Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (6,243 views)

[Platypus]

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (03.10.1948 - 16.08.1997)
Years Active: 1965 - 1997
Vocal Range: A2 - G♯5

SPOILER: Click to show

Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is one of the most internationally recognizable Qawwali singers and has been an influence for many singers in several genres, including names like Peter Gabriel, Zayn Malik and Jeff Buckley. Nusrat’s husky tone works in great contrast to the rest of his party, aiding in creating a sense of intensity in his performances. And that intensity is really what characterizes Nusrat as a singer in my opinion. Even throughout 3+ hour sets he never ceases his relentless vocal display of belting and melismas, as well as the wildest stage presence I’ve seen by a singer who confined to a rug on the floor. This is all done on the fly, mind you. Qawwali is a very improvisational art form, and as a party leader he also needs to lead the entire group during the performance, creating an extra layer of difficulty. This is something that Nusrat manages quite well, however, and he is often considered one of the best singers in the genre.

Written by Platypus .

Significant High Notes:

G♯5 (Qawwali demonstration Manchester Asian School Of Music)
F♯5 ("Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali Haq" live Middlesex 1983, "Mast Nazron Se Allah Bachaye" live 1983)
F5 ("Dam Hamadam Ali Ali", "Man Kunto Maula" live Tokyo 1990, "Ni Mein Jana Jogi De Naal" live Paris 1988, "Sochta Hoon Woh Kitne Masoom Thay" live Birmingham 1985, "Ya Hayyo Ya Qayyum" live Paris 1988, "Ya Mustafa Nurul Khuda" live Paris 1988, "Yadan Vichre Sajan Diyan Aayan" live London 1985)
E5 ("Allah Hoo Allah Hoo" live at WOMAD Yokohama 1992, "Dhyahar-Eh-Ishq Meh", "In Your Eyes" live VH1 1995, "Jhoole Jhoole Lal" live WOMAD Festival 1988, "Shahbaaz Qalandar", "Signal to Noise")
E♭5 ("Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali Haq" live Paris 1988, "Ali Da Malang", "Avenue", "Dhyahar-Eh-Ishq Meh", "Fault Lines", "Gevnj-E-Shakar", "Iss Karam Ka Karon Shukar Kaise Ada" live Birmingham 1988, "Je Toon Akhiyan De Samne Nahin Rehna" live Birmingham 1983, "Jewleh Lal", "Jhoole Jhoole Lal" live WOMAD Festival 1988, "Kali Kali Zulfon Ke Phande Nah Dalo", "Kehna Ghalat Ghalat To Chhupana Sahi Sahi", "Mere Rashke Qamar", "Nit Khair Mansan Sohnia Main Teri", "Shahbaz Qalandar (Lal Meri Pat Rakhio)" live Birmingham 1983, "Sochan Dongian", "Taboo", "Tum Ek Gorakh Dhanda" live Drchester Hotel London 1993, "Yadan Vichre Sajan Diyan Aayan" live London 1985)
D5 ("Allah Hoo Allah Hoo" live at WOMAD Yokohama 1992, "Crest", "Dam Hamadam Ali Ali", "Data Teira Durbar", "Iss Karam Ka Karon Shukar Kaise Ada" live Birmingham 1988, "Kali Kali Zulfon Ke Phande Nah Dalo", "Kehna Ghalat Ghalat To Chhupana Sahi Sahi", "Maki Madni", "Man Kunto Maula" live Tokyo 1990, "Meri Ankhon Ko Bakhshee Hain Aansoo", "Mustt Mustt", "Nit Khair Manga" live BBC Studios 1988, ''Passion'', "Sahib Teri Bandi", "Sanson Ki Maala Pe Simrun Main", "Shadow", "Shahbaaz Qalandar", "Taa Deem", "Tasbeh Dei Ik Ik Dhaneh")
