![]() ![]() Qawwali is undoubtedly old, certainly going back many centuries. There are arguments about the origins of qawwali, some say that it comes from an Iranian tradition, others argue that it is an adaptation of popular native Indian traditions, put to use by missionary Muslims trying to get their message across to Indian audiences of every religion. ![]() Qawwali is linked to the Sufi tradition in Islam and the vast majority of performers are Muslims. The style bears some resemblance to other subcontinental singing styles, like the ‘bhajans’ of the Sikhs and other similar ‘bhakti’ traditions. In the recordings from which the following transcriptions and translations are made, you can also hear a clarinet, and a ‘japani baja’ (strummed or plucked, similar to a zither), guitars and electronic keyboards. The groups of ‘qawwals’, almost exclusively male, usually a lead singer and a ‘chorus’, are accompanied by percussion, hand-clapping and a harmonium, although occasionally other instruments are heard. ‘Qawwali’ is the name of an Indo/Pak subcontinental style of singing.
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