  The fractional quantum Hall effect is the paradigmatic example of
topologically ordered phases. One of its most fascinating aspects is the large
variety of different topological orders that may be realized, in particular
nonabelian ones. Here we analyze a class of nonabelian fractional quantum Hall
model states which are generalizations of the abelian Haldane-Halperin
hierarchy. We derive their topological properties and show that the
quasiparticles obey nonabelian fusion rules of type su(q)_k. For a subset of
these states we are able to derive the conformal field theory description that
makes the topological properties - in particular braiding - of the state
manifest. The model states we study provide explicit wave functions for a large
variety of interesting topological orders, which may be relevant for certain
fractional quantum Hall states observed in the first excited Landau level.
