Heart of Afghanistan is an ensemble composed primarily by members of the Fanoos family. It includes four excellent Afghan musicians: acclaimed singer and Afghan TV star Ahmad Fanoos on vocals and harmonium; his sons Elham Fanoos on piano and Mehran Fanoos on violin; and percussionist Hamid Habibzada on tabla.
Heart of Afghanistan performs a diverse repertoire that reflects Afghanistan’s rich and complex musical heritage, from its pre-Islamic Buddhist period to the modern era, including ancient odes lauding the Buddhist statues of Bamiyan; Sufi ghazals of Rumi; propulsive qawwali songs; and the music of legendary Afghan singer Ahmad Zahir, first recorded in the 1960s and 1970s and still wildly popular today.
The ensemble is unable to perform inside Afghanistan today, where the Taliban has banned all music. Currently, ensemble members are based in the United States.
Heart of Afghanistan presents multimedia experiences, beyond a simple concert or lecture, presenting traditional and contemporary cultures through song, poetry, photography, and art.
“I’ve always wanted to become a cultural ambassador,” says pianist Elham Fanoos. “I have always wanted to show a positive face of Afghanistan, and now it’s happening. I’m a classically-trained pianist, and I love playing Chopin and the classical repertoire — but I also love playing Afghan music. I grew up listening to Afghan music and my father singing Afghan and Indian popular songs, especially ghazals.”
Elham’s playing was a highlight in the Afghanistan National Institute of Music Orchestra’s performances at its tour stops in Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center in 2013. A year later, after a suicide bombing at a concert in the school (which has since moved to Lisbon), Elham decided to pursue a full scholarship to Hunter College in New York City. He later completed his Master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music.
In Heart of Afghanistan, Elham joins his father, Ahmad Fanoos, a much-respected vocalist and harmonium player, and a celebrity, a status earned as a talent judge on the popular TV show Afghan Star, the local version of American Idol; his brother Mehran Fanoos, a freshman at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, on violin; and tabla player Hamid Habibzada.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.