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Qawwali

Qawwali music is a form of devotional music sung by the Islamic mystic sect of Sufis, distinguishable by its strong beat, repetitive chanting and trancelike quality being performed as part of a group. It is rooted in 8th century Persia and continues to be a popular form of listening today.

Qawwali is a popular form of music across the North of India and the Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan, as well as Bangladesh. Performances can be in a mix of languages, such as Punjabi, Urdu, and regional dialects such as Braj Bhasha and Persian (brought forward from the Mughal era). A popular facet of Qawwali music tends to be its focus on the Divine, often speaking of man's yearning for God and his eagerness to be reunited with his Divine Beloved. A qawwali is usually made up of several singers, a harmonium player, the tabla (or dholak), and sometimes the plucked rabab.

Qawwali music received international exposure through the work of the late Pakistani singer, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, largely due to several releases on the Real World label, live appearances at WOMAD Festivals, and collaborations with Western composers such as Michael Brook.

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