‘Qawali’ evening held

Islamabad

The ‘qawali fans’ of Islamabad were treated to one rare live performance by Faiz Ali Faiz Qawal ensemble, which entertained a sizeable gathering in the spacious hall of a local hotel Monday evening. The performance was organised by ‘Mausikaar Trust for Preservation of Classical and Semi-Classical Music’.

Faiz Ali Faiz, who belong to Lahore, gave a powerful 90-minutes performance of traditional Sufi devotional music and vocal recitation. Starting with the traditional ‘Qaul’, the centuries old composition of Amir Khusro, followed by ‘Na'at’, Faiz Ali Faiz settled into rhythm and went on to present the famous ‘Kafi’ Baba Bulleh Shah, ‘Ni May Jana Jogi Day Naal’.

The next to come was a ‘ghazal’ of Purnam Ilahabadi, 'Tumhain Dil Lagi Bhool Jani Paray Gi’. And he wrapped up the evening with the most popular ‘Dhamal, Dam Mast Qalandar Dam Mast Mast’, sung by legendary late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The ‘Dhamal’ was written by famous poet Bari Nizami.

Needless to say that the evening was thoroughly enjoyed and enthusiastically appreciated by the guests and patrons of ‘Mausikaar’ invited to attend.

Speaking briefly on the occasion, Dr Seema Khan, the President of Mausikaar, introduced the Faiz Ali Faiz Qawal ensemble. “He is the first Qawal to be hailed as a worthy successor to the late Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Trained with Ustad Ghulam Shabbir Khan and Ustad Ghulam Jafar Khan of ‘Sham Chaurasi Gharana’, and ‘qawali’ stylists Muhammad Ali Faridi and Abdur Rahim Faridi Qawal, he started his own group in 1978 in ‘Doaba’ style from East Punjab.

She said that Faiz Ali Faiz performed in 1999 in a ceremonial concert at Maison des Cultures du Monde, Paris, France, titled ‘La Nuit des Qawwals’ (The Night of Qawals). Since then he has given more than 150 performances all over Europe, USA, North Africa, South East and Far East Asia.

Faiz Ali Faiz was accompanied by Karamat Ali Asad on 1st Harmonium, Ali Shahbaz on 2nd Harmonium, Shahid Farid on Tabla and Nazar Abbas as support voice. The chorus/clappers included Mohammad Nasir, Amanat Ali Senior, Shahid Nadeem, Faraz Hussain and Amanat Ali Junior.

The Mausikaar President also extended appreciation towards ‘Hashoo Group’ and the hotel management the Omar Durrani of ‘Omar Travels’ for their support towards organising the event.

Prominent among the audience present on the occasion included the Chairman of Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL), Dr Qasim Bughio, the Executive Director of Lok Virsa, Dr Fauzia Saeed, former Ambassadors Salahuddin, and Qazi Humayun and Khalid Khattak, Mrs Khalida Laeeq Babri, Yassir Nauman, the popular folklorist and traditional music promoter and some diplomats from the British High Commission.

Mrs Faiza Iqbal, Ms Mahreen Khan and Mrs Salahuddin and Hassan Reza formed the Mausikaar team which welcomed and accommodated the guests as well the performers.