“Although the words of the songs are of paramount importance, the rhythm of the music is also extremely important because it increases in intensity to bring the listener to an emotional climax. When qawwali is performed in concert for international audiences who do not understand the words of the songs, the driving rhythms become the focus of attention. For many young international audiences, qawwali, as seen on the concert stage or heard on recordings, is thought of as South Asian or World popular music; indeed, many in the audience are inclined to get up and dance in the aisles just as they would at a pop concert.”
A passage I found interesting during my research – a piece of text that seems to highlight the juxtaposition and dynamic hearing vs listening in a way – although it could be argued, one who does not understand the lyrics of Qawwali is just listening to the instruments just as intently – vice verse, does one still truly understand Qawwali without understanding the importance of the lyrics?
Asia Society. (2023). Qawwali: From Sufi Ritual to Commercial Pop. [online] Available at: https://asiasociety.org/qawwali-sufi-ritual-commercial-pop [Accessed 7 Feb. 2023].