The Breath announce Keep it Safe EP
The Breath, Ríoghnach Connolly (voice, shruti and flute) and Stuart McCallum (guitar, effects), ann...
Fri, 11 October 24
Released 22 July 2001
Liner notes
The third album from Rizwan-Muazam Qawwali Group on Real World Records —the youngest and most exciting group of Qawwali singers to emerge from Pakistan over the last decade. The group are torch bearers in the long line of tradition in Qawwali vocal music —devotional praise and love songs based upon classical Islamic and Sufi texts.
A Naat in praise of Prophet Muhammad.
My dearest holy friend,
what’s wrong with me that I no longer have your blessings?
First you showed me signs of fidelity and captured my heart.
Then suddenly you refused to acknowledge me.
I am proud that I have been equal to your favourites and I am also proud that you have possessed me with your kindness and humbleness.
As such we are slaves who have been bought with your kindness rather than with money.
Khusru, you are held in great esteem for kissing the feet of the dogs of his valley.
A Manqabat in praise of the Sufi Saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti.
Oh friends, my beloved Chishti took my heart away so discreetly while I was very young.
People say the Sultan has come from Sanjar but I say it is my God who has come.
I will sacrifice everything for my Khwaja and live at his feet all my life.
Khwaja is like sandalwood —a spiritual perfume so wonderful that it tied me discreetly with the string of love and then took my heart away.
A traditional love song which can also be applied spiritually.
I want my beloved with me today so that I can talk of the feelings in my heart.
Leave your pretty portrait in the eyes of my mind so that I can see you whenever I wish.
I am forever love sick —what will happen to me?
My heart starts palpitating so fast the moment you leave my eyes.
When I see you I forget the whole world.
A Manqabat in praise of the Sufi Saint Baba Farid Ganj-e-Shakar.
We recite the name of Farid all the time.
To see him reminds us of the beauty of God.
All the Chishtis and Sabris come to his shrine and their wishes are fulfilled.
Today is Eid, the day of celebration for all followers of Baba Farid.
The blessings of Baba are calling all needy people to come to his shrine and pass through the door of heaven.
Everybody says the light of Baba’s face shines so much that even God
has started to call Farid’s name, and now God and Farid seem as one.
A Ghazal – a contemporary song reflecting on human relationships.
Something lovely happened while I was drinking.
I met a friend who had once betrayed me and now he embraced me.
‘My dear friend, what kind of drink is it that has enabled me to see God?’
Neither my hiccups nor his tears stopped.
He kept looking at me so regretfully that I found it hard to say goodbye.
Oh people —see how my prayer has been answered today while I was drinking.
A Dhamaal in praise of Shahbaz Qalandar – Patron Saint of Sindhis.
I recite the name of Qalandar with every breath.
He is so caring and generous and remains in my heart always,
awakening my dead soul and bringing me happiness.
Please pray for my interior enlightenment and for a better destiny.
All Mustts are proud that you are the one who can bless a beggar
to become an Emperor.
Bells are ringing everywhere in your name.
All the evenings become joyful in celebration of you.
Naat, Hamd, Manqabat, Ghazal and Dhamaal are genres in Urdu poetry.
Further Listening
Released 27 June 1999
Released 09 November 1992
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