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Aqnazar Alovatov
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Discography · Booking Agency · Similar Music
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| Biography: | |
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Aqnazar resides in the town of Khorog in Badakhshan, an autonomous, remote
region of Tajikistan bordering Afghanistan and China. He is the region's
greatest vocalist for both sacred and popular repertoires, accompanying himself
on string instruments, keyboards, or drums according to the genre of music he is
singing. His first two albums are coming out on the Buda Musique label in France. The first album, Raqs, features festive pop tunes from Tajikistan. These are mainly recently-composed songs Badakshanis love to dance to at weddings and parties. Most of the lyrics are ancient, by classical Sufi poets: Rumi, Hafez, Sa'adi, Saeb, and others. This album received a 'coup de coeur' from French record chain FNAC and a prestigious 4-star 'remarkable' rating from Epok magazine in France, where the Routard magazine (Rough Guide) also selected it as World Music record of the week in April 2003. All reviewers compared Aqnazar's exceptional vocals to those of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. While Aqnazar is not a qawwal, his music traditions are closely linked to ancient musical traditions of Persia that later became associated with Sufism and mystical Islamic music. The music is notable for its catchy melodies and phenomenal rhythms, unique to Badakhshan. Aqnazar's second album, Rumi, due out in September 2003, is devoted to traditional laments. For this album, Aqnazar sings lyrics of Rumi and Hafez, poets favored for Badakhshani funeral rites. As with Raqs, Aqnazar recorded Rumi with two fellow Badakhshani musicians: the region's leading string player and drummer. Aqnazar recorded both albums in Paris in 2001, when he gave concerts in France and performed in a musical play about Rumi. Aqnazar works full time at the state-run Khorog Theater of Badakhshan, where he is the theater's principal vocalist. He is often requested to sing at weddings, funerals, national concerts, and other events in his region, and has toured extensively throughout Tajikistan and the former Soviet republics. His unusual vocal gift and charisma together have made him a favorite singer for festivals in Central Asia since 1998, when he sang to great acclaim at a festival in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Aqnazar's vocal gift was noted by Badakhshani music master Sultanazar of Ghund Valley, who trained him since boyhood in the sacred repertoire. Aqnazar sings in classical Persian, Tajik, and Shughni (the language he speaks at home). He is fluent in Tajik and Russian, both of which he writes in the Cyrillic alphabet. He reads Persian in Cyrillic and Arabic alphabets alike. He also speaks some English. Aqnazar has toured twice in the West, once in 1999 and again in 2002: in the UK, Canada, Germany, France, and Portugal, where he sang only for members of his religious community (of the Ismaili sect of Shiite Islam). In 2001, he performed the role of Shams of Tabriz in an international musical production about Rumi for La Peniche Opera in Paris, France: "Dar del-e aatash/ Into the Flame/ Droit dans la flamme." In January and March of 2003, PBS New York broadcast repeatedly a short documentary film about the singer: "Aqnazar: A singer from Badakhshan," produced by Arkadin Productions of France. Aqnazar is preparing further recordings for Buda Musique. Future plans include a second dance music album, a collection of rousing Badakhshani folk songs, and Tajik ballads (influenced by the Russian tradition). |
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| Discography: | |
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Raqs (Buda Musique) Rumi (Buda Musique, 2003) |
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| Booking: | |
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Leslie Dunton-Downer c/o Buda Musique 188 Blvd. Voltaire 75011 Paris France Phone (33.1) 40.24.01.03 or (33.1) 44.84.02.88 Fax (33.1) 48.00.27.10 email: dunton-downer@wanadoo.fr |
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| Similar Music: | |
| Tajik, Vocals | |
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