Riyaaz Qawwali Spreading Indian Semi Classical

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GOSPEL MUSIC FROM INDIA, PAKISTAN, BANGLADESH
RIYAAZ QAWWALI Riyaazqawwali.com
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OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
SONNY K. MEHTA With a harmonious blend of South
Asian and the Western influences, Sonny K. Mehta
leads the ensemble as the artistic director for
Riyaaz Qawwali. With over 24 years of classical
music training, he has spent half of that time
devoted to understanding and growing awareness
of qawwali. With fluency in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi
and English, he is well suited to be a cultural
ambassador and take a very secluded/folk art form
(as well as the associated poetry) to the
Western audiences and the newer South Asian
generations.
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HAMD Praise for Allah MUNADJAAT
CLASSIFICATIONS OF QAWWALI

• Song where the singer displays his gratefulness
  to Allah through a variety of linguistic
  techniques
• MANQABAT
• praise of either Imam Ali or one of the Sufi
  saints

GHAZAL Poetic form consisting of rhyming couplets
and a refrain. Although the ghazal is most
prominently a
form of Persian and Urdu poetry, today it is
found in MARSIYA
the poetry of many languages. NAAT Praise of the
Prophet Muhammad
Dirge lamenting the death of much of Imam
Husayns family in the Battle of
Karbala KAFI Devotional poem themed around heroic
and great romantic tales from the folkfore,
often used as a metaphor for mystical truths,
and spiritual longing characterized by a musical
refrain that sets a mood much like in a Ghazal
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INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC
Riyaaz Qawwali ensemble Perform Indian Semi
classical music. Hindus sing bhajans as part of a
religious ceremony. The lyrics are in many
Indian languages. While there are no musical
prescriptions for bhajans, usually a harmonium
and tabla are used as the instruments to support
the main singer. Riyaaz Qawwali has performed
several bhajans. These include Raghupati raghav
raja ram, Man lagyo yaar fakeeri mein, Gaiye
ganpati jagvandan, Hare rama hare krishna, Payo
ji maine raam ratan dhan payo, etc.
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Riyaaz Qawwalis mission is to expand Folk Music
in USA to new audiences. The ensemble wants to
expand the reach of the genre to new stages and
people of other faiths and traditions.
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CORPORATE SHOWS
Most of the musicians in Riyaaz Qawwali have
full-time jobs, employed in oil gas, in
healthcare, and even higher education. They are
all too familiar with corporate expectations and
the demands that of such an environment. We can
relate to the 9 to 5 grind. Other corporation
have used our music and performances to help
their brand or their employees understand a
growing customer-base of South Asian Americans.
This minority is the fastest growing population
in the United States. They account for a large
number of affulent people, including doctors,
lawyers, engineers and business
owners. Corporations can use our ensemble as the
main attraction at their holiday parties,
designed to celebrate any Hindu, Sikh, or Muslim
festivals. With the mix of South Asian and the
Western music, Riyaaz Qawwali has been found as
an Interfaith in USA.
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THE QAWWALI EXPERIMENT
Qawwalis are far lengthier than a typical modern
song. They average 15 minutes, with the longest
single track being on the upwards of 70 minutes!
Audiences today are used to listening to short
pieces. The Experiment aims to bridge the
gap. The effort will also introduce modern
musical elements, traditionally not heard in
qawwali. The purpose to give these compositions
a similar texture to what is found in pop music
today. While, we will not abandoning the
traditional elements of qawwali (like harmonium,
clapping, tabla-dhamma, etc.), the modern
elements will be used to enhance the pieces.
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TO KNOW ABOUT BOOKING DETAILS
ADDRESS
16910 Hidden Treasure, Friendswood TX 77546
CONTACT US
PHONE [phone] EMAIL riyaazqawwali_at_gmail.c
om WEBSITE Riyaazqawwali.com
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Our Social Media Platforms
FACEBOOK https//www.facebook.com/Riyaazq/
INSTAGRAM https//www.instagram.com/riyaazqawwali/
TWITTER https//twitter.com/riyaaz_qawwali