Songs of Afghanistan

Through the restoration and renewal of historical folk songs, Afghan composer and Musaics of the Bay Board Member Milad Yousufi seeks to preserve the musical heritage of his culture.

“I took a World of Music class with Dr. Allan Evans, an influential ethnomusicologist who introduced me to a wonderful treasure trove of Afghan folk music that survived from the Afghan Civil War. I had thought this music was not available or even lost. He had compiled the work of another ethnomusicologist who had recorded folk music in Afghanistan in the 1950s. Dr. Evans shared my enthusiasm on bringing this music to worldwide audiences.

Afghan folk music represents a beautiful, rich cultural tradition, but it is difficult for Western musicians to access it without Afghan instruments. Afghan music, however, is adaptable to Western instrumental music. I have been influenced by the music of my home country, and it is not represented in the Western classical repertoire. I began to experiment by adapting Afghan folk music for Western classical form, while maintaining the unique qualities of the folk music. I want to create a repertoire of Afghan music that is aesthetically faithful to the living tradition of Afghan folk music.

Milad Yousufi

I envision the creation of several volumes of Afghan folk songs, along with arrangements for piano solos and four hands; arrangements that have never been made before. I recently finished the first and second volume. I will write about the work and the various differences from the standard classical repertoire. There are distinctive embellishments and energetic chromaticisms, for example.

I have always dreamed of writing music for the next generation of artists in Afghanistan – to do what Bartok did for his country as a composer and ethnomusicologist. By recording the folk music of Hungary and arranging it for a larger orchestra, he brought Hungarian musical culture to audiences all around the world. I am determined to follow a similar path, to compile and create unique works that will be a bridge between the East and West and introduce musicians and audiences to a tremendous new repertoire. I want to broaden my musical knowledge and abilities in order to compose and arrange Afghan folk music. I have already begun this journey. I can play a wide range of such music authentically.”

—Milad Yousufi