Qawwali vs Ghazal: Understanding the Differences

Not to mention that, music and poetry are powerful ways to express emotions. Furthermore, people use it to convey the untold messages through this as well. In South Asia, two very famous forms of musical poetry are Qawwali and Ghazal. Both are loved by millions of people. But they are very different from each other.

Though, most of the people still try to keep these in one category of Sufism or the Sufi melodies. However, both of these have their own diversified arches that further form sub-arch genres. Let’s dive a little deeper to learn more about the best qawwali video or qawwali gane that are very famous in the Pakistani society. Because no one here misses any new qawwali when it gets released. However, you can’t escape the beauty of Pashto ghazal and the tappy that people love to listen in all moods. So, it’s usually the qawwali vs ghazal debate in which people fall in the quarrel of what Pakistanis listen the most. Let’s follow this informative blog and break this topic down in further chunks to understand it clearly.

What is Qawwali?

Firstly, we have just the most-wanted genre of music that people listen in Pakistan. Whether be it Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, or Gilgit Baltistan. When there is a qawwali night. People love to spend their time within them. These nights are usually filled with the best Qawwali gane are what people enjoy a lot. Basically, qawwali is a type of devotional music. It is mostly sung in Sufi shrines and gatherings. It is performed to praise God, saints, and love in a spiritual way.

Though, qawwali vs ghazal has always been a debate of what’s eth best. However, these old and new Qawwali songs have been around for many centuries. Furthermore, most of the qawwalis are very energetic, and the singers repeat the same lines many times to make the vibe more prominent. As a result, this makes it more powerful and emotional. For instance, people say that if you listen to Amjad Sabri qawwali, you can’t stop your tears falling down. That’s how emotional these qawwalis are.

Features of Qawwali

• Sung in Groups: Though, it’s true that qawwali is not sung alone. However, it is performed by a group of singers called a Qawwal Party.
• Lead Singer: It starts with one person – who leads the song; and others follow. For instance, you may listen to the acoustic Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwali and his deep vocals. On the other hand, if you want to feel the aggressiveness in vocals, you should enjoy the beats of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan’s vocals.
• Strong Music: The use of harmonium, tabla, and dholak makes it very lively.
• Clapping and Chorus: Other members clap and sing along.
• Spiritual Meaning: Qawwali often praises God, saints, and divine love.
• Long Performance: A single new Qawwali can last for 30 minutes to hours.
• High Energy: The music gets faster and more energetic over time.

Famous Qawwals

Though, it’s true that most of the singers have made Qawwali popular. However, if you want to enjoy some of the best arts, then here are some of the mentions for you:

• Atif Aslam (Pakistan)
• Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwali (Pakistan)
• Sabri Brothers (Pakistan)
• Aziz Mian (Pakistan)
• Abida Parveen Qawwali (Pakistan)
• Amjad Sabri Qawwali (Pakistan)
• Sher Miandad Qawwali (Pakistan)
• Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Qawwali (Pakistan)

What is Ghazal?

When it comes to ghazal; well, it is an attractive melody that is written and sung in the form of poetry. Though, it’s true that every word and vocal expresses deep emotions, especially about love, pain, and beauty. Unlike Qawwali, Ghazal on the other hand is soft and melodious. So, if the qawwali vs ghazal goes viral, and you don’t know what to talk about, you may refer to this prominent contrast. However, it is also true that a ghazal does not have the same high energy as Qawwali. Instead, it is slow, meaningful, and full of deep yet warming thoughts. In short, people love to listen to different types of Ghazal when they want to feel emotions deeply. And they could be anything. Such as, Sindhi or Pashto Ghazal, Mehdi Hassan Ghazal, sad ghazal in Urdu, either any genre, or another artist.

Features of Ghazal

• Solo Singing: Most importantly, the poet usually sings the ghazal all alone by themselves.
• Soft Music: In Ghazal, the music is gentle, and melody instruments that poet uses are: harmonium, tabla, sitar, and flute.
• Deep Meaning: Each and every single Ghazal’s word is coated with deep meanings. Such as, they might be talking about love, sadness, beauty, or life. Though, in the most acoustic way.
• Short in Length: In comparison, Pashto Ghazal and other Ghazals are usually shorter than Qawwalis.
• Calm and Peaceful: Most of the Ghazals have the slow and relaxing music that keeps the rhythm more intriguing.
• Poetic Form: Lastly, a Ghazal has many couplets (two-line verses) that follow a set pattern. However, some of the ghazals follow the stanzas patterns as well.

Famous Ghazal Singers

Apart from Qawwali, there are many singers who have beautifully produced Ghazals that people love to listen. Though, we can’t just pen down all of the names. However, some famous Ghazal singers have produced some of the masterpieces that people love. For instance, these are:

• Mehdi Hassan Ghazal (Pakistan)
• Jagjit Singh Ghazal (India)
• Ghulam Ali Ghazal (Pakistan)
• Farida Khanum Ghazal (Pakistan)
• Begum Akhtar Ghazal (India)

Key Differences Between Qawwali vs Ghazal

When to Listen to Qawwali vs Ghazal?

Listen to Qawwali When you:

• Need energy and motivation.
• Want to feel spiritually connected.
• Are in a festive or devotional mood.
• Enjoy group singing and clapping.
• Want to enjoy Qawwali mp3 download for long sessions.

Listen to Ghazal When you:

• Want to relax and feel emotions.
• Enjoy deep poetry.
• Like soft and soothing music.
• Are feeling thoughtful or nostalgic.
• Prefer listening to Sad Ghazal in Urdu when you are emotional.

Conclusion

In the nutshell, you must have understood that both of these melodies are beautiful forms of music. Although, Qawwali vs Ghazal: what is the best to listen, has always been a common debate. However, each has its own charm. At one side, qawwali is full of energy and devotion. On the other hand, Ghazal is soft and poetic. Through, they serve different purposes and are enjoyed in different moods. If you love powerful, energetic music, Pakistani Qawwali is for you. If you love deep poetry and soft melodies, then Urdu Ghazal is perfect.

No matter which one you prefer, both Qawwali video and Ghazal have a special place in the world of music.