This documentary offers an intimate portrait of Alim Qasimov, Azerbaijan's most beloved traditional singer, and his daughter, Fargana, following their musical lives in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital city.

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"To be a musician, there has to be a fire burning in you," declares Alim Qasimov, Azerbaijan’s most beloved traditional singer. In these deeply spiritual recordings of Azeri classical mugham and lyrical bardic songs, Alim merges his own consummate musicianship with that of his talented daughter Fargana, and with the energetic accompaniment of a young ensemble performing on tar, kamancha, balaban, oud, and drums. This documentary also offers an intimate portrait of the Qasimovs and their musical lives in Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital city.

Music of Central Asia is a co-production of the Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia, a program of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, and the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage. The aim of the series is to present leading exponents of Central Asia's rich and diverse musical heritage to listeners outside the region.

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Smithsonian Folkways