which is an honour for me.” It was during this period in Salar’s life where he became an official disciple of two-time Grammy award-winning artist, Zakir Hussain, he said.

Shafqat said that classic and Sufi music were an effective tool to bring revolutionary change in society, both socially and ethically. He said that music never dies and it’s a feed of human soul. The purpose of this event was to project an image of the country in front of world by giving message that Pakistan was a safe place for tourists, cultural and music festivals.

Published in Daily Times, December 7^th 2017.