The Organic brew; London, pakistan, photography, travel, poetry & a general acerbic sentiment.

Khabarum raseed imshaab – Amir Khusrau

// October 19th, 2005 // Music, Qawwali

I am surprised to learn that i have never posted anything to the organic brew about one of my all time favourite qawwalis – Khabarum raseed imshaab by Amir Khusrau sung (on many a occasions) by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. One of these recordings (unplaced unfortunately) should certainly rank as Nusrat’s better renditions – the falsetto is amazing and the rythm mesmerising. I’ve since heard many other qawwals try, but none do the poem quite as much justice as Nusrat’s emphatic and soulful qawwali.
Amir Khursrau is particularly poigant – for those who drop by this little outpost, i’ve expounded on the underlying themes oft enough, and this is in a simila vein. I can’t read this without playing back in my mind the emphasis Nusrat places on the last lines – Balabam raseed jaanam fabiya ki zindah maanam strains, over and over, saturated with emotion.. i’m getting carried away, but if i find it hard to describe qawwali in words – then this sublime rendition in raga kedar doubly so.

Speaking of raga kedar, here is a miniature that uses the raga as a central theme:

source: www.dovesong.com

Named after Lord Shiva, the hoary Raga Kedar occupies a pride of place in the Hindustani pantheon and is much loved in the ranks of both the laity and the connoisseur. Its structure reveals a kaleidoscopic panorama of complex melodic gestures, conduct and richness of character. Seldom are the core values of Indian Ragadari music united under one roof as they are in Kedar.

See http://www.sawf.org/newedit/edit05152000/musicarts.asp for more – including an extensive list of examples.

Interestingly, the haughty article above also links to a reocrding of Kedar by Ustad Fateh Ali Khan, in fact, during the qawwali Nusrat brings attention to a a change his father executed in the rendition.

Khabaram raseed imshab ki nigaar khuahi aamad;
Sar-e man fidaa-e raah-e ki sawaar khuahi aamad.
Ham-e aahwan-e sehra sar-e khud nihada bar kaf;
Ba-umeed aanki rozi bashikaar khuahi aamad.
Kashishi ki ishq daarad naguzaradat badinsaa;
Ba-janazah gar nayai ba-mazaar khuahi aamad.
Balabam raseed jaanam fabiya ki zindah maanam;
Pas azan ki man na-maanam bacha kar khuahi aaamad.
(In Persian script)

Tonight there came a news that you, oh beloved, would come –
Be my head sacrificed to the road along which you will come riding!
All the gazelles of the desert have put their heads on their hands
In the hope that one day you will come to hunt them….
The attraction of love won’t leave you unmoved;
Should you not come to my funeral,
you’ll definitely come to my grave.
My soul has come on my lips (e.g. I am on the point of expiring);
Come so that I may remain alive –
After I am no longer – for what purpose will you come?

(Translation Annmarie Schimmel)

Source: www.alif-india.com

Related posts:

1. Alt Music: Guftam Ke Raushan Az Qamar? A qawwali by Amir Khusrau in farsi
2. new qawwal on the block
3. Qawwali – Ustad Bahauddin Khan (Amir Khusrau in farsi)
4. “Under the impact of obsessive Qawwali music”
5. ‘He’s my elvis’ – Jeff Buckley on Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan