Nastaran - Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra | Qudrat Wasefi

"Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra"
Conductor: Dr. Cayenna Ponchione-Bailey
Naghma (Melody): Ustad Mohamad Omar (known us king of Rubab)
Composition, arrangement: Qudrat Wasefi

About Nastaran
Nastaran is an Afghan folk song. Most musicians believe that the Naghma (melody) comes from Ustad Mohamad Omar, the most legendary Rubab player of Afghanistan of all time. Nastaran is a very deep piece for me, one which goes inside the valleys of Afghanistan, and twists like wave or wind frequencies surrounding the high mountains and going village to village.



The gentle minor and major modal melodies can be seen to depict the up and down aspects of living, which clearly describes the life of Afghan people. I have created an enhanced arrangement of Nastaran and included a choir with original lyrics.



The most important meaning of this work to me is that in the past several months I have experienced things I never thought possible. Losing my country and being homeless created feelings of panic that will remain with me for the rest of my life. I have created this composition-arrangement of Nastaran to reflect what I have felt and experienced in these months. Seeing my people starving, no schools and work for girls and women, and watching the country went back a century…these were all not easy for me to believe and tolerate.
– Qudrat Wasefi, June 2022