Popular film and recording artists in their native country, the Sabri Brothers & Ensemble have toured Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the United States. When Qawwali was originally issued, John Rockwell of the New York Times called it “the aural equivalent of dancing dervishes,' citing its 'rhapsodic declaimed verses and full-bodied unison chorus,” and further describing it as 'music of feeling.' It is the favoured axe of the sha’ir -the epic poets- and the muganni sh’abiyyah -the folk singers of the Nile valley.Qawwali, produced by David Lewiston, was recorded in the United States in April 1978, while the original nine-man group was on its second acclaimed tour of the United States. The tabla is made of wood and the bayan of metal, both have heads made of skin, with a paste of flour and iron filings in the middle.Ī two-stringed horsehair instrument made from coconut shells and fish skin, where a bow slides, strikes and bounces off the horsehair.

The name is an abbreviation of tabla-bayan, bayan meaning left, which is where the drum is positioned.

It comes from North Indian folk tradition and is widely used by bhangra bands, as well as Qawwali groups, although the playing techniques are different.Ī set of two small drums played with the palms and fingertips, and capable of producing an incredible range of sounds and textures. The same instrument is known as a mey in western Turkey.Ī double-headed drum tapering at both ends, made from a piece of hollowed tree trunk and played with the fingers and the palms. The haunting wistfulness of the instrument can be mesmerising in the hands of a skilled player. Nevertheless, large concerts by Nusrat and The Sabri Brothers still had audience members whirling like dervishes.Ī small oboe-like instrument with a very large reed and a sweet melancholy tone. This setting, traditionalists believe, brings them closer to God- a state unattainable in the stadium-size affairs commanded by the likes of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Traditional Qawwali performances, or mahfils, are intimate gatherings which see listeners sitting on the ground rather than on seats. 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.

A group of Qawwals is made up of a lead singer, one or two secondary singers and musicians, and wildly clapping junior members. Performers believe they have a religious mission: to evoke the name of Allah via rhythmic handclapping, percussion, harmonium and a vast repertoire of sung poetry.

Qawali