I selected “Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai” by Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan because prior to listening, I learned in the Chapter 5 reading that two elements constitute the sound of Qawwali songs: instruments and voices. This sparked my interest since I would rather hear voices alongside instruments than just an instrumental type of music, like Hindustani instrumental Raga, which is also featured in the Chapter 5 reading. Moreover, after listening to “Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai,” I immediately noticed that in terms of timbre, there is a very distinctive vocal sound, harmonium, and percussion that fluctuates throughout the piece. Not only that, but I also heard a unique texture, since there seem to be multiple male voices interacting rather than just one singer carrying the entire piece. The piece also features dynamics that build in intensity, since at the 4:00 mark, the percussion and vocals change from an originally slow rhythm to a faster-paced rhythm. Overall, I think that “Yeh Jo Halka Halka Suroor Hai” is an excellent piece that illustrates the India/Pakistan region’s focus on intense love and spiritual intoxication.

Link to my song: https://youtu.be/D8l3fLJ1Klw?si=0hFVsuXO2omRI2rU