A Gurmat Sangeet Darbar was organized at the SEWA Gurudwara Saheb , Roswell GA on the weekend of October 15th - 17th.
Sangat from metro Atlanta area and other adjoining cities, witnessed and experienced a soul refreshing and exhilarating event, listening to the Shabads from House of Nanaks, in a traditional way. Singh and Singhnia keertaniyaas from different states and countries shared the classical singing of the Shabads in Raags, using the instruments which existed or were invented in court of Guru Sahebaan's.
During a workshop on Gurmat Sangeet, Prof Surinder Singh of Raj Academy shared his perspectives about Gurmat Sangeet and the ongoing efforts and programs to revive, share and preserve this jewel of traditional way - The Guru's way. He shared his learning that Guru Nanak gave us the Keertan to communicate, and to create a bridge between a Sikh (a student) and the Guru, to explore and absorb the wisdom enshrined in Guru Granth Saheb. The words of wisdom inscribed in Sri Guru Granth Saheb are beyond the bounds and barriers of language or dialect. The poetic elements of the Gurbani, sung in a frame of psychology of sound, can enlighten the obscure paradigms of mind and soul. Raag invokes the mood and provides a mode, to feel and absorb the essence of a Shabad. The fine intricacies of Naad, Shruti, Swar and Raag were briefly introduced for those to were interested in learning the singing in raags. In the end, he clarified and emphasized that it is not about the technicalities of the instruments or intricacies in the Raags, but ultimately it is about the connection and the submission (Shabad Guru, Surt Dhun Chela).
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| Hardeep Singh and Jasmit Singh Channa |
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| Learn a Shabad Workshop |
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| Prof Surinder Singh and Raj Academy |
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| Prof Surinder Singh and Raj Academy - 2 |
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| Prof Surinder Singh and Raj Academy - 3 |
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| Rattan Singh Bhamrah & Jasmit Singh Channa |
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| Rattan Singh Bhamrah playing Taar Shehani |
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| Traditional Instruments |
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| Workshop Lecture by Prof Surinder Singh |
The workshop participants learnt a Shabad, "Gur Merey Sung Sada Hain Nalay" - in raag Aasa, which means Udum (Initiative). To listen to Prof. Surinder Singh's complete workshop lecture, please click here.
Sangat members were introduced to the traditional Saaz (string instruments) which were played and invented in the court of Guru Sahebaans. Rabab was played by Bhai Mardana to sing the songs by Guru Nanak. Guru Angad jee played Rabab and Guru Arjun Dev jee created Saranda. Sarangi was revived by Guru Hargobind Saheb, which is used by Dhadi's to sing Varaan. Guru Gobind Singh jee created and played Taus and Dilruba was introduced in his court.
Sarbpreet Singh who is steering the efforts at Gurmat Sangeet Project Boston, to preserve and promote the traditional classical style of singing Shabads in Raags. He conducted the proceedings of the Smagum and shared his perspectives on Gurmat Sangeet, clarification on intricacies of Raags, present day challenges and opportunities of singing Shabad's in Raag and other elements of musicology.
The tradition of Gurmat Sangeet has been evolving from the times of Guru Sahebaans. Primarily it has been an oral tradition which has traveled and transferred from generation to generation by learning from teachers. The lack of documented resources had challenged its existence, but at the turn of the last century, a system for musical notation invented by Pandit Vishnu Narain Bhatkhande was adopted for use by Sdr. Gain Singh Abbotabadi to revive the tradition. Later on the tradition was rejuvenated by many other raagis , some of them are Bhai Avtar Singh, Bhai Gurcharan Singh, Bhai Sumand Singh, Gyani Dyal Singh and many others.
Many young keertaniyaas enthralled the sangat with Shabads sung in raags using traditional Saaz. Sardar Rattan Singh Bhamrah of Toronto sung a Shabad using Tar Shehnaai, Gagandeep Singh of Portland, Oregon played Mandolin, Hardeep Singh and Jasmeet Singh (Channa Brothers) played Taus and Tabla. Prof. Surinder Singh played Saranda, Ustaad Surjit Singh Aulakh played Sarangi, Bibi Jasvir Kaur played Rabab, Navjot Singh played Jodi, Preetinder Singh played Taus, and Bibi Simriti Kaur played Dilruba. Manroop Kaur, Simar Raj Singh and Navraj Singh of Washington DC, Mehr Kaur of Boston, Amandeep Singh, Angad Singh and Jaspreet Singh, Sahej Singh and Simran Kaur of Atlanta sung Shabads.
All the recordings of the event are located at SEWA Gurudwara Saheb website. Organization of this monumental event, Gurmat Sangeet Darbar would not have been successful without the unconditional commitment and participation of many sevadaars whose love and devotion to the house of Nanak is beyond any recognition or description in words.Guru Ang Sung Sahai