环球英语 — 574：Traditional Music in Afghanistan
Voice 1
Hello and welcome to Spotlight. I'm Ruby Jones.
Voice 2
And I'm Marina Santee. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
This music was recorded in the 1980s in Pakistan. A group of refugees from Afghanistan played the traditional musical instruments that you hear. It is not easy to find traditional music like this today. These songs come from an old dusty music record. Sadly, this is the state of much traditional music in Afghanistan today. Not many people own traditional music now.
Voice 2
Politics and war have had negative effects on the traditional music industry in the country. However, all this is beginning to change. In today's Spotlight we hear about a group helping to lead these changes - The Revival of Afghan Music! And we hear from the founder of the organisation - Doctor Ahmad Sarmast.
Voice 1
The sound of musical instruments comes from an old building in the capital city of Kabul, Afghanistan. Like many buildings, this one was damaged in the war. The broken doors have big locks on them. And the rooms are almost empty. But this building is still important to the young people inside. It is Afghanistan's only music school for older children. There are around ninety students at the school. They share the few instruments between them. The city is not an easy place for music lovers. The country's war and politics has destroyed much of the traditional music and arts. However, all this could change if Doctor Ahmad Sarmast has his way.
Voice 2
Ahmad Sarmast has studied music for many years. He is a doctor of music. Today, he is the founder of an exciting project called ROAM - The Revival of Afghan Music. The aim of ROAM is to give new life to music in Afghanistan - to ‘revive' it. ROAM seeks to make music a central part of life again. Doctor Sarmast explained how the past has severely affected the traditional music in Afghanistan:
Voice 3
‘Music is an important part of social and cultural life in Afghanistan... But traditional music has suffered over the last thirty [30] years. It has suffered for a number of reasons including Taliban rule, civil war and people leaving the country.'
Voice 1
However, traditional music never completely disappeared from Afghanistan. It is too important in Afghan culture. Doctor Sarmast said:
Voice 3
‘No one has ever managed to prevent the people of Afghanistan from singing. Even in the most difficult times for music, the people managed to find a way to listen to music.'
Voice 2
The idea of ROAM is to bring music out into the open again! It is to revive music and make it truly alive again in Afghanistan! Members of the ROAM project believe now is the time for a music revival!
Voice 1
ROAM has different groups working together to make this happen. Monash University in Australia is a member of ROAM. This is where Doctor Sarmast used to teach music. Friends of ROAM is a group of Afghan and Australian people. They all have different musical and teaching skills. These people give their time freely to the ROAM project. Together, they are working for change in several ways.
Voice 2
One of ROAM's projects aims to rebuild and improve the lives of music players in Afghanistan. Doctor Sarmast explained that many music players left the country during the war. Some of them went to countries close by. Others travelled greater distances - to America or Europe. ROAM hopes to help the music players that remained in the country.
Voice 1
The project also plans to develop a national music education policy. It wants to encourage younger people in Afghanistan to rediscover traditional music. It wants them to be proud of it! Doctor Sarmast said he would like to see the country have a national orchestra! At present, there is no such group of skilled music players. His dream for the future is to hear Afghan musicians play their national song in an orchestra!
Voice 2
A new music school is another important part of the ROAM project. The plan is to turn the old music college into the National Institute of Music for Afghanistan. The institute will have new specialist music teachers to help the existing ones. The National Institute has the support of the World Bank and international music colleges. For example, Germany is sending two hundred [200] musical instruments. The new institute will not be lacking students either. Young people have already signed up to join! Doctor Sarmast explained that they are making sure that fifty [50] percent of the places go to the most needy Afghan children. He said:
Voice 3
‘The school is the first part of the whole project. It aims to give children without parents the chance to receive a music education. At the same time, it will provide them with a higher education. This is so important in a country with limited employment.'
Voice 1
Doctor Sarmast has high hopes for the project. He believes it can help the young people of Afghanistan in many ways. Music can help to heal some of the emotional wounds of the past. And education can help to increase employment and make the country stronger. He also points out that the Institute is not just about music. Doctor Sarmast said:
Voice 3
‘We have millions of children... living in the streets of Kabul and other areas of Afghanistan. These children do not have any kind of education. I am not talking about music education. This project is not just about music. It is about general education. It is about reducing poor conditions. It is about uniting the people of Afghanistan. And clearly it is about the healing power of music.'
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