| Identifier | 4891003 |
| Created At | Tue May 23 2023 23:54:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) |
| Media Type | FLAC |
| Media Count | 1 |
| Source Info | MAT>?>CD |
| Trades Allowed |
Performance
| Mehr & Sher Ali 1999-10-23 The International House, Philadelphia, PA | |
|---|---|
| Set 1 | This is a qawwali ceremony by Mehr & Sher Ali (Meher and Sheher Ali).
Qawwali is derived from the Arabic word qual, meaning belief or credo. Qawwali is spiritual in essence and used to attain a trance-like experience. It is the music of the Muslim Sufis who practiced mysticism. Qawwali musicians feel their music brings harmony and peace to the soul and projects the message of love and unity for all. Physically, Qawwali musicians are seated in two roughly parallel rows on the floor at the same level as the audience. The back row consists of the chorus, who also rhythmically clap their hands, with one tabla-player in the middle. The front row has the lead singer on the right, with two (or more) accompanying singers to his left. The Qawwali generally chooses one text by a single poet (Amir Khusrau in Persian, Bullhe Shah in Punjabi, or a contemporary poet), but may highlight it by couplets from other poems by the same poet. The strong voice of Mehr Ali is supported by the sweeter, almost feminine, voice of his younger brother, Sher Ali. Their voices are balanced by vocalists Mashug Ali and Sardar Ali. Vigorous, forceful hand-clapping by the chorus and audience participation are important elements in a Qawwali performance. The musicians often repeat and dwell on portions which strike the greatest response in the audience. Persons who have experienced the trance brought on by Qawwali have mentioned a feeling of flying. Flight is also the imagery used in Sufi texts in their attempt to achieve divine union. Qawwali originated with the Sufis in the 10th century and blossomed into recognizable form in the 13th century when poet and mystic Amir Khusrau (1254-1325) combined Indian, Iranian, Hindu and Muslim music. Another form of Qawwali developed around the 16th century between Iran, Central Asia and India. This form, Panjabi ang, presents the texts of Panjabi Sufi poetry and folk songs woven into melodies and rhythms. In addition to lead vocalist Mehr Ali, the all-male ensemble includes, vocals and harmonium, Sher Ali and Mashug Ali; vocalist Sardar Ali; tabla, Amjad Ali Khan, and chorus, Abdul Rashid, Rafaqat Ali, Badar Munir, Shaukat Ali, Maqsud Hasan, Sadat Ali Saqib, Arif Ali and Dilbar Hussain. |
| Set 2 | |
| Set 3 | |
| Comment | |