ABSTRACT
Ever since the establishment of Sufi institutions in the Indian subcontinent during the thirteenth century, the region has enjoyed a continuity and vitality of qawwali (a form of Sufi music) with few parallels. Qawwali is a community music practice directly related to deep local roots that reaches out across boundaries of language, caste, class, and creed. More than any other aspect, qawwali’s major appeal is its music, which is energetic, flexible, and capable of speaking to all kinds of listeners. Indeed, qawwali is popular among both Hindus and Muslims in the subcontinent. Qawwali has a remarkable plurality of musical settings, bearing resemblance to both classical and semi-classical musical traditions of the region with a potential to absorb other musical genres within its framework.
