The sudden passing of Pakistani leader and visionary Benazir Bhutto on Dec. 27th was a direct assault on my senses. So many emotions about this. As music would have it, there is a kind which conveys the torment, grief, despair, as well as the tenacity, courage, love and conviction I feel for life on the Planet. Qawwali music is the devotional music of the Chishti Sufis of the Indian subcontinent. The music is expressive, emphatic, joyful and lamenting all at once, and is capable of sending devotees and listeners into visionary trances (and dances).foto by jahangjirpix
Abida Parveen, one of Pakistan's most well-known devotional singers, shares ghazals, qawwalis and kafis on her album, The Meeting: Mystic Poets from the Hind and the Sind (World Village). I found the track, "Ishq Na Derda Mot Kolon", particularly heartwarming to listen to in these recent days. Here she performs a classic ghazal piece, "Jab Se Tu Ne Mujhe Deewana." Parveen walks similar steps to that of Ms. Bhutto: she's (r)evolutionary in that she
sings music typically and traditionally sung by men. She studied under her father who turned a 'blind eye' to the 'traditional' ways and supported his daughter's musical interest and enthusiasm, and, she blossomed under the tutelage of Ustad Salamat Ali Khan. The rest is history. Both she and Bhutto carry(ied) visionary torches that transcend mortal men (literally) and guide us to brighter paths. Bhutto's vision for a New World, and Parveen's sonic commandment for truth and devotion light the way. Peace be.
