AN EVENING OF SUFI MAGIC WITH ABDULLAH NIAZI QAWWALS

Kabir Cultural Centre, Montreal, in collaboration with Small World Music and Aga Khan Museum, presents Mystic Music of Pakistan, an evening of Sufi Music in the form of Qawwali performed by Abdullah Niazi Qawwals.

Qawwali is a form of devotional singing, originating from the Indian subcontinent, and notably popular in the Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan; in Hyderabad, Delhi and other parts of India, especially north; as well as the Dhaka and Chittagong Divisions of Bangladesh.

A group of Qawwals is made up of a lead singer, one or two secondary singers and musicians, and wildly clapping junior members. By repeatedly and hypnotically chanting salient phrases, they transport audiences to a spiritual nirvana, a trance-like state that some describe as akin to flying. Qawwali evokes the name of Allah in many languages, from its original Persian to Punjabi, Urdu, Arabic and other languages of India and Pakistan, though the medium’s passion and intensity has the ability to move even Western ears. Traditional Qawwali performances, or mehfils, are intimate gatherings which see listeners sitting on the ground rather than on seats. This setting, traditionalists believe, brings them closer to God – a state unattainable in the stadium-size affairs. Nevertheless, large concerts still have audience members whirling like dervishes.

Abdullah Niazi Qawwal (born 1960) is a Pakistani Qawwal. He belongs to the Qawwal Bachchon Ka Gharana of Delhi. He is the eldest son of Manzoor Niazi Qawwal. Abdullah Niazi Qawwal’s grandfather, Mir Qutub Bukhsh, was awarded the title of Tanras Khan by the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shad Zafar. Tanras Khan was also the tutor in music and court musician of this emperor. Abdullah Niazi was one of the principal Qawwals in Manzoor Niazi Qawwal’s group and after the death of Manzoor Niazi Qawwal, he led a Qawwali Group formed with his brothers.

In 2015, he branched out with his sons supporting him. His performance style is steeped in Amir Khusro’s kalaam (verses) and is based on Indian classical music. Abdullah Niazi carries the qawwali performance with a command and virtuosity rarely found in contemporary Qawwals, capturing Amir Khusro’s poetry and its musical emotionality in all its subtlety and intensity. Abdullah Niazi Qawwal performs various genres of qawwali music such as thumri, khayal, tarana, Sufism and classical. He has released many CDs/VCDs and audio cassettes. He also has recorded qawwalis on ARY QTV channel and on Pakistan Television Corporation channel. He has recorded qawwalis on South Africa's Radio Lotus in 1989, Oslo Television in 1991, and on Door Darshan of India. Abdullah Niazi Qawwal also worked with Komal Rizvi in her video song Jhoolay Lal which was released by HMV India in 2013.

When and where: Sunday, May 15, 6:30 pm, at the Aga Khan Museum.

Tickets: www.agakhanmuseum.org/events.