Chitra Singh is the Queen of ghazals (poetic love songs). She has the most uniquely haunting and soulful voice.

She never sang again after the untimely death of her only child due to a truck accident just as he turned 18. Sadly the tragedy also led to the breakup of her marriage and musical partnership with Jagjit Singh.

Here are the husband and wife at the peak of their powers mid to late 80s.

QAWALLI (SUFI MYSTICAL MUSIC)

At the turn of the 13th century, 40 years before the birth of Geoffrey Chaucer and 150 years before that of Leanardo De Vinci, Europe was steeped in the dark ages. In contrast, the Muslim world was flourishing from the maghrib (the west) in Spain where Muslim scholars were rediscovering and putting to use the lost knowledge of the Greeks, to the mashriq (the east) in India where a synthesis between Persian and Indian culture was taking place. In India, Amir Khusrau was in the employ of princes and nobles as a poet and historian.

However, his real allegiances lay with Sheikh Nizam-ud din-Awliya, the leader of the Chisti order of Sufi saints which had played an active part in popularising Islam within India. Apart from inventing the sitar and the ghazal (poetic lovesong), Khusrau was responsible for inventing Qawalli.

NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN

Peter Gabriel was so inspired by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's power and range, he dubbed him as 'The most powerful voice in the world.' He consequently managed Nusrat's career and tours in the West.

Without doubt the most important qawwal is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party - Party is a generic term for a qawwali ensemble but is also used in Sikhism and to describe some classical music ensembles, for example, shehnai maestro BismillahKhan and Party. Dubbed Shahen-Shah-e-Qawwali (the Brightest Star in Qawwali), he was born on October 13, 1948, in Lyallpur in the Punjab Province of Pakistan.

He made his first recording in 1973 in Pakistan and a number of early EMI (Pakistan) albums jointly billed him with his uncle Mubarak Ali Khan. Since these mainly cassette albums were invariably undated and numerous, it is difficult to place them in any more accurate chronological sequence than catalogue number order.

The title means some call the Infinite ' Ram, Ram' (Hindu), and some ' Khuda' (Islamic), despite the difference in label, it is the same one reality.

This is a very sublime and inspiring classic first sang by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan at a Sikh Gurdwara in London is the early 80s. It reveals the equality and beauty of getting to the same end by many paths, of all paths leading to the same source.

In this subtitled video Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is singing in Qawwali style a Hymn from the Guru Granth Sahib which promotes tolerance towards every faith and religion, peace, love and goodwill. This message of pluralism and interfaith harmony amongst the world faiths is unique. The Hymn is as follows:

"Some call the Infinite 'Ram, Ram', and some 'Khuda'.
Some serve Him as 'Gusain', others as 'Allah'.
He is the Cause of causes, and Generous.
He showers His Grace and Mercy upon us.
Some pilgrims bathe at sacred shrines, others go on Hajj to Mecca.
Some do devotional worship, whilst others bow their heads in prayer.
Some read the Vedas, and some the Koran.
Some wear blue robes, and some wear white.
Some call themselves Muslim, and some call themselves Hindu.
Some yearn for paradise, and others long for heaven.
Says Nanak, one who realizes the Hukam of Infinite's Will, knows the secrets of his Lord Master."
It is in our harmony, respect and peace that we express our love for the Lord and His Creation.
May the Lord bless everyone.

Chura liya hai form the movie Yaadon Ki Baraat (1973). This song are sung by Asha Bosle and Mohammad Rafi.
Zeenat Aman & Vijay Arora

"QAWALLI"

The word "Qawalli" has it's origins in the Arabic word "qawl" (utterance). The lyrics, at this stage were primarily in Persian, Turkish and the occasional word of Hindi, celebraed Allah and the Prophet. It's musical form relied heavily upon sophisticated ragas combined with exaltant sponteneity, and it's repetitive yet lyrical force at times sent people into trances. Qawalli became an essential part of Muslim worship at Sufi shrines, and as a result of it's popularity an important element in the conversion of Indians to Islam.

6 CENTURIES OF CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT

Today the foremost practitioner is 41 year old Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan from Faisalbad, Pakistan whose family have passed on and developed the tradition for over six centuries. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & Party gave their first British performance in Birmingham in 1979 and since then have toured the country almost every year.

