Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

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Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
CD cover of Nusrat Forever © 1999, Long Distance France
CD cover of Nusrat Forever © 1999, Long Distance France
Background information
Born October 13, 1948,

Flag of Pakistan Faisalabad, Punjab
Origin Flag of Pakistan Pakistan
Died August 16, 1997 (aged 48)

Flag of the United Kingdom London, England
Genre(s) Qawwali
Occupation(s) Singer
Instrument(s) Harmonium
Tabla

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Urdu: نصرت فتح على خاں, born October 13, 1948, died August 16, 1997), was a Pakistani musician, primarily a singer of Qawwali, the devotional music of the Sufis (a mystical tradition within Islam). He featured in Time magazine's 2006 list of 'Asian Heroes' [1].

Traditionally, Qawwali has been a family business. Nusrat's family has an unbroken tradition of performing qawwali for the last 600 years. Among other honorary titles bestowed upon him, Nusrat was called Shahenshah-e-Qawwali, meaning The Emperor of Qawwali.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and career

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born in Lyallpur (now Faisalabad), Pakistan on October 13, 1948 to Fateh Ali Khan [2], a distinguished and legendary musicologist, vocalist, instrumentalist, and Qawwal. Nusrat had four sisters and one brother, Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan. They grew up on Regal Road in central Faisalabad, in a small flat that was rented from a local successful business man, Naseeruddin Mian.

Initially, Nusrat's father did not want him to enter the family business. He had his heart set on Nusrat choosing a more respectable career path by becoming a doctor or an engineer, because he felt Qawwals had a low social status. However, Nusrat showed such an aptitude for and interest in Qawwali that his father finally relented and started to train him in the art. At first, he was taught to play tabla, playing alongside his father. He then learnt Raag Vidya and bolbandish. Once he had mastered such arts, he was taught to sing within the classical framework of khayal in the Qawwal Bachchon Gharana and learnt dhrupad from the Dagar family. This training was left incomplete when Fateh Ali Khan died in 1964, while Nusrat was still in school. However, the training was continued by Nusrat's paternal uncles, Mubarak Ali Khan and Salamat Ali Khan.

His first performance was at a traditional graveside ceremony for his father (chehlum), forty days after his father's death. After the death of Mubarak Ali Khan, Nusrat became the official leader in 1971, and the party was called Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan & Party. Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan was Mubarak Ali Khan's son. Though considerably older than Nusrat, the leadership of the party still went to Nusrat.

Nusrat's first public performance as leader of the Qawwali party was in March of 1965 at a studio recording broadcast as part of an annual music festival, Jashn-e-Baharan, organized by Radio Pakistan. Nusrat took several years in which to perfect his craft and emerge from the shadow of other groups that were regarded as the leading contemporary Qawwals. Once he did, however, there was no looking back. He firmly established himself as the leading Qawwal of the 20th century. His incredible voice and complete mastery of the genre made him a superstar in the Indian subcontinent and the Islamic world. He sang mainly in Urdu and Punjabi, but also in Persian, Brajbhasha and Hindi. His Qawwali output is almost evenly divided between Urdu and Punjabi, with a smattering of songs in the other languages. Nusrat was also one of the first Pakistani vocalists to perform before Western audiences.

In Pakistan, his first major hit was the song Haq Ali Ali. This was performed in a traditional style and with traditional instrumentation, and featured only sparse use of Nusrat's innovative sargam improvisations. Nevertheless, it became a major hit as many listeners were attracted to the timbre and other qualities of Nusrat's voice.

