Tori Surat Ke Balhari Nizam - Amir Khusrau

Today on the demise of Qawwal Manzoor Niazi, I'd like to honour him by posting this beautiful Khusrau poem sung by his party some 40 years ago. Niazi saheb was one of  the old stalwarts of the world of qawwali and brought with him the treasures of Dilli Gharana to Karachi, Pakistan soon after partition. Not only did he bring the words of sufi poets and saints but also some of the most fabulous qawwals that Pakistanis witnessed over the next five decades. Among the original party were the likes of Bahauddin saheb, Iftekhar Ahmed Khan Nizami, Munshi Raziuddin and the then junior Ustad Naseeruddin Saami who continues to enthrall audiences with his khayal singing today.

In 2010, at the request of Musaf Bin Noor, I searched my collection and found this interesting old recording of Khusrau's kalam "Tori Surat Ke Balhari" which includes the old party from Karachi.
While the lead is Manzoor Ahmed Niazi Qawwal from 1975 the prominent voices of Munshi Raziudding and Naseeruddin Saami are distinct. I am a little skeptical about the date of the recording as this group was apparently singing together prior to 1966. It is also possible that the recording is simply labelled incorrectly and does not include the complete old qawwal party of Manzoor saheb. Nonetheless if Asif bhai, Munsaf or anyone else like Abu Muhammad or Abdullah Niazi wish to comment on this, you are quite welcome. Probably the rest of you can recognize the other voices quite easily. I only request you all to be respectful toward all involved in your comments. Many thanks.



Beholding your countenance, I offer myself in sacrifice (balhari)
All the other girls saw my soiled chundar,
And together they laughed at me.
This springtime, dye my chundar for me (rang do)
O protect my honour(laj) (Nijam, Beloved)! ...
Who can win against mother-in-law or sister-in-law?
I pine for your support.
Everyone knows how you and I are linked:
Is my honour different from yours, (Nijam, Beloved?)

"These lines from Tori surat, also by Amir Khusrau (Repertoire No3), express mystical love through a young woman longing to offer herself up in utter devotion, depending for her very existence, her honour (laf), on the Beloved's protection. Her soiled garment, covering her head and chest ..." 
Regula Qureshi - Sufi Music from India and Pakistan

Raag Alhaiya Bilawal

Ustad Naseeruddin Saami is one of the top Khayal singers today.

Khayal:  Raga Alhaiya Bilawal
Bandish:  Ae Daiya, Kahan Gaye Ve Log, Braj Ke Basaiya
Recital: Ustad Naseeruddin Saami @ APMC, Karachi 

The name of Naseeruddin Saami needs no introduction in the field of music. His ancestors founded the school of music known as the "DELHI GHARANA". His forefathers were Coffilected with the Darbar of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. His ancestor MIYAN SAMATH had the privilege of being the disciple of Hazrat Ameer Khusro.

From this family another great personality QUTUB BAKSH alias USTAD TAN RAS KHAN SAHEB was the master in Music in the court of Bahadur Shah Zafar. In his last days, he migrated to Hyderabad, Deccan and as close to the Royal Darbar of Mir Mehboob Ali Pasha.Naseeruddin Saami, of the Delhi Gharana, son of Abdul Hamid Khan Saami was born in a family of classical vocalists, who have been practising their Art for more than 730 years. Naseeruddin Saami's ancestor Miyan Samath was trained by Hazrat Ameer Khusro himself, and the generations of singers that followed kept up the tradition and further honed it to a high level of intricacy and refinement.Ustad Naseeruddin Sami has the honour of possessing two

Naseeruddin has been guided by four mentors - the main one being his Ustad and uncle Munshi Raziuddin. Ustad Sardar Khan, Iftikhar Alrrned and Piaray Khan are the other three whom he avidly follows.

Naseeruddin started his training from the age of 10 years. His style of singing is called 'Sudh Bani'. From 1958-62 he trained with his grand uncle Sardar Khan in Lahore. His other two uncles Iftikhar Ahmed and Piaray Khan were stationed in Karachi, so he had the opportunity to be with them alongwith Munshi Raziuddin in Karachi.

