“RABAB UTSAV” 
(The Rabab Teaching Workshop)  
          
          
Rishi Ranjan teaching the Rabab in workshop Patiala University

             
Performing Rabab concert on Inaugural Day of Rabab Workshop (Rabab Utsav) 
Tabla accompanined  by Raghbir Singh 

                
Rishi Ranjan honoured by Sr. Swaran                     2nd to right Dr. Gurnam Singh 
Singh Boparai Vice Chancellor, Punjabi                 Head Gurmat Sangeet Deptt.
University, Patiala                                                    & Rishi Ranjan with students
 

Gurbani Kirtan: Dr. Gurnam Singh’s Contribution
By "Amrit Kirtan Trust"*

* 422 Sector: 15-A Chandigarh 160 015

Sikhism has a venerable tradition of Shabad-Kirtan (Chanting of Hymns in congregational gatherings. Down the centuries an uninterrupted flow of Kirtan has been going on the abodes of the Guru, i.e. Gurdwaras. The origin of Shabad kirtan is traceable to the divine notes flowing from the Rabab of Bhai Mardana. The personification of the holy Guru Granth Sahib as the Master is ample evidence of the fact that all the Sikh Masters recited their divine poetry (i.e. Bani, in common parlance) in Ragas and the entire Bani of Guru Granth Sahib has been prescribed mainly under 31 Ragas. There is a fairly good expansion of Ragas singing styles and musical instruments prevailing in the Guru’s abode, which has highlighted the music tradition of Sikhism in its original form.

Viewed in the chronological order of evolution, in centuries - old tradition of Gurmat music, many forms of Ragas and stringed- instruments have gone into oblivion. Notwithstanding the above, some divinely blessed kirtanists and musicians are constantly on job to get their cultural heritage acknowledged and revered. Such an uphill task has been accomplished by Dr. Gurnam Singh, Head, Deptt. of Music, Punjabi University, Patiala. Thirtyone main Ragas and an equal number of Raga-forms have been a challenge for the kirtanists and musicians from the viewpoint of singing. Although some kirtanists, like Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Balbir Singh, did make an attempt at singing in 31 ragas and raga-forms in some music concerts, yet no standard and acknowledged singing, based on the Ragas, Raga forms, (Rahaao, Ank, etc. and the stringed-instrument, Gur Shabad Kirtan tradition as given in Guru Granth Sahib) could be possible. Nor anyone in world music scenario ever tried to tune up the standardized form of these Ragas and Raga forms from the perspective of Gurmat music from an instructional angle.

For achieving the above mission Dr. Gurnam Singh prepared musical compositions in 62 ragas, i.e. 31 main ragas and 31 raga-forms. He got them recorded at his own expense after an untiring hard work for several years. It was a great challenge in itself to provide this recording to the commercial companies engaged in recording popular-style kirtan. H.M.V. company taking cognizance of the original flavour of music in Dr. Gurnam Singh’s composition, embarked upon the project to popularize it in the domain of world music in the larger interests of the coming generations. Now this accomplishment has come out in the form of 10 Audio-cassettes and 6 CD’s.

These compositions entitled Gur Shabad Kirtan, contain melodious, clear and shabad-dominated kirtan as enjoined by the Bani. Gurbani forms, like Ashtpadis, Chaupadas, Padtals and Alauhnis, have been sung on the regaling notes of stringed instruments. Rendering Rahaao line as sthai and altering Rahaao for singing in Gurmat style, is a unique feature of this project. Through years-long perseverance, a Sikh musician keeping himself immune from the ego of a big artist, has made a successful attempt at singing shabad kirtan, in shabad oriented form, with a sense of equipoise, dedication and devoutness.

At an international level, musical-compositions have been prepared to illustrate the singing style of different Sikh kirtanists so that Gurmat music has its distinct identity in the field of work music. For the trainees of Gurmat music the world over, this work is exceedingly beneficial as it does not part with the ease and equipoise. Alongwith the set of cassettes, a 76 page booklet has also been prepared. It is tri-lingual, which makes one familiar with the Raga-forms in Punjabi, Hindi and English.

Gurmat music researchers will especially find the availability of rare and difficult ragas of Guru Granth Sahib at one place, as very useful. This task is a great challenge for the kirtanists. The kirtanists who avoid the use of Ragas, on the pretext of their being difficult, or public aversion towards them, will find this presentation as a good example of rendering difficult Ragas in an easy and melodious form. Some musicologists were of the fallacious view that all the ragas of Guru Granth Sahib cannot be sung. But the Guru by his magic wand of Blessings, made this humble disciple of his, sing the difficult Ragas in a spontaneous manner.

An inheritor of Gurmat Music tradition from his ancestors, Dr. Gurnam Singh has, besides his Ph.D. in music, written 14 books, edited 25 more, worked as playback singer in documentary films and prepared many musical compositions for Radio and Television. He is greatly attached to the Sikh heritage of Gurmat Tradition. He has played a key role in introducing the subject of Gurmat Sangeet in Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and Punjabi University, Patiala as head of the Department. The introduction of Diploma in Gurmat Sangeet by the Punjabi University for the kirtan-learners, also goes to his credit.

This achievement in the form of Kirtan recordings will occupy a place of prominence in Sikh history and world music.