[edit] Success in the West

He reached out to Western audiences with a couple of fusion records produced by Canadian musician, Michael Brook. In 1995, he collaborated with Eddie Vedder on the soundtrack to Dead Man Walking. His contribution to that and several other soundtracks and albums (including The Last Temptation of Christ and Natural Born Killers), as well as his friendship with Peter Gabriel, helped to increase his popularity in the West. Nusrat has said that his music was illegitimately used in Natural Born Killers. He said that he did not approve its use, and that by using his music in that film, the image of Sufi music could be tarnished. Basically, the movie runs contrary to the beliefs conveyed in Nusrat's music.[3] Peter Gabriel's Real World label released five albums of Nusrat's traditional Qawwali. Real World also released albums of his experimental work, including Mustt Mustt (which features a slap bass technique) and Star Rise. He also performed traditional Qawwali before international audiences at several WOMAD world music festivals. The single Mustt Mustt, the title track off Khan's 1990 album, was remixed by downtempo electronic group Massive Attack in 1998.

Nusrat provided vocals for The Prayer Cycle put together by Jonathan Elias, but died before the vocals could be completed. Alanis Morissette was brought in to sing with his unfinished vocals.

When Nusrat toured in foreign countries, he would watch television commercials in order to identify the melodies and chord progressions popular in that country. He would then try to choose similar sounding songs from his repertoire for his performances.[citation needed]

[edit] Later years

Nusrat contributed songs to, and performed in, several Pakistani films. Shortly before his death, he recorded a song each for two Bollywood films, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya (in which he also appeared) and Kachche Dhaage. He also sang the immensely-popular title song of the film, Dhadkan.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan holds the world record for the largest recorded output by a Qawwali artist—a total of 125 albums.

Nusrat was taken ill with kidney and liver failure on August 11, 1997 in London, England while on the way to Los Angeles in order to receive a kidney transplant. Nusrat died of a sudden cardiac arrest at Cromwell Hospital, London, on Saturday, August 16, 1997, aged 48, at the height of his career. [4]. His body was returned to Faisalabad, Pakistan and his funeral was attended by thousands of people.

[edit] Nusrat's style of Qawwali

Nusrat is responsible for the modern evolution of Qawwali. Although not the first to do so, he popularized the blending of khayal singing and techniques with Qawwali. This, in short, took the form of improvised solos during the songs using the sargam technique, in which the performer sings the names of the notes he is singing. He also attempted to blend Qawwali music with more western styles such as techno.

Nusrat's Qawwali usually follows the standard form. A song begins with a short instrumental prelude played on the harmonium, accompanied by percussion. Then the instruments refrain, and the main singers launch into the alap, which establishes the raag, the tonal structure of the music. At this point, introductory poetic verses are sung. These are usually drawn not from the main song, but from thematically related songs. The melody is improvised within the structure of the raag.

After the introductory verses, the main song starts, and the rhythmic portion of the song begins. The tabla and dholak begin to play, and the chorus aids and abets percussion by clapping their hands. The song proceeds in a "call and response" format. The same song may be sung quite differently by different groups. The lyrics will be essentially the same, but the melody can differ depending on which gharana or lineage the group belongs to. As is traditional in Qawwali, Nusrat and the side-singers will interject alap solos, and fragments of other poems or even improvised lyrics. A song usually has two or three sets of refrains, which can be compared to the verse chorus structure found in western music. Songs last about twenty minutes on average, with a few lasting an hour or more.

Nusrat was noted for introducing other forms of improvisation into the style. From his classical music training, he would interject much more complex alap improvisations, with more vibrato and note bending. He would also interject sargam improvisations.

While it is undoubtedly difficult to put into words what makes Nusrat's music so deeply appealing to so many listeners, many of whom do not understand a single word of the languages he sings in, here is one fan's attempt to explain: "Nusrat's music invites us to eavesdrop on a man communing with his God, ever so eloquently. He makes the act of singing a passionate offering to God. But we do not merely eavesdrop. The deepest part of Nusrat's magic lies in the fact that he is able to bring our hearts to resonate with the music, so deeply, that we ourselves become full partners in that offering. He sings to God, and by listening, we also sing to God".

