IPAC (Institute for Preservation of Art and Culture) and Kuch Khaas pay homage to one of the greatest classical singers of Pakistan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan on the occasion of his 12th death anniversary.
Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan one of the leading classical vocalists of Pakistan performs with his son here. Shafqat like his father the late Salamat Ali Khan hails from the Sham Chaurasi Gharana style of classical singing and both have brought international recognition to this Gharana.
All this talk of Badal, Baarish, Megh reminds me of one of my favorite classical presentations of Badal Garjay by Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan s/o Ustad Salamat Ali Khan that I'd like to share with everyone today:
Jafa kam kun ke farda roz-e-mahshar
ba rooh-e-ashiqan sharminda baashi
Ze qaid-e-dojahan azaad gashtam
Agar tuu hamnasheeni banda baashi
Barindi o bashokhi ham-cho Khusrau
Hazaran khanuma barganda bashi
----
trans: Pray do not be cruel lest you should feel ashamed of yourself
Before your lovers on the day of judgment. I shall be set free from the bonds of the two worlds
If you become my companion for a while.
By your wanton playfulness you must have destroyed
Thousands of hearts of lovers like that of Khusrau. http://www.angelfire.com/sd/urdumedia/love.html
Mirza Ghalib:
Dil-e-Naadaa.n Tujhe Huaa Kyaa hai
Aakhir is Dard kii davaa kyaa hai
Ham hai.n mushtaaq aur vo bezaar
Yaa ilaahii, ye maajaraa kyaa hai
Jaan tum par nisaar karataa huu.n
Mai.n nahii.n jaanataa duaa kyaa hai
Maine maanaa ki kuchh nahiin gaalib
Muft haath aaye, to buraa kyaa hai
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Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan was a child prodigy and gave his first public performance at the age of 7 at the Lahore Music Festival in 1979. He has, since then gone on to perform widely in Pakistan and internationally, both at concert venues and at venues like the Smithsonian Institute and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. The above audio clip is part of a 35 minute rendition of the Darbari Kanada recital at the DB Clarke Theatre in Montreal under the auspices of the Kabir Cultural Centre.
While the Sham Chaurasia Gharana presently sings Khayal, Thumri and Kaafi, originally the gharana was noted for his dhrupad singing. It is such a delight to see that elements of dhurpad seep into Shafqat's recitals as in the tail end of this darbari kanada. The other famous Malkauns (marathon 1 hour long) recital in Ottawa also had wonderful elements of dhurpad combined in the khayal. Kya dil khush kiya hai Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan nein. Aur abhi to itnay jawan hein mashallah, bohat waqt baaqi hai abhi. I am looking forward to many years of listening to his treasure cove.
Shafqat Ali Khan performs a Kaafi by Ghulam Farid at BBC Bush House, London, with Nafees Irfan on Tabla. Recording Engineer: John Andrew. Shot by Mazhar Zaidi, Directed and Edited by Nofil Naqvi.
Baba Bulleh Shah's "O Bulleha Ki Jaana Maen Kaun" if among the most popular of his Kaafis.
Many of us wonder where we have come from and where we are heading, but Baba Bulleh Shah says "Who is this 'I' wandering this earth?". He does not belong to any group or sect. He belongs to neither one country nor another. He is but the soul free of limits and nothing else. He finally sees and believes in the Oneness of God - "Wehdaaniat". Share Recital: Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan Tabla: Subir Dev
بلھا کی جاناں میںکون
نہ میںمومن وچ مسیتان، نہ میںوچ کفر دیان ریتاں نہ میںپاکاں وچ پلیتاں، نہ میںموسیٰ نہ فرعون
Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun
Na maen momin vich maseet aan Na maen vich kufar diyan reet aan Na maen paak aan vich paleet aan Na maen moosa na pharaun. --
O Bullah, What do I know who I am?
I am not among the believers seen in Mosques Nor am I versed in traditions of unbelief I am not amongst the pious, nor among the sinful; I am neither Moses, nor am I a Pharoah. --
نہ میںاندر بید کتاباں،نہ وچ بھنگاں نہ شراباں نہ وچ رنداں مست خراباں، نہ وچ جاگن نہ وچ سون بلھا کی جاناں میںکون
Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun
Na maen andar ved kitaab aan, Na vich bhangaan na sharaab aan Na vich rindaan masat kharaab aan Na vich jaagan na vich saun. --
O Bullah, What do I know who I am?
I am not in the Vedas and holy books I am not amongst the bhang intoxicated nor the drunk I am not among the utterly immoral, nor the unrestrained I am neither among the awake, nor the sleeping --
نہ وچ شادی نہ غمناکی، نہ میںوچ پلیتیپاکی نہ میںآبی نہ میں خاکی، نہ میںآتش نہ میں پون بلھا کی جاناں میںکون
Bulleh! ki jaana maen kaun.
