Folk Melody of BD launched alongside 65th-anniv fest of AFD

Book launching and Musical ensemble at Alliance Francaise, Dhaka.

Alliance Française, Dhaka hosted the book launching of “Folk Melody of Bangladesh” on Friday 11 October 2024, an anthology of Bangladeshi folk music presented in standard notation, compiled and edited by Mr Iftekhar Anwar. The launch was followed by a live musical performance by the Flaming Acoustics Orchestra which includes the writer of the book himself.

This event is an addition to the 65th-anniversary festivities of Alliance Française de Dhaka.

About the book

A comprehensive collection of Bangladesh’s rich folk musical heritage, Mr Iftekhar Anwar has preserved and standardized these timeless traditional melodies which are woven into the very culture of Bangladesh in an anthology which will ensure that the cultural treasures of the nation reach a wider audience through study and performances, garnering an appreciation for the art through an increased accessibility on a global scale; this book stands to foster a deeper understanding of our cultural heritage though the universal language of music, bridging cultural divides.

About  Mr Iftekhar Anwar: Founder and Director of the Classical Music Academy (CMA) in Dhaka, Iftekhar Anwar earned his diploma in Music from the Razi Conservatory in Athens, Greece; going on to continue his higher education at Arizona State University. In addition to the CMA, Mr Anwar also conducts the guitar courses at Alliance Française de Dhaka which has undoubtedly contributed to the popularization of classical guitar in many. This book is a labour of his love for music.

About The Flaming Acoustics Orchestra

A talented group of individual musicians, many of whom have blossomed under the tutelage of Mr Anwar himself, features: Iftekhar Anwar on Cello, Md Ali Akkas on Flute, Md Erfanul Haque on Classical Guitar, Nahian Kabyo on Violin, Prithila Mary Pereira on Percussion, Sattyajit Sarkar on Violin, Simon Kierspel on Viola. – Press release