Fete de la Musique '07 begins at Alliance Francaise
Cultural Correspondent
Alliance Francaise de Dacca is celebrating the World Music Festival, which started from June 21. The festival titled "Fete de la Musique 2007" features various genres of Bengali music performed by noted and upcoming artistes. Two musical programmes took place at Alliance Francaise's newly renovated auditorium on June 23. In the first session visually impaired folk singer Abdul Ali Boyati, his son Mohammad Lokman and daughter Rozina Akhter presented songs of the bards -- Lalon, Hason Raja, Shah Abdul Karim -- as well as some Sylheti folk tunes. Abdul Ali Boyati started with Shafayat-er kandari and Kemney kartam karmo dharmo, an original composition. Renditions of Ganga buri and Ekta ghar bhanga ghora by Boyati's son Lokman followed. Lokman also sang popular Baul and Lalon songs Fakir holey kisher dukkho, Nodir kuler lagi ami kandi, Dhum cholechhe becha kena and more. Rozina rendered Hason Raja's Lokey boley and other songs including Amar shonar moina pakhi and Fandey poria boga kandey re. The second session in the evening featured Tagore, adhunik and folk songs rendered by upcoming singer Nargis Rahman. Nargis sang Tagore songs Mon-e robey kina robey amarey, Esho nipaboney, Phuley phuley; adhunik songs Tomar akash duti chokhey, Chinechhi chinechhi tomare and popular folk songs Barir manush koi, Krisna aila Radhar kunje and more. "Fete de la Musique", also known as World Music Day was conceived by French Music and Dance director Maurice Fleuret for the Ministry of Culture in 1981 and first took place in 1982. It is now celebrated all over the world, as well as in Bangladesh. "Fete de la Musique 2007" will continue till June 30. Radio Foorti is the media partner of the festival.
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