Abstract
This chapter examines various forms of qawwali, paying special attention to changes in concepts of spiritual disempowerment and the transmission of spiritual power, the seemingly paradoxical relationship between the two, and the role of music in both. Qawwali, a musical genre that originated in Pakistan and India, is ritual of poetry originally performed to music in Sufi shrines, but developed by a single practitioner, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, into performances on a global scale. The chapter analyzes musical events, poetical texts, audience responses, and the spirituality of the music in its original as well as its (com)modified Western settings. It explains how qawwali is traditionally performed in dargahs, tombs of the saints, epiphanic places where time and eternity intersect. The transfer of qawwali practices from shrines to the concert stage has important consequences not only for the performers and their audiences, but also for the spiritual role of the music.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
