The Sufi music of Pakistan known as Qawwali is centuries old, and consists of spiritual texts set to soaring melodies, driven by what sounds like an almost modern dance beat, supported by handclaps. The song, “Dama Dam Mast Qalandar” (transl. ”Every Breath for the Ecstasy of Qalandar”) is a 13th century qawwali written in honor of Sufi saint, Lal Shahbaz Qalandar (1177–1274), by Indo-Persian Sufi singer, musician, poet and scholar Amīr Khusrau, the father of Qawwali singing. In different melodies and arrangements, it is now as a popular traditional Sindhi Sufi Islamic folk song, appears as a popular song in films, and a new version inspired by this traditional song was composed by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Wikipedia).
Hear this centuries-old spiritual song, folk song, and pop song all-in-one, “Mast Qalandar”, in music from the late, great Pakistani singer, Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn (1948-1997), along with other versions by dhol and brass-wielding Bhangra dance party band Red Baraat, and Sufi rock band, Junoon.
Also, hear a version of the Qawwali hit tune from the Indo-Canadian singer Kiran Ahluwalia, featuring Tinariwen, the nomadic Tuareg musicians from Northern Mali. Then, listen to still another variation on the tune by a group of studio musicians dedicated to advancing Pakistan’s classical music traditions and exploring western jazz music, the Sachal Jazz Ensemble. Also, Austin, Texas-based Riyaaz Qawwali offers another version of this Sufi devotional music with musicians from India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh. And more. -Caryn Havlik
Program #4661, Theme and Variations: Mast Qalandar (First aired 9/14/2022)
ARTIST: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
WORK: Shahbaaz Qalandar [3:05]
RECORDING: Live at WOMAD 1985
SOURCE: Real World Records
INFO: realworldrecords.com
ARTIST: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
WORK: Mustt Mustt [5:07]
RECORDING: Real World 25
SOURCE: Real World Records
INFO: realworldrecords.com
ARTIST: Junoon
WORK: Lal Meri Pat (Dama Dam Mast Qalandar) [5:14]
RECORDING: Azadi
SOURCE: EMI
INFO: Available at AppleMusic, Spotify, YouTube Music
ARTIST: Red Baraat
WORK: Mast Kalandar [5:31]
RECORDING: Shruggy Ji
SOURCE: Sinj Records SR0113
INFO: jainsounds.com/store | redbaraat.com
ARTIST: Fareed Ayaz Qawwal & Brothers
WORK: Shabaaz Qalandar [10:02]
RECORDING: Live, June 2004
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: darbar.org/artist/fareed-ayaz-abu-muhammad-qawwal-brothers
ARTIST: The Sachal Jazz Ensemble
WORK: The Sound of Wonder AKA Dama Dam Mast Qalandar [2:57]
RECORDING: Song of Lahore
SOURCE: Wrasse Records
INFO: wrasserecords.com
ARTIST: Kiran Ahluwalia & Tinariwen
WORK: Mustt Mustt [4:17]
RECORDING: Aam Zameen/Common Ground
SOURCE: Avokado Artists Recordings / Out 91425262
INFO: kiranmusic.com
ARTIST: Riyaaz Qawwali
WORK: Mast Qalandar (In Praise of Shahbaaz Qalandar) [10:14]
RECORDING: Kashti
SOURCE/INFO: riyaazqawwali.com