Selected Performance

Manqabat: "DamaDam Mast Qalandar" performed Ghulam Farid Sabri (voice & harmonium), Maqbool Ahmed Sabri (voice), Mahmood Ghaznavi (voice), Umer Daraz (voice), Abdul Aziz (voice), Masi Huddin (voice & tambura), Mohammad Anwar (nal & tabla), and Abdul Karim (dholak).

Recorded by David Lewisohn, New York April 1978. Notes and commentary by Said Khan, adapted by Geoffrey Paul Gordon.

The Sabri Brothers and Ensemble. Qawwali: Sufi Music from Pakistan. Nonesuch Explorer Series (72080-2), 1978.

The Qalandars are a group of itinerant dervishes with only a remote relationship with classical Sufism or even Islam. They reject all conventional standards of behavior; "jouous in God," they laim to be rebels against vanity. There is usually much smoking of narcotics at their gatherings, and Muslim governments have often suppressed them forcibly. This piece—more a collection of slogans, exclamations, and names than a poem—is coWhile the Prophet Muhammad is regarded as the Messenger of God, Ali—who is the cousing and son-in-law of Muhammad—is regarded as a friend of God. It is this mystical tie that accounts for the frequent mention of Ali's name in Sufi songs.nstructed with emphasis on rhythm. The setting is the gathering of Qalandars at the grave of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar at Sarhoun, Sind, on the bank of the river Indus, in Pakistan. There are four towers in which lamps are kept constantly ablaze and, in keeping with an obscure tradition, a large number of swings are set up. There is music and much merry-making.

While the Prophet Muhammad is regarded as the Messenger of God, Ali—who is the cousing and son-in-law of Muhammad—is regarded as a friend of God. It is this mystical tie that accounts for the frequent mention of Ali's name in Sufi songs.

Carry on, O happy Qalandar, O generous Shabaz Qalandar. Ali's name is the source of breath, Husaini Lal Qalandar.

You are my religion, my faith. You are the cure for the pain in my heart. You are the light in my eyes, the beat in my heart. Carry on, O happy Qalandar.

Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, Pir Baba, Grandfather Hayab Qalandar, Rabea Basri Qalandar, Bu Ali Shah Qalandar. All Stayed in Karmal.

Ali's name is the source of breath, Lal, take care of me! I set up the swings. O, Shahbaz Qalandar of Sarhoun, of Sind Four Lamps are always burning. I bring the fifth, O Shahbaz Qalandar of Sarhoun, of Sind

Your mausoleum on high, The river flows below. There are sounds of cymbals and of drums. The swings are in full swing. Your master is the master of all. His name is Ali, his title "The Lion of Allah." Ali's name will guide all ships.

Sources of Indian Music: Qawwali