Category Archives: Videos
Professor NFAK – The Story Of NFAK’s Stay At University Of Washington
Nusrat teaching students at University of Washington 1993
University Of Washington invites Celebrity Visiting Artists every year for it’s Ethnomusicology Program. In 1992-93 they took a chance to Invite NFAK, hoping he wont turn up. To their surprise , NFAK happily agreed … why hadn’t he … he was going to get great chance to spread his music to a completely new audience and ample resource for his musical-cross blendings.. .. The program was a huge success as not just students but even faculty members and artists from different universities as well as different parts of USA turned up for the program…the fact that his students became one of the most Hardcore NFAK fans ever was not at all surprising… He also gave one of his most memorable performances ever at Meany(University Theater) after huge request by students . NFAK was awarded an honorary Doctorate later by the University ……… What Follows is a writeup by Professor Hiromi Lorraine Sakata remembering NFAK’s Stay…
The Emperor Of Qawwali & Prodigy Of Ghazals
Have you ever tried any of NFAK Ghazals… When it came to Ghazals NFAK thunderous voice used to become honey-soft , Sargam Improvisations used to become murkiyan ( A murki is cluster of notes that sounds like a short, subtle taan ), Repetitions of Phrases by Ensemble was replaced by NFAK’s solo repetitions full of Adayagi( Elite way of Expressing) and intense hand movements were now just limited to eyes and facial expressions… ( Though NFAK sometimes induced Sargams in Ghazals too… Cross-blending as he always did..)
My most Favorite NFAK Ghazal is ” Mai Khayal Hoo Kisi Aur Ka ” followed by “Kehna Galat Galat” (yes it’s a Ghazal)
Missives From Allah – One of the best Ghazal Albums of NFAK
So Here is A few shortlisted ghazals
Mai Khayal Hoon
Kehna Galat Galat
More will follow in Coming posts..
Overnight Performances At Data Darbar, The Roots of Qawwali
Data Darbar Complex , The Roots Of qawwali
Data Durbar( or Darbar) is the shrine of great Sufi Saint, Sufi saint, Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery (more commonly known as Daata Ganj Baksh, meaning the master who bestows treasures). It is one of the most important and oldest Sufi Shrines of World.Data Darbar is also viewed as one of the home grounds of traditional Qawwali. Till date , every Thursday there is a Qawwali performance at the shrine which starts at 3pm and continues throughout the evening. Data Darbar holds special significance in Nusrat’s Life, his performances here were the one that established him as a Great Qawwal in his native Pakistan and shut those down who accused NFAK of westernizing Qawwali, devotees present during NFAK’s yearly performances on Urs in Data Darbar Complex are still found describing it as unmatchable and divine. When NFAK performed here first time, story is that Other Qawwals scheduled to perform after NFAK didn’t even got a chance.. why? You obviously know that…
You can read more about Data Darbar Here.
NFAK performing at Data Darbar
What we present today is a set of NFAK performances from Data Darbar Recorded in 1995. We apologize for poor recording Quality…let me assure you that it’s the best available.. Just try to get A feel of The Saints by listening to a man who was no less a “Saint” Himself…..
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