C♯5 ("Ali Da Malang", "Allah Hoo Allah Hoo", "Allah Paak Muhammed Chaar Yaar", "Avenue", "Beh Haadh Ramza Dhasdha", "Dhyahar-Eh-Ishq Meh", "Genj-E-Shakar", "In Your Eyes" live VH1 1995, "Jewleh Lal", "Mayey Nee Main Dhak Farid Dey Jana", "Mere Rashke Qamar", "Meri Ankhon Ko Bakhshee Hain Aansoo", "Nit Khair Mansan Sohnia Main Teri", ''Passion'', "Shamas-Ud-Doha, Badar-Ud-Doja", "Sochta Hoon Woh Kitne Masoom Thay" live Birmingham 1985, "Tana Dery Na", "Tum Ek Gorakh Dhanda" live Drchester Hotel London 1993, "Ya Hayyo Ya Qayyum" live Paris 1988, "Ya Mustafa Nurul Khuda" live Paris 1988, "Yadan Vichre Sajan Diyan Aayan" live London 1985)
C5 ("Akihyan Nu Chain Na Aave", "Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam", "Barsoon Kay Intizar Ka", "The Game", "Haq Ali Ali Haq", "Intoxicated", "Je Toon Akhiyan De Samne Nahin Rehna" live Birmingham 1983, "Jewleh Lal", "Khawaja Tum Hi Ho", "Koi Hai Na Ho Ga", "Mahya Pardesi Hogiya", "Maki Madni", "Man Kunto Maula" live Tokyo 1990, "My Comfort Remains", "Naseeb Mera Jaga Diya" live Paris 1988, "Ni Mein Jana Jogi De Naal", "Nit Khair Manga" live BBC Studios 1988, "Nothing Without You", "Sab Vird Karo Allah Allah", "Sahib Teri Bandi", "Sanson Ki Maala Pe Simrun Main", "Signal to Noise", "Sochan Dongian", "Sweet Pain", "Tasbeh Dei Ik Ik Dhaneh", "Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka")
B4 ("Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali Haq" live Paris 1988, "Ali Maula Ali Maula Ali Dam Dam", "Allah Hoo Allah Hoo", "Crest", "Data Teira Durbar", "Fault Lines", "Longing", "Mahya Pardesi Hogiya", "Mayey Nee Main Dhak Farid Dey Jana", "Mere Rashke Qamar", "My Comfort Remains", "My Heart, My Life", ''Passion'', "Signal to Noise", "Tracery")
B♭4 ("Ali Da Malang", "Avenue", "Beh Haadh Ramza Dhasdha", "Crest", "Dam Hamadam Ali Ali", "The Game", "Genj-E-Shakar", "Intoxicated", "Iss Karam Ka Karon Shukar Kaise Ada" live Birmingham 1988, "Jhoole Jhoole Lal" live WOMAD Festival 1988, "Koi Hai Na Ho Ga", "Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae", "Mere Rashke Qamar", "Noor-e-khuda Hai Husn-e-sarapa Rasool", "Sab Vird Karo Allah Allah", "Shamas-Ud-Doha, Badar-Ud-Doja", "Sweet Pain", "Taa Deem", "Tasbeh Dei Ik Ik Dhaneh", "Taboo", "Ya Mustafa Nurul Khuda" live Paris 1988)
A4 ("Akihyan Nu Chain Na Aave", "Allah Paak Muhammed Chaar Yaar", "Data Teira Durbar", "Haq Ali Ali Haq", "Koi Hai Na Ho Ga", "Longing", "Maki Madni", "Mast Nazroon Se Allah Bachhae", "Meri Ankhon Ko Bakhshee Hain Aansoo", "Mustt Mustt", "My Heart, My Life", "Noor-e-khuda Hai Husn-e-sarapa Rasool", "Nothing Without You", "Shadow", "Shahbaaz Qalandar", "Yaad-E-Nabi Gulshan Mehka", "Ya Hayyo Ya Qayyum" live Paris 1988)

