Browsing Tag: Gurmat Sangeet

During the twentieth century, kirtan became increasingly influenced by both internal and external pressures such as the growing popularity of popular music (film, bhangra etc). Sikh ragis were directly influenced by this and this led to a deterioration in upholding our musical traditions...

The Sage of Rakabganj is no more. he will be sorely missed. But he will live on. In the books he wrote. In the compositions he preserved for posterity. Most of all in the memories of the hundreds of young men, to whom he was Teacher, Father and Mother in their formative years.

For almost a fortnight, soulful music from traditional string instruments, which have almost gone into oblivion, wafted from centuries-old Qila Sarai till Monday.

The Department of Gurmat Sangeet, Punjabi University, Patiala, recently made its (1,800 hours) music archives available online. Presently Dean, Faculty of Art and Culture as well as the founder professor and head of the department, Dr. Gurnam Singh is one of the catalysts in the promotion of Gurbani music.

It promises to be a unique experience of carefully preserved cultural and spiritual musical art forms. The concert is open to the public.

There is a mistaken belief amongst Gurbani Keertan purists sometimes that Indian and Sikh classical raags have remained static over the centuries. Gurbani singers like Sikh “world music” genre pioneer, Dya Singh of Australia, are at the receiving end of criticism because they do not always stick to the beaten track of traditional Gurbani Keertan sung to prescribed raag bases.

The demand for professional ragis is increasing in India and abroad. This is helping hundreds of boys and girls from rural Punjab in making career in this field after procuring a professional degree. The Department of Gurmat Sangeet, Punjabi University, is helping them to strike the right chord in this direction.

Bibi Jasbir Kaur Khalsa, Chairperson of Sri Guru Gian Parkash Foundation, New Delhi, India, and a member of the Punjabi University Senate, passed away on Thursday, February 10, 2011, at her residence in Ludhiana, Punjab. The final moment came when she was offering ardaas after suffering a massive heart attack.

Sangat from metro Atlanta area and other adjoining cities, witnessed and experienced a soul refreshing and exhilarating event - the classical singing of the Shabads in Raags, using the instruments which existed or were invented in court of Guru Sahebaan's.

..being the son of highly celebrated Late Bhai Avtar Singh ji ..Bhai Kultar Singh has several advantages as a "Gurbani Kirtania". His ancestors were associated with the "Guru Darbars" some four hundred years ago. As such they had a unique exposure to the prevalent traditions of "Gurbani Kirtan"in the "Guru Darbars."

It is a proud moment for sikh panth and Gurmat Sangeet sangeet lovers. Prof Kartar Singh Ji 81, Director Gurmat Sangeet Academy has received Akademi Award for his contribution to the traditional form of Gurmat Sangeet i.e. with tanti saaz in raags.

Protopapas, 46, a middle-school teacher living in Codorus Township, excels at Gurmat Sangeet.