Falak (literally "heaven," "fate," "universe") is a style of music native to the Pamir Mountains of Central Asia, particularly the Badakhshan region of northeastern Afghanistan, southeastern Tajikistan, and northern Pakistan.[1] Falak lyrics can involve religious-mystical themes of divine love, separation and reunion (often drawn from Persian Sufi poetry), or secular and melancholy lyrics of human love and suffering.[2]
Falak music is generally in a descending scale, with a limited range often limited to a hexachord (six notes).[3]
Falak may be sung a cappella, accompanied by instruments, or instrumental. Falak instruments include the ghijak (spike fiddle), nay (Persian flute), and dombura (long-necked lute), as well as percussion instruments.[3]