Qawwali

Qawwali is one of the musical forms most clearly associated with Islam on the Indian subcontinent. Understood as a song of praise that enables one to attain a state of union with God, it is a fundamental devotional ritual of the Sufi communities of the Punjab, in both Pakistan and Northern India. The renowned Shuaib Aftab Qawwal Group will be offering us the chance to discover their rich musical universe.

This musical genre consists of sung poems from Sufi mysticism, performed by soloists –qawwals– who are generally accompanied by the ‘tabla’, harmonium and a plucked string instrument which are played over a rhythmic base consisting of the constant repetition of the name of God –the dhikr–, in a journey that leads listeners and participants to an ecstatic state: a veritable feast for the soul and the senses.

Shuaïb-Aftab-Ahmad Mushtaq is the 7th generation of Gwalior Gharana singing and the 5th of Talwandi Gharana. He sings the Sufi, Qawwali and Khayal singing in a very pure form. He has received the transmission of Khayal singing in the tradition of Gwalior Gharana by the Legendary Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan, and the sufi singing of Punjab Ang Qawwali by the famous Master Ustad Sher Ali Meher of Talwandi Gharana.