Documentary follows Pakistani musicians to Lincoln Center
The Beacon Film Society will host a screening at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 9, of the 2015 documentary, Song of Lahore, followed by a question-and-answer session with co-director Andy Schocken. The screening takes place at Beahive Beacon, 291 Main St. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or by visiting beaconfilmsociety.org.
When Pakistan won its independence in 1947, Lahore was known as a haven for musicians, artists and poets. But Islamization, ethnic divisions, war and corruption have torn apart the country’s cultural fabric. In 2004, Izzat Majeed founded Sachal Studios to create a space for traditional music; after convincing a number of musicians to pick up their instruments, the band quietly released classical and folk albums, along with an experimental album fusing jazz and South Asian instruments that has brought Sachal global acclaim.
Their rendition of Dave Brubeck’s Take Five became a sensation and Wynton Marsalis invited them to perform at Lincoln Center. After a week of rehearsals fusing the orchestras from Lahore and New York, the musicians took the stage for a remarkable concert.