[edit] Composition of Nusrat's Qawwali Party

The composition of Nusrat's party changed over the 32 years that he led the party. Listed below is a snapshot of the party, circa 1983:

  1. Mujahid Mubarak Ali Khan: Nusrat's first cousin, vocals/handclapping
  2. Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan: Nusrat's brother, vocals and lead harmonium
  3. Rehmat Ali: vocals and second harmonium
  4. Maqsood Hussain: vocals/handclapping
  5. Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: Nusrat's nephew, pupil singer
  6. Dildar Hussain: tabla
  7. Majawar Abbas: mandolin, guitar
  8. Mohammed Iqbal Naqbi: chorus/handclapping, secretary of the party
  9. Asad Ali: chorus/handclapping
  10. Ghulam Farid: chorus/handclapping
  11. Kaukab Ali: chorus/handclapping

The one significant member of the party who does not appear on this list is Atta Fareed. For many years, he alternated with Rehmat Ali on vocals and second harmonium. He is easily identifiable in videos since he plays the harmonium left-handed.

This snapshot is non-representative in one respect: harmoniums were usually the only instruments. Only rarely were instruments like mandolin or guitar used.

[edit] Tributes

The late American rock singer Jeff Buckley paid his tribute to Nusrat on the album, Live at Sin-é. In his introduction, he states, "Nusrat, he's my Elvis," before performing the song "Yeh Jo Halka Halka Saroor Hai." The recording generated interest among the audience who were previously unaware of his music. He also stated in an interview, "I idolize Nusrat, he's a god too." Buckley died in May 1997 in Memphis, Tennessee, 3 months before Nusrat. In addition, Nusrat's posthumously released The Supreme Collection Vol. 1 has liner notes written by Buckley, to whom this album is dedicated.

Eddie Vedder said, "I was lucky to work with Nusrat, a true musician who won't be replaced in my life. There was definitely a spiritual element in his music." Eddie Vedder also incorporated 'Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan' into the lyrics of 'Wishlist' during the 98' Yield tour in Melbourne, Australia.

SPIN magazine listed Nusrat as one of the 50 most influential artists of music in 1998.

Paul Williams picked a concert performance by Nusrat for inclusion in his 2000 book The 20th Century's Greatest Hits: a "top-40" list, in which he devotes a chapter each to what he considers the top 40 artistic achievements of the 20th century in any field (including art, movies, music, fiction, non-fiction, science-fiction).

In 2004, a tribute band called Brooklyn Qawwali Party (formerly Brook's Qawwali Party) was formed in New York City by percussionist Brook Martinez to perform the music of Nusrat. The 13-piece group still performs mostly instrumental jazz versions of Nusrat's qawwalis, using the instruments conventionally associated with jazz rather than those associated with qawwali.

TIME magazine's issue of November 6, 2006, "60 Years of Asian Heroes", lists Nusrat as one of the top 12 Artists and Thinkers in the last 60 years [5].

The Red Hot Chili Peppers wrote a tribute song about Nusrat, called "Circle of the Noose". It has never been released.

The Derek Trucks Band released "Makki Madni" on their 2002 album Joyful Noise with Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan singing. In addition they released a studio recorded medley of "Sahib Teri Bandi/Maki Madni" on their 2006 album Songlines, in which Derek Trucks emulates Nusrat's vocals (from the album "The Last Prophet") with his slide guitar playing.

In 2007, London-based producer Gaudi released Dub Qawwali, featuring dub reggae with Nusrat's vocals [6].

[edit] Films

[edit] Documentaries

  • Nusrat has Left the Building... But When? (1997). Directed by Farjad Nabi. (This 20-minute docudrama focuses on Nusrat's early career.)
  • A Voice from Heaven (1999). Directed by Giuseppe Asaro. (This 75-minute documentary, available on VHS and DVD, provides an excellent introduction to Nusrat's life and work.)

