Chronicling the Evolution of Sufi Masterpieces
A curated anthology exploring modern adaptations of traditional South Asian and Sufi musical gems. Discover and help explore the history of the work, the traditions where they emerge from, its evolution, and the artists who are reimagining classics.
Latest Feature
Current SpotlightAbout Rangreza
"Rangreza" (The Dyer) is a Sufi concept of the divine or another transforming or “coloring” the soul with knowledge, truth or love. It’s a unique thought of describing the spiritual power by its impact rather than an assigned name. The artists featured are adding their own colors to many of these classics.
Rangreza the project is as much an effort to learn as it is to document. Like many I grew up listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, but my interactions with qawwali music and its traditions was at best sporadic. Over the last few year, thanks largely to the music of the Orchestral Qawwali Project, I have become very much interested in the tradition.
I have listened to interesting works from artists in India, Pakistan, and the UK and its remarkable how music, sometimes centuries old, is being reinterpreted. Since I didn’t find a platform that documents this wonderful evolution, Rangreza is my attempt to do so.
Previous Posts Archive
Explore past featured adaptations and their classic roots.
What is Sufism?
Most often described as Islamic mysticism, sufi orders transcend traditional Islamic sects. Sufism puts a greater emphasis on learning from a teacher than from scriptures, and many of the songs in the tradition are devoted to individual saints or to the concept of love of, or devotion to, spiritual guides. I think of Sufism as an open-source version of Islam, where each tradition holds onto some concepts from the original, but evolves from the others in unique ways.
Sufi’s helped spread Islam across the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. Some sufi orders in South Asia adopted local traditions and customs, including Hindu customs. At least one Sufi saint contributed to the founding philosophy of Sikhism.
The personal and emotional components of Sufism made it historically popular, and probably helps is resonate with people today. Music, and dance, play an essential role in many sufi orders, including the concept of Sama, where music is an essential means of altering one’s state of consciousness to realize the divine. Qawwali is the most common form of the devotional music.
Philosophers & Saints
The master poets, saints, and thinkers who shaped the Sufi tradition.
Philosophers profiles coming soon. Stay tuned as we build out chronicles of the great Sufi masters and poets.