Naseeruddin is a strict follower in the style of his family tradition-keeping 'Sur' as the most important component of his singing. His singing is peaceful and calm. Heartfelt rendition of the raga, manifesting the emotions which are mentioned in the bandish is one of the main aspects of Khyal Gaiki, in which he excels. He shows his versatility by also singing, Sadara, Thumri

Peeran ke Peer Mohiyuddin - Naseeruddin Saami

Ustad Naseeruddin Saami recites:

Peerun ke peer Mohiyuddin,
Tum to ho moray dastageer

Nabi Ali ke laadley Qadar
Tum rab ke Mehboob

Tanras Khan Ko Sab Deeno
Ana Dhan Lachhmi Doodh Poot


"Sayyid Abu Muhammad Abdul Qadir R.A was born in Naif in the District of Gilan in Persia (Iran) in the month of Ramadan.... His father's name was Abu Salih, a God-fearing man and a direct descendant of Hazrat Imam Hasan R.A., the eldest son of Ali R.A, the Holy Prophet's (SAW) first cousin, and of Fatima R.A his beloved daughter. His mother was the daughter of a saintly person- Abdullah Sawmai who was a direct descendant of Imam Husain R.A, the younger son of Ali R.A and Fatima R.A. Thus Sayyid Abdul Qadir was both a Hasani and Hussaini." ~ The Election of Caliph/Khalifah and World Peace by Khondakar G. Mowla, 1998, p180

His complete name was Al-Sayyid Muhiyudin Abu Muhammad Abdal Qadir al-Jilani al-Hasani wal-Hussaini.

Kesariya Balam Padharo Maaro Des by Ustad Naseer-ud-din Saami

World music day: Music is spiritual and eternal, says Pakistani classical vocalist

On the occasion of world music day, Pakistan's legendary classical vocalist Ustad Naseeruddin Saami says that music can help spread peace and love between the two countries.

"Music has great power. It can heal even deepest of wounds," the legendary 'Khayal' vocalist said, stressing that it could help bring the people of India and Pakistan together.

"Hum sur kay saath baat kartey hein (we talk through our music)," Saami, who was in India for about a month giving performances, told PTI.

He was in the country on the invitation of Society for Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture (SPICMACAY).

The 66-year-old 'Khayal' singer of the "Dilli Gharana" says that classical singing should be promoted among the younger generation.

"I feel classical singing has great powers. It can not only help bring the people of the two nations together, but it can also help wean away our younger generation from the ills afflicting the modern society," he said.

He said that the present generation was madly after Western music because "we do not teach them our own music forms. We need to cultivate a taste for these forms among the youth".

"It is not that the younger generation does not want to learn these forms. When I was in Cuttack for a performance, I was pleasantly surprised to see a group of about 1500 people, mostly youngsters, who were keen to know more about Khayal and other forms of classical singing," he said.

Speaking about his childhood days, Saami said he obtained training from his late uncle, the eminent Munshi Raziuddin.

He also obtained further training under the elders of the Dilli Gharana, Sardar Khan, Pyaray Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed Khan.

Saami attaches great importance to the historic traditions of his art. His style of singing is called 'Shudh Bani'.

"I am a strict practitioner of my inherited musical philosophy? that of maintaining and believing in the purity of 'Sur' (melody of notes) because Ragas demand Sur," said Saami, who performs other elements of classical music like Thumri, Sadra and Kajri with versatility, which is distinctive of his Gharana.

Saami said that his ancestors founded the school of music known as the "Dilli Gharana" while his ancestor Miyan Samaat had the privilege of being the disciple of Hazrat Amir Khusrao.