Na vich shaadi na ghamnaaki Na maen vich paleeti paaki Na maen aabi na maen khaki Na maen aatish na maen paun --
O Bullah, What do I know who I am?
I am neither influenced by joy nor sorrow I am not amongst the virtuous, nor among the wicked; I am neither of water nor of earth, I am neither of fire nor of air, --
نہ میںعربی نہ لاہوری، نہ میںہندی شہر نگوری نہ میں ہندو ترک پشوری، نہ میںرہندا وچ ندون بلھا کی جاناں میںکون
Na maen arabi na lahori Na maen hindi shehar nagauri Na hindu na turak peshawri Na maen rehnda vich nadaun -- I am not from Arabia, nor from Lahore I am not from India, nor from Nagore I am not a Hindu, nor a Muslim from Peshawar Nor do I live in the city of Nadaun --
نہ میںبھید مذہب دا پایا، نہ میںآدم حوا جایا نہ میںاپنا نام دھرایا، نہ وچ بیٹھن نہ وچ بھون بلھا کی جاناں میںکون
Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun
Na maen bheth mazhab da paaya Ne maen aadam havva jaaya Na maen apna naam dharaaya Na vich baitthan na vich bhaun -- O Bullah, What do I know who I am?
I have not solved the mystery of religion Nor am I a descendant of Adam and Eve Nor have I a specific name of my own, I am neither settled nor am I lost --
اول آخر آپ نوں جاناں، نہ کوئی دوجا ہور پچھاناں میتھوں ہور نہ کوئی سیانا، بلھا شاہ کھڑا ہےکون بلھا کی جاناں میںکون
Bulleh , ki jaana maen kaun
Avval aakhir aap nu jaana Na koi dooja hor pehchaana Maethon hor na koi siyaana Bulla! ooh khadda hai kaun -- O Bullah, What do I know who I am?
I take myself to be the beginning and the end I do not recognize any one else There is no one who is wiser than I O Bullah, who is the Lord standing there?
Bulla, ki jaana maen kaun O Bullah, What do I know who I am?
Beseeching the Divine for his mercy and bounty, this recital is a clip from the half hour recital of Raag Darbari Kannada by Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan at the Kabir Cultural Centre, Montreal.
The complete version contains elements of sufi poetry from Khusrau as well as the bandish of Ustad Salamat Ali Khansaheb entitled "Sur Sey Pyar Kareeye" . So typical of music from the North that crosses borders and unites.
Around 4.30 this clip also contains an element of durpad andaaz of the Sham Chaurasiya Gharana.
This rendition of the classical thumri contains some amazing sargam. Also sung in the 50's by Geeta Dutt, Muhammad Rafi and Krishna Chonkar for Bollywood.
Baat Chalat Nai Chunari Rang Daari Aiso Hai Bedardi Banwaari
An Evening of Semi Classical Music with Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan
Friday - Feb 12, 2010, 8:00 PM Contact: Subhash Khanna - 514 865 018 Location: City Hall of Dollard-des-Ormeaux 12 001 De Salaberry Boulevard Dollard-des-Ormeaux H9B 2A7 Cost: $150 per couple including dinner
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Ustad Shafqat Ali Khan:
A member of a musical family that traces its musical lineage back to 500 years, Shafqat Ali Khan is the proud flag bearer of the Shamcharasi Gharana. This remarkable musical family is linked to two prominent court musicians in the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who was a great patron of the arts. Shafqat was a child prodigy and gave his first public performance at the age of 7 at the Lahore Music Festival in 1979. He has, since then gone on to perform widely in Pakistan and internationally, both at concert venues and at venues like the Smithsonian Institute and the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
He has received many awards and accolades, both at home and abroad. In addition to carrying forward the classical tradition of his family or Gharana, Shafqat also is a master of Ghazal gaiki or singing a much loved genre in the Sub-Continent. His virtuosity also extends to Sufi singing and folk renditions of well-loved Punjabi and Saraiki music. He has recorded with many well-known labels like EMI (India), Nimbus (UK), Folk Heritage (Pakistan), etc.
Commenting on his performance, the New York Times says, “exuberant complications, in which melodic gestures join hand waving and synchronized finger-pointing to form an eloquent symbiosis”.
Audience comment from past Montreal event: I saw the show last evening and I was completely bowled over by the beauty of the songs and the performance of all. I have only one regret, not being able to buy a CD. Are there any? Where can one buy? Ginette Patenaude
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