All the party sing, some are soloists, others act as a chorus. The music is provided by harmoniums (hand pumped organ like instrument), hand clapping and a set of tablas (a small pair of drums). From this combination emerges a sound of surprising variety and complexity, from angelic solo heights to awesome choral power. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's voice and the tabla combine in ecstatic improvisations, set against striking melodies.

The great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is the single most generous artist and performer I've ever met and experienced in concert. I first saw him on a Sunday morning in Britain and was awe struck at his sheer commitment.

Nusrat was the latest in a lineage of qawalli singers in his family going back 9 generations, with father teaching son. After his father's premature death, Nusrat made his first performance at a Sufi festival in Pakistan and received the blessing of the sufi masters present.

They told him as long as he sings to the infinite in his heart, regardless of the song his star will rise. Hence he always started every concert with the song Allah Hoo. Nusrat provided the sound track for Dead Man Walking and The Last Temptation of Christ.

After his premature death a few years ago, his funeral procession was attended by hundreds of widows and orphans he'd supported discreetly.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan 1980s singing live in U.K famous Allama Iqbal poem.

The Shahen Shah e Qawwali Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan sings Pakistan's poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal's famous poem "Javed Nama". Starting lyrics: ... all » "Pirooh Toond tah.."

The Voice from Heaven creates powerful live music. A must see for fans of Nusrat Fateh. One of the classics of Khan sahib.

Between 1973 and 1993 Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's recorded output could only be described as prodigious, with more than 50 album releases to hisname on numerous Pakistani, British, American, European and Japanese labels. Heavily over-recorded, blighted with a rash of poppy remix albums or albums with Westernized instrumentation or arrangements, his recorded work is a mire to suck in the uninitiated and their money. Converts, however, do not escape scot-free.

Although some releases hint at their nature with coded titles such as Volume 4 Punjabi (Oriental Star CD SR013) from 1990 or Ghazals Urdu (Oriental Star CD SR055) from 1992, the chosen language and style is frequently a matter of conjecture or uncertainty.

While the Western market is saturated with his work, the Indian market is supersaturated, and his recorded output is in danger of overwhelming any sense of taste. Real World was the label largely responsible for Khan's breakthrough into a non-Indian audience. It was their marketing skills and the platform provided by the WOMAD organization which introduced him to Westerners.

One of the sweetest and soothing songs by Nusrat.

MASTER OF QAWWALI

Revered at home and throughout the Islamic world as the master of qawwali singing and the voice of divine power. Qawwali is devotional music, aimed at transporting the listener to a higher level of enlightenment. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's legendary status has moved beyond traditional audiences, with five hit albums released on the Real World label creating an audience that crosses all boundaries of language, religion and culture.

As WOMADELAIDE 92 discovered, Nusrat and his party of musicians and singers deliver an unforgettable musical experience. "Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is the world's foremost expert of Qawwali, the devotional music of Sufi Muslims, Nusrat is somewhere between a high priest and a rock god, capable of elevating entire audiences to a religious ecstasy even if they don't understand a word he's singing" - New York Magazine.

Nusrat has recorded over 100 albums, and made important contributions to the soundtracks of "The Last Temptation of Christ:" and more recently to "Dead Man Walking" with Eddie Vedder. Ambient guitarist Michael Brook developed his audio and video talent in projects undertaken with artists ranging from Brian Eno to U2's Edge and Sinead O'Connor. Although he's released several solo albums, to world music he's been best known for the acclaimed albums "Set" by Youssou N'Dour and "Mustt Mustt" by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. "Night Song" in on Real World

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan & the Sufi tradition over the centuries have produced perhaps the most ecstatic music the world has ever produced. A combination of singing about the infinite and a lover combined.

The lyrics in this song roughly translated mean:

If you want to please God, first please your partner.
Its easy to please God, its hard to please your partner.

Its doesn't sound quite as poetic in English unfortunately.

The art of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan stretches back almost a millennium to the founding of Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam which originated in Tenth Century Persia.

Qawwali is Sufi devotional music. It has been a dominant feature of Indian Islamic culture since the Twelfth Century. The music's popularity has since transcended religious and geographical barriers. Qawwali, with its enormous emotional strength, is popular with Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims.