[edit] Concert films

  • The JVC Video Anthology of World Music and Dance (1990). Video 14 (of 30) (South Asia IV). Produced by Ichikawa Katsumori; directed by Nakagawa Kunikiko and Ichihashi Yuji; in collaboration with the National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka. [Tokyo]: JVC, Victor Company of Japan; Cambridge, Massachusetts: distributed by Rounder Records. Features a studio performance by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Party (two Urdu-language songs: a Hamd (song in praise of Allah), and a Manqabat for Khwaja Mu`inuddin Chishti, a 13th century Sufi saint. Filmed in Tokyo, Japan, September 20, 1987, for Asian Traditional Performing Arts).
  • Nusrat! Live at Meany (1998). Produced by the University of Washington. (87-minute document of a January 23, 1993 concert at Meany Hall, University of Washington in Seattle, during Nusrat's residency at the Ethnomusicology Program there.)
  • Live in Concert in the U.K. (DVD, vols. 1-17) [OSA]; recorded between 1983 and 1993
  • Akhiyan Udeek Diyan (DVD) [Nupur Audio]
  • Je Tun Rab Nu Manauna (DVD) [Nupur Audio]
  • Yaadan Vicchre Sajan Diyan Aayiyan (DVD) [Nupur Audio]
  • Rang-e-Nusrat (DVD, vols. 1-11) [Music Today]; recorded between 1983 and 1993
    • Live in Concert in UK (DVD vol. 1)
    • Live in Concert (DVD vol. 2)
    • Live in Concert (DVD vol. 3)
    • Live in UK (DVD vol. 4)
    • Live in UK (DVD vol. 5)
    • Live in Concert (DVD vol. 6)
    • Live in UK (DVD vol. 7)
    • Live in UK (DVD vol. 8)
    • Live in UK (DVD vol. 9)
    • Live in UK (DVD vol. 10)
    • Live in UK (DVD vol. 11)
    • Digbeth Birmingham 12 November 1983 (DVD vol. 12)
    • Digbeth 30 October 1983 (DVD vol. 13)
    • Luxor Cinema Birmingham (VHS vol. 1, 1979)
    • Digbeth Birmingham (VHS vol. 2, 1983)
    • St. Francis Hall Birmingham (VHS vol. 3, 1983)
    • Royal Oak Birmingham (VHS vol. 4, 1983)
    • Private Mehfil (Wallace Lawley Centre, Lozells Birmingham, November 1983) (VHS vol. 5)
    • Private Mehfil (VHS vol. 6, 1983)
    • Natraj Cinema Leicester (VHS vol. 7, 1983)
    • Live In Southall (VHS vol. 8)
    • Live In Bradford (VHS vol. 9, 1983)
    • Live In Birmingham (VHS vol. 10, 1985)
    • Allah Ditta Hall (VHS vol. 11, 1985)
    • Harrow Leisure Centre (VHS vol. 12)
    • University Of Aston (VHS vol. 13, 1988)
    • Aston University (VHS vol. 14, 1988)
    • WOMAD Festival Bracknell (VHS vol. 15, 1988)
    • Live In Paris (VHS vol. 16, 1988)
    • Poplar Civic Centre London (VHS vol. 17)
    • Imperial Hotel Birmingham (VHS vol. 18, 1985)
    • Slough Gurdawara (SHABADS) (VHS vol. 19)
    • Imran Khan Cancer Appeal (VHS vol. 20)
    • Town Hall Birmingham (VHS vol. 21, 1993)
    • Akhiyan Udeek Diyan (DVD)
    • Je Tun Rab Nu Manauna (DVD)
    • Yaadan Vicchre Sajan Diyan Aayiyan (DVD)

[edit] Nusrat in popular culture

  • Natural Born Killers features some pieces by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, including "Allah, Mohammed, Char Yaar", as well as "Taboo" with Peter Gabriel. In documentaries, it is said that director Oliver Stone always had Nusrat's music playing on the set in between takes.
  • Bend It Like Beckham features Tere Bin Nahin Lagda/Jaania playing in the background several times during the movie.

