An evening to remember!

The Asian Study Group – in collaboration with PNCA - has organized an evening of ‘Thumri,’ a vocal genre or style of music connected with dance, dramatic gestures and evocative poetry at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts tomorrow (Sunday).

Like Sub Continental classical music itself, some of these forms have their origin in folk literature and music.

Taken from the verb Thumakn, ‘Thumri’ means to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that

the ankle-bells tinkle, quicksilver in tone and ardent in spirit, it needs a delicate heart and a supple and soulful voice, capable of expressing several shades and colours of tones to bring out its beauty.

The programme includes a fascinating multimedia presentation by Ally Adnan, a well-known cultural commentator, musicologist and public speaker, who has conducted extensive research on qawwali, thumri and ghazal and is considered a subject matter expert in the field and a performance by Akbar Ali, one of Pakistan’s most promising young, rare vocalists who can sing in more than fifty ‘taals’ and is equally comfortable in folk and classical music.