ISLAMABAD : 23 March 2026 – On the auspicious occasion of Pakistan Day , 23rd March, the Embassy of Romania has the honor to official launch of the firstever coral arrangement and score of the National Anthem (Qaumi Tarana).
This unique cultural initiative was realized by the National Chamber Choir “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” of Romania, with the support of the Embassy of Romania in Islamabad, as a tribute to Pakistan and its people.
The music of Pakistan’s national anthem was composed in 1949 by Ahmed Ghulam Ali Chagla, while the lyrics were written in 1952 by the renowned Urdu poet Hafeez Jalandhari. The anthem was first broadcast by Radio Pakistan on 13 August 1954 and was formally adopted shortly thereafter. In 1955, it was recorded by eleven prominent Pakistani singers, marking one of the earliest multi-voice performances of the piece.
Building on that tradition, the Madrigal Choir’s interpretation offers a refined choral rendition that celebrates the musical heritage of Pakistan and the enduring significance of its national anthem.
Originally conceived as an orchestral composition, the anthem blends Eastern melodic tradition with Western harmonic structure. The Madrigal Choir’s arrangement reimagines the piece through a polyphonic choral interpretation, distributing the melody across soprano, alto, tenor, and bass voices while preserving the solemn character and musical integrity of the original work.
Arranging Qaumi Tarana for choir presented a significant musical challenge. The composition includes approximately 38 distinct tones and was originally orchestrated for around 21 instruments, giving it a wide tonal range and complex harmonic progression.
Translating these orchestral elements into vocal lines required careful redistribution of musical phrases among the choir’s voice groups to ensure both musical balance and singable ranges. Additional challenges stem from the anthem’s structure, which does not rely on a repeated refrain but instead unfolds through continuously evolving musical phrases. The highly Persianized Urdu lyrics also require precise articulation and coordinated pronunciation in a choral setting.
Through extensive preparation and rehearsal, the Madrigal Choir successfully transformed the orchestral composition into a refined choral performance that highlights the expressive power of collective vocal interpretation while honouring the musical heritage of Pakistan’s national anthem.
Dr. Dan Stoenescu, Ambassador of Romania to Pakistan, stated: “We are honoured to bring to fruition this truly historic cultural project that will forever link our two nations. For the first time, Pakistan’s national anthem, Qaumi Tarana, will have a dedicated choral arrangement and a professionally prepared choral score, made possible through the remarkable artistry of the National Chamber Choir ‘Madrigal – Marin Constantin’ of Romania.
This initiative stands as a testament to the power of culture and music to build bridges between peoples and to celebrate the shared values of friendship, respect, and artistic excellence.”
As part of this initiative, the official album of the choral arrangement and the newly prepared choral score are being formally presented by the Ambassador of Romania to the highest authorities of Pakistan, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, and the Chief of Army Staff Marshall Asim Munir. The gesture symbolizes the spirit of friendship and cultural dialogue between Romania and Pakistan.
Founded in 1963 by the legendary conductor Marin Constantin, the Madrigal – Marin Constantin National Chamber Choir has become an emblem of musical excellence and cultural diplomacy.
Renowned for its distinctive sound, non-vibrato technique, stereophonic stage placement, and imposing costumes, the ensemble has performed thousands of concerts on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and received numerous international awards.
The world-premiere choral arrangement of Qaumi Tarana forms part of the programme “Diplomacy – The Anthems of the World”, initiated in 2021 by the Madrigal Choir, dedicated to promoting cultural diplomacy and international dialogue through music.
Through this artistic tribute, Romania expresses its profound respect for Pakistan’s history, identity, and national values, reaffirming the shared belief that culture and music can bring nations closer together.
Artistic Credits
Composer: Ahmed Ghulam Ali Chagla
Lyrics: Hafeez Jalandhari
Choral Arrangement: Grigore Cudalbu
Performed by: National Chamber Choir “Madrigal – Marin Constantin”
Conductor: Anna Ungureanu
Audio links:
HYPERLINK “https://open.spotify.com/album/02JzDb83PwzX9kf7AbO7sl?si=xHwXL9ymTkqeGZzq2mXejQ”https://open.spotify.com/album/02JzDb83PwzX9kf7AbO7sl?si=xHwXL9ymTkqeGZzq2mXejQ
HYPERLINK “https://corulmadrigal.lnk.to/anthemsoftheworld-pakistan”https://corulmadrigal.lnk.to/anthemsoftheworld-pakistan
Video link:
HYPERLINK “https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FSXp8icbbe0Fm_a02QJaQJ3ugD5d5tMw?usp=sharing”https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FSXp8icbbe0Fm_a02QJaQJ3ugD5d5tMw?usp=sharing
HYPERLINK “https://drive.google.com/file/d/12HvfAjHOOJAEWRxgi-CHgQPZrK_7KVGU/view?usp=sharing”https://drive.google.com/file/d/12HvfAjHOOJAEWRxgi-CHgQPZrK_7KVGU/view?usp=sharing