[edit] Selected Lyrics

Mehfil mein baar baar unhi par nazar gayi
 Hum ne bachayi lakh magar phir udhar gayi
 Unki nigah mein koi jadoo zaroor tha
 Jis par padi usi ke jigar par utar gayi
 In that gathering, my eyes kept returning to her.
I kept averting my eyes, and they kept straying back.
There was certainly some magic in her gaze.
Whoever it lighted upon was immediately entranced.
(Aankh Utthi Mohabbat Ne Angdai Li)

Aankh utthi mohabbat ne angdai li
 Dil ka sauda hua chandni raat mein
 Love opened its eyes, and stretched languorously in bed.
That moonlit night, a heart was bought, a heart was sold.
(Aankh Utthi Mohabbat Ne Angdai Li)

Raat yoon dil mein teri bhooli hui yaad aayi
 Jaise veeraane mein chupke se bahaar aa jaaye
 Last night, forgotten memories of you stirred in my heart
And it was like a barren wasteland quietly blooming in the spring
(Angdai Par Angdai)

Darte darte afsaana-e-dil
 Aaj unse hamne keh to diya
 Yeh yaad nahin ghabraahat mein
 Kya yaad raha, kya bhool gaye
 Today I managed to blurt out my feelings to her.
But I have no idea, in my nervousness,
What I remembered to say, and what I forgot.
(Ham Hosh Bhi Apne Bhool Gaye)

Nazar mila ke, mere paas aa ke, loot liya
 Nazar hati to phir muskura ke loot liya
 Koi yeh loot to dekho ki us ne jab chaaha
 Mujhi mein reh ke mujhi mein samaa ke loot liya
 She met my eyes, and came closer, and she ravished me.
Looking away, she smiled, and she ravished me again.
Just look at how, just living in me,
Filling me inside, she ravishes me at will.
(Mast Nazron Se?)

Sab ki saaqi pe nazar ho, yeh zaroori hai magar
 Sab pe saaqi ki nazar ho, yeh zaroori to nahin
 That everyone’s eyes are on the winepourer, that’s axiomatic
But that the winepourer has eyes for everyone, that’s not necessary at all.
(Mast Nazron Se)

Pyaar akhiyaan de boohe te khaloke
 Te waajaan maare sajna nu
 in the doorway of her eyes, stands love
calling out to the beloved
(Pyaar Akhiyaan De Boohe)

Jab chaahoon tumhein mil nahin sakta lekin
 Jab chaahoon tumhein yaad to kar sakta hoon
 So I can't meet you whenever I want, so what?
At least I can remember you whenever I want.
(Sar Jhukaaya To Patthar Sanam Ban Gaye)

Zara yeh soch kar koi vaada karo
 Ek vaade pe umren guzar jayengi
 Before you make any promises, consider carefully this:
Every promise will be my life-support for years.
(Sochta Hoon Ki Woh Kitne Masoom The)

Main mohabbat se moonh modh leta agar
 Toot padhti yeh bijlee kisi aur par
 Mere dil ki tabaahi se yeh to hua
 Kam se kam doosron ka bhalaa ho gaya
 If I had turned away from love,
This lighting would just have struck someone else.
True, my heart is now ashes, but there’s this much at least:
My destruction has benefited others at least.
(Sochta Hoon Ki Woh Kitne Masoom The)

Dushmani ghair to nahin karte,
 Yeh sharaafat to yaar karte hain
 Enmity isn’t practiced by strangers.
No, this kindness is visited on us only by friends and lovers.
(??)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Pakistan Times, 2006
  2. ^ Nusrat Profile at britannica
  3. ^ YouTube - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Voice From Heaven Part 5
  4. ^ Nusrat Profile at epitonic.com
  5. ^ article Time 2006
  6. ^ article npr.org

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