Afghan & North Indian music with Ustad Daud Khan

Bring your own instrument, whatever music you like to play

Marrakesh, at the foot of the Atlas Mountains 27 August to 3 September 2016

Programme The workshop is open for students at medium and advanced levels who will be exposed to general and specific techniques for playing Afghan and North Indian music as well as basic and advanced theoretical groundwork. According to their level, participants will then be able to practice interpretation and improvisation with individual coaching and advice. The emphasis is on oral transmission. Each participant is expected to bring his own instrument, no matter what music he plays. The tutor is very familiar with a big variety of Oriental and European instruments and will use them as a basis for practising Afghan and North Indian rhythms.

Ustad Daud Khan Ustad Daud Khan was born in Kabul/Afghanistan in 1955. During his youth, he studied Rubab with Ustad Muhammad Umar, who was the most famous Rubab interpreter of the classical style, as well as of the traditional folklore style, in his country. At a later stage, he also studied the Sarod with the great Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan in India. Since his arrival in Europe in the seventies, Ustad Daud Khan is trying to preserve

the authentic style of his two masters and to promote their musical legacy. He heads the Academy of Indian Music in Cologne (founded by Ustad Amjad Ali Khan) where he teaches the Rubab as well as the Sarod. Ustad Daud Khan was honoured twice in India with the Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan Award (in 1988 and 1995). He frequently makes concert tours all over Europe, the United States, Asia and North Africa. He is regularly invited to major international music festivals with the Ensemble Radio Kabul. He has performed live on German TV and on various radio programmes. Ustad Daud Khan has made his own CD productions as an instrumentalist and has also published a Tribute to Afghanistan. See www.daud-khan.de

The Rubab is the emblematic instrument of Afghanistan and is more than 2,000 years old. Played on all ceremonial occasions, the Rubab is the main instrument of Afghan folklore and has a central role in the spiritual

music of the Sufis. It was praised by Mavlânâ Jalâl ad-Dîn Rûmî in his Sufi poems and was often featured in Oriental miniature paintings. The Rubab is a long-necked lute carved from a single mulberry tree trunk and covered with a goatskin. It has a rather archaic form similar to a boat. Its deep sound, produced by its gut strings and enriched by a halo of sympathetic strings, is immediately recognisable.

In the 17th century, the Afghan Rubab was introduced to the courts of Northern India. It was modified in shape and style and gave birth to the Sarod, the famous North Indian stringed instrument. The main difference between the Indian Sarod and its predecessor is that the fretboard of the Sarod is not made of wood but metal. In this respect, it allows playing the instrument in a flowing way so typical to the Indian music. Additionally, the metal strings of the Sarod are played with the nails whereas the Rubab player uses the fingertips.

Schedule Saturday 27 August 2016 (arrival)

According to timings

Welcome at Marrakesh airport Transfer to Dar Zouina in the Ourika valley

8.30pm Welcome introductions & Dinner Sunday 28 August to Friday 2 September 2016

8.30 – 9.30 Breakfast 9.30 – 12.00 Workshop: techniques & theory of Afghan & North Indian

music 1pm Lunch 3.30 – 7pm Workshop: interpretation and improvisation 8pm Dinner Note: during the week a half-day excursion to the Atlas Mountains as well as a 1-day visit to the city of Marrakesh will be organised Saturday 3 September 2016 (departure)

9am Breakfast

According to timings

Departure for airport

Location The workshop will take place in Dar Zouina, a beautiful traditional Moroccan villa situated in the Ourika Valley (30 km from Marrakesh) in a magnificent property surrounded by olive trees. Far from the stress of urban life and technology it aims to be a space for retreat and contemplation in a community setting. It is possible to have daily walks in the beautiful countryside nearby. The weather is generally warm, mostly sunny, 32° during the day and 20° at night.

Meals are prepared with fresh local produce. Group accommodation is in large guest rooms with 3 or 4 people per room. Single and double rooms are available on demand. A big common room is available as well as several terraces and peaceful places to relax and there is also a small swimming pool for guests to use.

Please visit http://endarzouina.wordpress.com/ for more information and photos of Dar Zouina.

Registration The number of participants is limited to 10. Please complete the registration form below which should be sent as soon as possible to ensure a place. Your registration will then be confirmed so you can book your flight to Marrakesh.

Workshop fees The cost of the workshop is EUR 950 per person (EUR 1,150 in a double room; EUR 1,250 in a single room) and includes: music courses during the whole retreat, transfer to and from Marrakesh airport, accommodation, all on-site meals, an excursion to the Atlas Mountains and to Marrakesh, and Moroccan tea at any time. A deposit of EUR 500 is required to confirm registration. The balance must be paid before June 30, 2016.

Registration form I would like to register for the workshop with Ustad Daud Khan that will take place between 27 August and 3 September 2016 in Dar Zouina. By signing this form, I agree to pay the deposit of EUR 500 upon receipt of confirmation of my registration. I understand that this deposit is only refundable in case of workshop cancellation (force majeure only).

Name: .................................................... Surname: ............................................................... Address: .................................................................. ............................................................... Post Code: ..................................................... City: ............................................................... Email: ............................................................ Tel.: ............................................................... Place: ........................................................... Date: ...............................................................

Signature: ................................................................

Please send your scanned registration form to marhaba@dar-zouina.com Organised in collaboration with the Geneva Ateliers d’Ethnomusicologie (ADEM)