Qawwalis and ghazals
Virgin Music - Qawwalis, The Essential Collection - Sur Ki Koi Seema Nahin - Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Rs. 65.
THE ORIGINS of Qawwali music trace back over 700 years to the spiritual Samah songs of Persia. Qawwali's devotional themes of peace and love are believed to have come from God, sung on earth by the Prophets who followed Mohammed. This form of Urdu recital of poems was made more pleasing by adding music to it. Qawwalis are mainly sung by a group of singers (either completely male or female) and are headed by a singer who renders a particular stanza and the rest follow.
Pakistan's Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was a leading light among Qawwali singers who became familiar to Western audiences through his collaborations with Eddie Vedder and Tim Robbins.
In this audio volume he has rendered five Qawwalis in his own inimitable style that reflects the splendid concepts of Qawwali music and truly moves the spirit. The title of the album is ``Sur Ki Koi Seema Nahin." How apt!
Virgin Music - Ghazals - Meri Pasand - Vol I - Mehdi Hasan - Rs. 65.
An ancient Persian form of verse, ghazals comprise a series of couplets, each independent although a continuity in theme may be perceived. Traditionally, it is believed that ghazals celebrate the theme of love and wine, however today ghazals have metamorphosed to adapt and celebrate a variety of themes.
Ustad Mehdi Hasan reigns supreme in the exotic genre of Ghazal. An outstanding vocalist, he has received worldwide acclaim for his extraordinary command over all the highly technical ragas, skilful and sensitive employment of melody. Virgin Music has recorded the divine voice of Mehdi Hasan belonging to the exclusive category of trailblazers in its audiocassette comprising six ghazals. The singing is filled with melody, highlighting the tenderness and elegance of the tune with serene, soft and smooth musical expression that have an aural aftermath too wonderful to be described in words - an album that is a must for the connoisseur.
Gaanarasa audio - devotional - Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Namavali - Pushpa Anand - Rs. 100 for two albums.
The Vishnu Sahasranama, Bhishma's soulful outpouring of the 1,000 names of the Lord in the battle field of Kurukshetra, when he was placed on a bed of arrows till the advent of Uttarayana to shed his mortal coils, is considered the ultimate among prayers. Many recording companies in recent times have released CDs and VCDs of this hymn. These albums released by Gaanarasa audio are different in the sense that the sacred names are fused with music. The Dhyana sloka, the Namavalis and a concluding verse extolling Goddess Laksmi are tunefully sung in pleasing melodies by Pushpa Anand, a disciple of the late M. L. Vasanthakumari and P. S. Narayanaswami. - S.P.
New releases
Vedu's Music Mind (Ph: 5214 9065/ 2853 4627) — Sri Lakshmi Kubera Dhanaakarshana Sthothram; Ninnai Charanadainthen; Vedic Supreme Universal Gayathri Mantras and Bhajare Gopalam.
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