Pakistani band regales Muscat crowd

Muscat: The world-famous Pakistani band, Fareed Ayaz Qawwal, displayed the full range of their classical repertoire in an inspiring performance during the Bait Al Zubair’s Sufi Music Festival last night.
Hosted by Mohammad Al Zubair, Founder of the Zubair Corporation, in the presence of Ali Javed, Ambassador of Pakistan to the Sultanate, the event gave the audience at the Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa Amphitheatre a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear popular hits, such as “Kangna”, from the highly acclaimed group.
Before the concert even started, huge crowds had gathered in anticipation of a memorable night. Speaking to the Times of Oman, Ahmed from Lahore said: “I am looking forward to hearing some great music. This band is really famous, one of the best. Many of my best friends are here as well. The weather is wonderful and the ambience is perfect.”
The Fareed Ayaz Qawwal Band did not disappoint. The group is the standard-bearer of a musical tradition that goes all the way back to legendary musician Tanras Khan, a court performer and teacher to last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar II. Singing in Urdu and even Arabic, the band’s performance was exuberant and a worthy representation of their rich heritage.
Beginning with the classic “Allahu, Ishq Illahi,” the band took the audience on a mystical adventure through evocative and powerful Urdu poems, crafted by the most distinguished masters of the written word, such as Amir Khusrou and Baba Bulleh Shah.
Throughout the performance, the audience joined in, creating an exceptional environment that would not have been out of place in a Mughal court. Speaking to the Times of Oman, many in the crowd expressed deep satisfaction with the event, feeling fortunate for being able to witness Pakistan’s qawwal maestros in person.
Ali, a Pakistani expat living in Muscat, summed up the sentiment of the audience when he told the Times of Oman: “The mood and the music were perfect, absolutely wonderful. We had such a great time. I only wish it had lasted longer.”