Music

One of my real interests is World Music. I know about the arguments that say this music traduces indigenous forms for the consumption of white middle class poseurs but that doesn't particularly bother me. I like what I like.

The other night I watched The Spirit of the Grain, a French/Tunisian film about a man's attempt to maintain his dignity and self-respect in the face of a disfunctional family and increasing old age. One of the delights of the film was its soundtrack, supplied by a troupe of elderly musicians who were characters in the film.

On the theme of music; I have just come across Mark LeVine's Heavy Metal Islam: Rock, Resistance and the Struggle for the Soul of Islam (2008, Three Rivers Press). LeVine is careful to point out that modern popular music is not homogenised across Islam but that different Islamic societies have their different preferences and that in these different societies the performers and the audiences, while all young, come from different classes. Nevertheless, given the demographics of the Middle East, the music competes with Islam for the attention of the young. But, as he says "[T]he real question is whether they (the musicians) can reach, a large enough audience, and find a big enough stage to play on, before the toxic combination of government oppression, media manipulation, and violence, intolerance and war drown out the rowdy, liberating new soundtrack of the Muslim world in a sea of hatred and blood.

(see his summary in the Chronicle of Higher Education, 2/7/2009: http://chronicle.com)

Today is the 68th anniversary of the death of Rabindranth Tagore. This is widely celebrated in Bangladesh, with official concerts, and much airtime on TV. In fact Tagore, although a secular Hindu, has great status in Bangladeshi elite culture. In fact you could be forgiven for thinking Bengalimusical and poetic culture froze sixty-eight years ago and not much else has happened since. You would be wrong to think this. Like the Islamic cultures studies by LeVine Bangladesh has a strong youth music culture with bands covering all of the western genres. There's also a strong influence from diasporic Bangladeshis who visit 'home' and bring with them the latest in music styles and forms that are quickly picked up by the local young performers. One of the most interesting of these is Ornob, who does fusion music, and yes draws on Tagore, but fuses it with interesting middle eastern and western rhythms and melodies. Highly recommended!

A good syte to keep track of recent Bangladeshi pop is (http://amadergaan.com). The latest post on this syte (7/8/2009) announces that the 'Friendship Week Celebration Concert has been postponed because of permission problems from the Home Ministry'. You can also purchase CDs and download tracks at a very reasonable price on this syte.