Significant Low Notes:
F3 ("Barsoon Kay Intizar Ka", "The Game", "Haq Ali Ali Haq", "Intoxicated", "Kali Kali Zulfon Ke Phande Nah Dalo", "Kehna Ghalat Ghalat To Chhupana Sahi Sahi", "Koi Hai Na Ho Ga", "Jewleh Lal", "Maki Madni", "Mere Rashke Qamar", "Naseeb Mera Jaga Diya" live Paris 1988, "Ni Mein Jana Jogi De Naal", "Sab Vird Karo Allah Allah", "Sahib Teri Bandi", "Sochan Dongian", "Sweet Pain", "Tasbeh Dei Ik Ik Dhaneh", "Ya Hayyo Ya Qayyum" live Paris 1988, "Ya Mustafa Nurul Khuda" live Paris 1988)
E3 ("Allah Hoo Allah Hoo" live at WOMAD Yokohama 1992, "Allah Paak Muhammed Chaar Yaar", "Ali Paak Muhammed Chaar Yaar", "Crest", "Lament", "Longing", "Mahya Pardesi Hogiya", "Meri Ankhon Ko Bakhshee Hain Aansoo", "My Comfort Remains", "My Heart, My Life", "Shadow", "Tracery")
E♭3 ("Data Teira Durbar", "Iss Karam Ka Karon Shukar Kaise Ada" live Birmingham 1988, "Mast Nazron Se Allah Bachaye" live 1983, "Ni Mein Jana Jogi De Naal" live Paris 1988, "Night Song", "Taboo", "Tasbeh Dei Ik Ik Dhaneh", "Tum Ek Gorakh Dhanda" live Drchester Hotel London 1993, "Yadan Vichre Sajan Diyan Aayan" live London 1985)
D3 ("Intoxicated", "The Long Road", "Longing", "Man Kunto Maula" live Tokyo 1990, "Mayey Nee Main Dhak Farid Dey Jana", "Mustt Mustt", "My Comfort Remains", "Na Swal Ban Ke Mila Karo", "Taa Deem")
C♯3 ("Ali Ali Maula Ali Ali Haq" live Birmingham 1988, "Allah Hoo Allah Hoo" live at WOMAD Yokohama 1992, "My Heart, My Life", "Ni Mein Jana Jogi De Naal" live Birmingham 1988, "Night Song", "Ya Hayyo Ya Qayyum" live Paris 1988, "Ya Mustafa Nurul Khuda" live Paris 1988)
C3 ("Naseeb Mera Jaga Diya" live Paris 1988, "Raag Ahir Bhairav" live 1987)
B2 ("Lament")
B♭2 (Unknown Jugalbandi Taj Usha Kiran Palace Hotel, Gwalior 1997)
A2 ("Raag Ahir Bhairav" live 1987)


.......................................................
Blue marks falsetto or whistle notes.
Underlines mark notes that are obscured in the song mix.
Italics mark non-melodic notes.
Boldface marks notes that are considered to be particularly notable examples of this person's vocal capabilities.

SPOILER: Click to show

F♯5 ("Ni Mein Jana Jogi De Naal" live Paris 1988 ^[5], ''Passion" ^[2], "Ya Hayyo Ya Qayyum" live Paris 1988 ^[5])
.......................................................
[1] marks yelps and short trills in high range or anacrusis and short dips in low range.
[2] marks notes of questionable identity that cannot be confirmed to be the singer in question.
[3] marks non-melodic notes that don't have a significant enough pitch to warrant inclusion.
[4] marks notes that possess uncertain pitch or have been pitch-shifted.
[5] marks notes that do not fit the previous criteria but are not of a substantial enough quality to warrant counting towards the singer's range.

SPOILER: Click to show

In Concert in Paris (1988): C3 - F5
Shahen-Shah (1988): E3 - E♭5
Mustt Must (1990): D3 - E♭5
Shahbaaz (1991): F3 - E5
Devotional Songs (1992): F3 - E♭5
The Last Prophet (1994): F3 - E♭5
Night Songs (1996): B2 - D5
Dust to Gold (2000): E♭3 - D5
Body and Soul (2001): D3 - D5

[Platypus]

[Homelander]

Since there are no bolds on this thread, these are the notes I suggest bolding:

E3 from Crest.

B-flat 4 from Crest.

This E5 from a live performance.c I'd also colour this one green as well.

[slugger]

"Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is one of the most internationally recognizable Qawwali singers [...] often considered one of the best singers in the genre"

Not to nitpick, but isn't this an understatement? I thought NFAK was more like the uncontested #1 qawwali singer and the ONLY internationally recognized one.

[Macca]

New album called "Chain of Light" Released in late-September.

[amadeusd]

Feb 16, 2023 6:37:43 GMT slugger said:

"Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is one of the most internationally recognizable Qawwali singers [...] often considered one of the best singers in the genre"

Not to nitpick, but isn't this an understatement? I thought NFAK was more like the uncontested #1 qawwali singer and the ONLY internationally recognized one.

I am aware of Farrukh Fateh Ali Khan and Badar Ali Khan also.