Hamsafar: A Musical Journey Through South Asia |The South Asian Symphony Orchestra |Viswa Subbaraman

Lauren Braithwaite (b. 1990)
Hamsafar: A Musical Journey through South Asia
Commissioned by Classical Movements’ Eric Daniel Helms New Music Program for the South Asian Symphony Orchestra Born in Epsom, U.K., Lauren Braithwaite has worked and studied for many years in both music education and musicology. In 2016, she joined the Afghanistan National Institute of Music as woodwind faculty and in March 2017, became Artistic Director and co-conductor of the Zohra Women’s Orchestra. Prior to this, Lauren worked as a music educator at the Murray Conservatorium in Albury, Australia. Lauren holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Cambridge, where she was a choral scholar of Magdalene College Chapel Choir, and a Master’s degree from the University of Oxford. In 2013, she completed her Associate Diploma in Instrumental/Vocal Teaching with Trinity College, London. “Hamsafar” sews together a tapestry of traditional and popular musical works from seven countries in the region, simultaneously celebrating their shared characteristics whilst also highlighting the unique melodies, rhythms, and modes of each country. With the exception of “Ta Zee Ling”, a song from Bhutan, all the pieces possess lyrics drawn from national poetry. Beginning in Sri Lanka, the suite opens with the melancholic melody of “Aiyandiye” emerging from a solo cello and later echoed by a solo oboe. “Allah megh de pani de” - ‘Oh God give us cloud, give us water’ - is a well-known Bengali folk song which, despite its major key and upbeat rhythms, is a plea for rain in a parched land. Drops of rain finally come before the musical traveller continues on to Nepal, India, and Afghanistan to hear stories of human love: “Euta Manche Ko” describes the difference a person’s love can make to one’s life; the words of”Mera Joota Hai Japani” declare that, despite my clothes being from other countries, my heart is always Indian; and Afghanistan’s “Arsala Khan” tells the story of a young lady crying out because her family will not allow her to marry the song’s namesake. The suite ends with “Lal Meri Pat Rakhiyo”, the words of which were penned by the poet Amir Khusrow in honour of the Sufi saint Lal Shahbaz Qalandar. The driving rhythm and melody come together in tutti to bring the ebb and flow of the suite to a powerful climax.