MUSICAL COMMUNICATION WITH MESSAGE OF PEACE AND RELIGIOUS HARMONY IN GLOBE: THE CASE STUDY OF PAKISTANI SUFI ROCK BAND JUNOON

Abstract

Music is a powerful means of communication. It provides a means by which people can share emotions, intentions, and meanings even though their spoken languages may be mutually incomprehensible. Sufi rock is an amalgam of Sufi Melodies with rock music; this music came to the surface in last decade of 20^th century and soon earned popularity in Pakistan and India. From thirteenth and fourteenth century saints and Sufi poets who spread their message of love, peace, harmony and connection with the divine inspired gave birth to the genre of Sufi music. The prominent Sufi poets are Bulleh Shah, Waris Shah, Shah Abdul Latif Bhatai, Amir Khusrow, Khwaja Ghulam Farid and Mohammad Bakhsh. Sufi music is carried in form of Qawwali, Kafi, Hamad, Mnajat while playing mainly harmonium and percussion as musical instruments. The fusion of soulful Sufism with loud beats of rock music inspired many even from new generation who were staunch followers of pop music.  In this paper, researchers discussed the contribution of Pakistani Sufi rock band Junoon in Sufi music round the globe as case study while qualitative data was analyzed and transcribed later.