MUSICAL JOURNEYS AROUND THE WORLD | The Singing Sufi: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Pakistani Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is a legend in the world of music, renowned for his superb vocal technique, incredible improvisational skills, and astonishing six-octave vocal range. Critics called his voice "otherworldly," and once he started singing, he could create an intense and emotional musical experience for hours on end. The performer helped popularize traditional Sufi qawwali music, often referred to as "music for the soul," around the world. He not only faithfully cherished this tradition, but also experimented—collaborating with Eastern music and world-class pop/cinema stars, combining the sounds of his voice with Western sounds. Nusrat gained recognition not only in South Asia—in 1995, he was even awarded the title of "Best Musician" by UNESCO.

The door to the world of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan will be opened by violinist and musicologist Eirimas Velička, who is particularly interested in the music of Asia. This afternoon, we will learn about the qawwali genre and the personality of N. F. A. Khan, and listen to the highest quality recordings released by the Real World record company.

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CLOSER TO MUSIC events are not concerts, but rather evenings of encounters with music, led by interesting "companions" – musicologists, musicians, music lovers – who are fans of a particular genre, composer, instrument, performer, or country's musical culture. They talk about the peculiarities of this music and select characteristic records for listening. The records are played in high quality from vinyl records or high-resolution digital files.