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Sufi Music

Sufi music is inspired by Sufi poets and includes various forms like qawwali, Sema ceremony music called Ayin, and ghazals. Qawwali originated in South Asia and was spread internationally by artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Gnawa music is a form from West Africa often used for healing rituals. Artists like Abida Parveen, Sanam Marvi, and Asrar Shah are modern exponents of Sufi music. The genres have been fused with other styles by bands like Junoon and incorporated into the works of artists spanning India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, and the West.

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416 views2 pages

Sufi Music

Sufi music is inspired by Sufi poets and includes various forms like qawwali, Sema ceremony music called Ayin, and ghazals. Qawwali originated in South Asia and was spread internationally by artists like Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Gnawa music is a form from West Africa often used for healing rituals. Artists like Abida Parveen, Sanam Marvi, and Asrar Shah are modern exponents of Sufi music. The genres have been fused with other styles by bands like Junoon and incorporated into the works of artists spanning India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, and the West.

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Hamus
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Sufi music is the devotional music of the Sufis, inspired by the works of Sufi

poets, like Rumi, Hafiz, Bulleh Shah, Amir Khusrow and Khwaja Ghulam Farid
Qawwali is the most well known form of Sufi music, and is most commonly found in
the Sufi culture in South Asia.It is popular in the Punjab and Sindh regions of
Pakistan, in many parts of India including Hyderabad and Delhi, and many parts of
Bangladesh. Qawwali music received international exposure through the work of the
late Pakistani singers Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Sabri Brothers.

However, music is also central to the Sema ceremony of the whirling dervishes,
which is set to a form of music called Ayin, a vocal and instrumental piece
featuring Turkish classical instruments such as the ney (a reed flute).
The West African gnawa is another form.The term Gnawa musicians generally refers to
people who also practice healing rituals.In Moroccan popular culture, Gnawas,
through their ceremonies, are considered to be experts in the magical treatment of
scorpion stings and psychic disorders. They heal diseases by the use of colors,
condensed cultural imagery, perfumes and fright.

Sufi love songs are often performed as ghazals and Kafi, a solo genre accompanied
by percussion and harmonium, using a repertoire of songs by Sufi poets.

Abida Parveen,a Pakistani Sufi singer is one of the foremost exponents of Sufi
music, considered the finest Sufi vocalists of the modern era. Sanam Marvi another
Pakistani singer has recently gained recognition for her Sufi vocal performances.
Asrar Shah a Lahore based Sufi singer who gained popularity in Coke Studio Pakistan
and now is owner of his music producing company Soul Speaks.

A.R.Rahman ,the Oscar-winning Indian musician, has several compositions which draw
inspiration from the Sufi genre; examples are the filmi qawwalis Khwaja Mere Khwaja
in the film Jodhaa Akbar, Arziyan in the film Delhi 6 and Kun Faya Kun in the film
Rockstar.

Bengali singer Lalan Fakir and Bangladesh's national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam scored
several Sufi songs.In his songs, Lalon envisioned a society where all religions and
beliefs would stay in harmony. He inspired and influenced many poets, social and
religious thinkers including Rabindranath Tagore,Kazi Nazrul Islam and Allen
Ginsberg.He was widely celebrated as an epitome of religious tolerance.Lalon was
placed at number 12 in the BBC's poll of the Greatest Bengali of All Time.

Junoon, a band from Pakistan, created the genre of Sufi rock by combining elements
of modern hard rock and traditional folk music with Sufi poetry.The band is
directed by founder, lead guitarist and songwriter, Salman Ahmad, who was soon
joined by keyboardist Nusrat Hussain and vocalist Ali Azmat.Since their inception,
the group has released a collective total of nineteen albums: seven studio albums;
one soundtrack; two live albums; four video albums, and five compilations.

In 2005, Rabbi Shergill released a Sufi rock song called "Bulla Ki Jaana", which
became a chart-topper in India and Pakistan.

Madonna's song"Bedtime Story"shows an ecstatic Sufi ritual with many dervishes


dancing, Arabic calligraphy and some other Sufi elements.In"Bittersweet", she
recites Rumi's poem by the same name.

Singer/songwriter Loreena McKennitt's record "The Mask and Mirror" (1994) has a
song called "The Mystic's Dream" that is influenced by Sufi music and poetry.
The band "MewithoutYou "has made references to Sufi parables.
Tori Amos makes a reference to Sufis in her song "Cruel".

Mercan Dede s a Turkish composer who incorporates Sufism into his music and
performances.
Shohreh Moavenian s an Iranian singer who sings Rumi's poems.
The music has had a select, devoted number of followers, especially in the past two
decades.

some musicians have been trying to promote pure Sufi music, like London-based Deepa
Nair Rasiyas 2015 album Destination and Dhruv Sangaris live qawwali concerts.
Shubha Mudgal, Kavita Seth and Rekha Bhardwaj present Sufi tunes, whereas
Vasundhara Das, Smita Bellur and Indira Naik perform regular shows.

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