"I was born in Delhi and lost my parents early. My uncle groomed me. We are closely related to another great musician Qutub Baksh, also known as Ustad Tan Ras Khan, the legendary composer and vocalist of the Dilli school, who perfectly blended various aspects of the Khayal," he said.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/music-is-spiritual-and-eternal-pak-classical-vocalist/1/142213.html

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Kesariya Balam, Padharo Maro Des - Maand

Eng Trans: O saffron-hued lover, step into my country

Fr Trans:Oh mon amour viens donc, Viens chez moi

recital by Ustad Naseeruddin Saami

Fr Trans:

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CHANT SINDHI DU DESERT

Padaro maro deis Viens dans ma patrie

___________________________________

Eh Dhola aavo na

Oh mon amour viens donc

Padharo maro deis

Viens chez moi

Kesaria balam aavo na

ô mon bien-aimé , mon chéri , viens donc

Oonche charh kar dekhti aur hathan leti phool

Je monte sur une hauteur en tenant à la main des fleurs

Jo aata us se poochti,mora sajan hai kitni door

A tous ceux qui viennent je demande à quelle distance se trouve l'élu de mon coeur

Kesaria balam aavo na ,padharo maro deis

ô mon bien aimé viens donc, viens chez moi

Aa sajan more nainann mein so palak dhaamp taa hai loon

Viens ô mon amour dans mes yeux,que je te cache avec mes paupières

Na mein dekhoon aur koi sa,na tohe dekhann doon

ainsi je ne regarderai nul autre,et ne laisserai personne te voir

Ab to aaja ba khuda paas koi ghair nahin

Enfin viens ,par Dieu il n'y a personne d'autre ici

Ik teri yaad aur ye shab tanhai

Il ne reste plus que ton souvenir et cette nuit de solitude

Ghuncha hai,gul hai;sabza hai,abre bahaar hai

Il y a le bourgeon,la rose,la verdure,la promesse du printemps

Sab jamaa ho chuke hein ,tera intezar hai

Tous sont réunis et n'attendent plus que toi

__________________________________________

Mme Saida Haider

PARIS

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aaja sajan more nainan me, so palak dhanp tohe lun

naa mai dekhun aur kisee, aur naa tohe dekhan dun. :-)

Rajastani folk song "Kesariya Balam" is sung here by classical singer Ustad Naseeruddin Saami.

Originally from the Delhi Gharana, Saami is from Karachi, Pakistani.

His mentors were his Ustad and uncle Munshi Raziuddin. Ustad Sardar Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed and Piaray Khan whom he avidly follows. Saami saheb also happens to be married to the daughter of Raziuddin and his son Rauf Saami thankfully follows in his footsteps and has recently opened a school of music based in Defence, Karachi.

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comment by mfarazqq on Youtube:

Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali once said: "There would be no hate and division of hearts in sub-continent if one member of each family in the sub-continent were to learn classical music"..

Sir jee Sangeet mian bari taqat hai.. ye kaise dil se nafrat dur karti hai.. Lata Jee ya Rafi ko suntay hue hum sab bhool jetay hain.. jis tarah aap loog bade gulam ali ya yahan aur dosray singers ko suntay hue sab nafrat ki batain bhool jatay hoo..

Regerds,

Sarhad par se aapka ik bhai..

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True. This is one amazingly moving rendition. However, equally heart warming are the comments of love, peace and mutual respect on this page by music lovers of two neighbouring countries. I would request viewers to share this with friends and the younger generation to spread peace, love and harmony amongst us all. Too many tears shed, too much blood spilt, many lives lost....its now time to bury the hatchet and come together. Live and let live! Thank you Arifbhai!

DhirenJ2009 1 day ago DhirenJ2009

Ustad Naseeruddin Saami - Khayal singer from Karachi, Pakistan

Ustad Naseeruddin Saami from Tasawwuf on Vimeo.

Pakistani classical singer Ustad Naseeruddin Saami, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz sings at the All Pakistan Music Conference (APMC)- 2006.

The APMC has had an annual music festival in Karachi and Lahore for the last many years. Many accomplished artists as well as upcoming promising artists get an opportunity to perform at public gatherings on these occasions.

Please support the efforts made by APMC by buying the music they have produced. Your encouragement will help to keep our rich heritage alive.

More information at : apmc.info