Qawwali singers perform a sophisticated and ecstatic form of devotion. The word 'qawwali' means 'utterance' and the 'qawwal' - meaning a wise of philosophical utterance- is the voice of divine power. The strength of the qawwal is his (as qawwals are usually male) power to convey a mystical religious message by capturing the consciousness of their audience. The aim is to transport the listener to another level of enlightenment or inner knowledge.

One of the most beautiful melodies of all time.

Shiv kumar Batalvi at his very best. The best Punjabi Album to date.

Track number 1 in the Album
Shiv Kumar Batalvi
Birha da Sultan

The lyrics roughly translated are a man singing in amazement and admiration to his sweetheart:

"How beautiful God has made you."

This is one of the most ecstatic numbers by Nusrat and Party.

Contemporary qawwali embraces a range of styles: from the classical forms to folk embellishments, from the pure to the commercial. Its wide popularity comes partly from the fact qawwali draws upon a rich vein of poetic imagery denied elsewhere in Islam. In recent times, however, qawwali has been subjected to more secular pressures: the mystical imagery of the music has been adapted for very different purposes.

The film industry of the Indian Sub-Continent has exploited the extraordinary qualities of qawwali. The ecstatic religious love of Allah, the Prophet or the Muslim saints - subtly interwoven with themes of secular love in genuine qawwali Iyrics - has been replaced by far more straight-forward romantic interplay between the sexes.

Such is the legend of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, however, that he has many times crossed these cultural barriers with no diminution of his status as the greatest living exponent of qawwali. His classical ancestry is impeccable. Khan can trace his family's history through six centuries and, indeed his father Usted and uncles Mubarak and Salamat Ali Khan were all qawwals of classical distinction.

Nusrat was born on October 13, 1948 in Lyallpur - decolonialised as Faisalbad in 1979 -in the Punjab province of Pakistan. As a child he was given private music lessons by his father although it was not until Ulsted's death, in 1964, that Nusrat began serious studies in the art of qawwali.

Two years later Nusrat started to perform in public with his uncles. His talents were evident, even at the early age of eighteen. By 1971, with the death of Mubarak Ali Khan, Nusrat had established himself as one of the greatest living qawwals. His status was confirmed by overwhelming critical and public acclaim: Nusrat was 'Shahen-shah-e-qawwali' - the brightest-shining star of qawwali.

His fame has moved beyond the traditional world of classical qawwali. Nusrat works frequently in the Sub-continent's popular film business. In 1979 he was even invited by the famous actor/director Raj Kapoor to sing at the wedding of his son Rishi before an array of the most prominent members of Bombay's film industry.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has created an extraordinary legend in the Islamic world, yet his music has a universality sufficient to touch the widest audiences. In 1985 Nusrat appeared at the WOMAD Festival in Britain. The audience was mainly white and non-Muslim, yet, without even a rudimentary understanding of Persian poetry or the Urdu or Punjabi languages, they gave him an ecstatic response. The power of the spirit transcends human barriers.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's latest album, THE LAST PROPHET, is his sixth album for the Real World label and features four of his own compositions.

Heart wrenching, painful and truthful. Shiv kumar Batalvi at his very best. The best Punjabi Album to date.

Track number 2 in the Album
Shiv Kumar Batalvi
Birha da Sultan
Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh

Lyrics: Shiv Kumar batalvi
Composed and Sung by Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh.

The film Umrao Jaan is based on the main character in the book 'The Courteson of Lucknow.' There is a 2nd version of the film, starring the beautiful Aishwarya Rai. However the first version is still the best both because it has Rekha and the music. The second beats the first for cinematography having been filmed more recently. Both are visually delicious with period piece setttings and clothing.

This song from the film Bobby is about how the lead male actor's father (Raj Kapoor) met and became smitten with hew new co-star (Nargis) at their first meeting.

Bobby was the biggest monster hit in India during the 70s. I was studying at a boarding school as a kid and you couldn't escape Bobby songs on the radio.

Heart renching, painful and truthful. Shiv kumar Batalvi at his very best. The best Punjabi Album to date.

Track number 5 in the Album
Shiv Kumar Batalvi
Birha da Sultan

Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh
Lyrics: Shiv Kumar batalvi

Composed and Sung by Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh.