Who among the following was a famous 'Qawwali' singer?
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
Understanding the Question: Famous Qawwali Singers
The question asks to identify a famous 'Qawwali' singer from the given options. Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional music that originated in the Indian subcontinent. It is known for its energetic and rhythmic performance style, often featuring harmonium, tabla, and vocalists.
Analysing the Options
Let's look at each individual option to determine their primary musical genre or fame:
- Bade Ghulam Ali Khan: He was a legendary Indian classical vocalist belonging to the Patiala Gharana. While his contributions to music are immense, his primary fame is in classical music, not Qawwali.
- Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan: He was a world-renowned Pakistani musician, primarily a singer of Qawwali. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Qawwali singers in history and played a significant role in popularizing Qawwali music globally.
- Nazia Hassan: She was a Pakistani pop singer. She gained fame in the 1980s with her disco and pop music, not Qawwali.
- Begum Akhtar: Known as the "Mallika-e-Ghazal" (Queen of Ghazal), she was a celebrated Indian singer of Ghazal, Dadra, and Thumri genres of Hindustani classical music. While she sang devotional music, it wasn't primarily Qawwali.
Identifying the Famous Qawwali Singer
Based on the analysis of the options, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is clearly the most famous figure among the choices who is primarily known for his Qawwali singing.
| Singer | Primary Genre(s) | Known as a Qawwali Singer? |
|---|---|---|
| Bade Ghulam Ali Khan | Hindustani Classical (Vocal) | No |
| Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Qawwali, Sufi Music | Yes, very famous |
| Nazia Hassan | Pop, Disco | No |
| Begum Akhtar | Ghazal, Dadra, Thumri | No |
Conclusion on the Famous Qawwali Singer
Therefore, the individual among the options who was a famous Qawwali singer is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
Revision Table: Key Singers and Music Styles
| Singer Name | Music Style |
|---|---|
| Bade Ghulam Ali Khan | Classical Vocal |
| Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan | Qawwali |
| Nazia Hassan | Pop Music |
| Begum Akhtar | Ghazal, Thumri, Dadra |
Additional Information: Understanding Qawwali Music
Qawwali is a vibrant and dynamic musical tradition. Here are some key aspects:
- Origin: It originated in South Asia in the 13th century with Amir Khusrow.
- Purpose: It is primarily devotional music, intended to inspire religious ecstasy (wajd) in listeners.
- Instruments: Typically includes harmonium, tabla, dholak, and clapping by the chorus.
- Structure: Often starts slow and builds in tempo and intensity, featuring improvisations and call-and-response between the lead singer and the chorus.
- Lyrics: Often draw from Sufi poetry, expressing themes of divine love and separation from the Beloved (God).
- Famous Practitioners: Apart from Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, other famous Qawwali singers include the Sabri Brothers, Aziz Mian, and Abida Parveen (who also sings other Sufi genres).
Important Questions from Music
The Senia tradition is:
Which of the following musical instruments is also known as a ‘Mangal Vadya’?
The Kuchipudi classical dance is accompanied with which type of music?
A Ghatam is a ______.
A distinct ‘Dhrupad style’ is associated with the __________ gharana.
