Qawwali

One of the many ways I've been busy procrastinating from studying for my exams is by listening to/watching qawwalis on youtube. Aziz Mian Qawwal seems to have made a major impression. My current favourite is 'Teri Soorat Nigahon' which isn't a hard-core qawwali as such, but its one of his more famous ones. Here's the video, in which the late Mr. Aziz Mian is looking particularly scary: [now lets see if I've figured out how to embed videos properly yet!]:



Of course every qawwali session should start with a proper invocation, and 'Man Kunto Maulla' fits the bill. This is a super-charged, high-octane version from Aziz Mian's earlier days. Alas the sound quality leaves a little to be desired, but when it really gets going, one can't help but be swept along:



My wife prefers this somewhat more sedate version by Farid Ayaz and Abu Muhammad Qawwal (the sons of Munshi Raziuddin who was a truly awesome qawwal). This performance appears to have taken place outdoors in Lahore before some very stoned-looking diplomats and has an introduction by ex-PCB chief Shehryar Khan in English. Even the qawwals look cold.



Later in that same performance came this version of 'Merey Baney Ki Baat Na Poocho' (unfortunately incomplete in this video). The qawwals seemed to have warmed up somewhat, having shed their sherwani coats, and are in fine form. I particularly enjoy some of the poetry they interject here as well.



We were fortunate enough to see them perform these live after my brother's wedding at his in-laws' place. Witnessing a qawwali live is very different from seeing a recording. I don't think anyone has quiet mastered the art of really capturing the sheer expansive range of sound, though as recording technology develops in the music industry in Pakistan, I'm sure matters will improve. Some of the best existing recordings of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan are still those that he made in a studio for French Radio in the late 70s.

And for those who like to mix a little jazz with their qawwali I came across this video of a jazzy rendition of 'Dum Must Qalandar' played in a Brooklyn club. Funny. Compare it to the Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan version its based on (again poor sound recording, but some nice tabla work).

IZ