sun charkhe dee mithi mithi ghook
Mae Ni Mae Vol 18 — Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Punjabi Qawwali MP3
Mae Ni Mae — "O Mother" — is a Punjabi address that in sufi poetry occupies a specific function: the soul addressing its origin, its source, its home. In the folk tradition, mae ni mae is what a daughter says when she writes home from her husband's household. In the sufi tradition, it is what the soul says when it calls back toward the divine source from which it came into the world and to which it longs to return. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Ali Da Malang was world-famous and gave him international exposure — this material operates in a completely different, more intimate register.
The Domestic Register of Sufi Poetry
His best qawwalis are a phenomenal fusion of eastern and western music, but mae ni mae material shows the tradition's other pole: deeply local, specifically Punjabi, rooted in the domestic imagery of a specific place and a specific way of life. He is the unforgettable music icon who gave new meanings to the traditional form by moving between these registers without losing either one. He carries a traditional style of qawwali with a unique voice that immerses completely into the kalam.
iRulz hosts material across the entire range of his output. Jhoole Laal Maizik Tuch, Aziz Mian Qawwal and Noor Jehan are available for comparison across different dimensions of the Punjabi music tradition.
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Mae Ni Mae Vol 18 is available on iRulz for free streaming and urdu qawwali mp3 download.
FAQ
What does mae ni mae mean literally? "O Mother" in Punjabi — an address to one's mother, used in folk poetry as a way of expressing longing for one's original home. In sufi poetry, this becomes longing for the divine source.
How many volumes are in the Mae Ni Mae series? The series extends to at least Vol 18, drawing from multiple performance sessions. The individual track listings are on the iRulz album pages.
Is this folk qawwali or classical qawwali? The folk-classical distinction is less sharp in Punjabi sufi music than in other traditions. This material draws on folk imagery and folk melody patterns while serving the classical sufi devotional function.
You may also enjoy the qawwali of Jhoole Laal, Aziz Mian Qawwal, and Noor Jehan. Listen to more qawwali of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.