Dilruba’s and Contact Mics

Dear All

Gur Fateh!

I am doing some research on contact mics and dilruba/esraj. 

The project it is still underway. I will share the details when its done so watch out for this space.

More later!

Fateh

Marriage

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa
Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Chill!! Relax!! Calm Down!! I am not getting married any time soon.

Yep! Its been forever since I blogged.

The past few months have gone by at break neck speed. Though in the midst of this crazyness, I managed to get back to my books once again. After a gap of almost 2 year I have started reading again.

Today I would like to share with you an extract from the book, The Prophet – By Khalil Gibran.

Marriage

Then Almitra spoke again and said, “And what of Marriage, master?”

And he answered saying:

You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when white wings of death scatter your days.
Aye, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.

But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.

Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.

Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.

Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.

Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.

And stand together, yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.

The Prophet – By Khalil Gibran

Do feel free to post your comments and views – esp those who are married
Guru Mehr Kare

Angad Singh

Kalyaan Bandish!

=)

Gurmat Sangeet Ki Hai?

Gurmat Sangeet – it is the  singing the hyms of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib and other sikh scriptures as per the order of the Guru.

Before a shabad ( hym) starts its title states the raag and we ought to sing that hym only in that raag. Though today there are very few who follow this tradition and sing their own tunes, often popular movie tunes. There are 60 raags in the guru granth sahib ji. 31 main and 30 mixed raags. Raags like Sri, Malhaar, Kalyaan, Basant are taken from Indian Classical Music. In addition, there are number of raags that have been created by guru sahibs themselves. examples of this are Majh, Asa, Gond Jaijaiwanti and many other mixed raags likeAsa Aasawari etc. Jaijaiwanti is now often sung in the indian classical setting as well.

The style of singing varies from Dhrupad and Khyal which are very classical in nature and require intensive training to the simpler folk styles of singing known as Ghoriya ( sung at the time of weddings) , Alhaniya ( sung at times of death)etc..there are also 22 ballads in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and all of them have to be sung in a particular tune or “dhun – nee”. In addition, there are some shabads to be sung according to carnatic style and they are indicated as DHAKNI…unfortunately a lot of this style of singing is now lost cause over the past 80 yrs or so kirtaneeas began to sing wht they wanted rather than singing what the guru wanted them to. This happened around the time when the Harmonium was introduced into the Sikh Music circles.

The main difference between Indian Classical Music and Gurmat Sangeet is that Indian Classical Music is centered on the singer and his/her ability thus you will hear a lot of Alaaps and Taans ( vocal acrobatics) while Gurmat Sangeet is centered on the  Shabad ( hym) and any alaaps and taans that are there are few in number and are added just to lay stress on certian words of the hym or to beautify the composition.

Moving on to instruments…In order to suit the style of singing some instruments were used that were already there while others were created. The Rabab was already there. The Saranda was invented by the 5th Guru sahib and the Taus by either 6th or 10th Guru sahib…we are unsure about who invented the instrument. The sarangi was already there and was apparently brought in to sing the ballads mentioned in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji. However, according to some scholars the sarangi is not allowed inside the inner santium of the harimander sahib as it has the ability to over power the singer. The Jori, sikh style pakawaj was also invented during these times.  Finally about 250 to 300 yrs ago the dilruba was invented.

Today, thanks to organizations like Raj Academy and individuals all over the world the instruments of the guru’s are being strung once again and the raags of the guru are being sung once again!

For audio lectures go to the raj academy site and listen to the lectures..there are 4 lectures if i am not wrong. In addition, there are numerous articles talking in depth about the various aspects of Gurmat Sangeet. Finally, you can go to my blog www.singhangad.wordpress.com on the left hand you will find some more articles on gurmat sangeet as well as links to some recordings.

Hope this helps!

Angad Singh

Asa….Hope..

Raag Maahj On 31st at Wadda Gurudawara Sahib

Instruments: Tabla, 1 swarmandal, 2 rababs and 1 esraj

2008…

Wishing everyone and their loved ones a wonderful year ahead…

I’d like to leave you with a quote:

“Pray as if everything depended upon God and work as if everything depended upon man.” -Francis Cardinal Spellman US cardinal 1946 (1889 – 1967

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa  Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Angad

Bliss

I love the way Ustad ji plays..he is totally enjoying himself

Sunset by the Esplanade

, originally uploaded by Angad Singh.

 

Hehe…

Attempting Happy Birthday to you

Each time I listen…my hair stand..

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Fateh!

Each time I listen to this recording my hair stand. In particular I am drawn to the prolonged manglacharan – A man of the stature of Bhai Avtar Singh ji..invoking blessings from the almighty… asking him to keep him stead fast..dolan tey rakho prabhu..

I shall say no more…click here to download …this is a recording from the world religions conference held at Barcelona in 2004.

Have a great week ahead.Waheguru ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

Angad

Ps – if you listen carefully you will notice there are 2 joris playing. Both Bhai Swaran Singh ji and Bhai Baldeep Singh ji are accompanying Bhai Avtar Singh ji and Bhai Kultar Singh ji.

Raag Asa Taal TeenTaal

This is the tune or bandish i learnt for the shabad Gur Mere Sang Sada Hai Naaley

My Connection to Akaal Purakh

DSC00334, originally uploaded by gobind khalsa.

 

Raag Yaman in Roopak

I’ve uploaded this video of myself playing raag yaman in roopak taal. Sorry about the video quality I used my mobile phone and this recording was done at night hence the darkness.

I am playing my esraj that was made by Manoj Kumar Sardar, the sound has not be altered in any way. The phone mic does not do completed justice to sound of the saaz.

Guru Rakaha

Angad

Sunset in singapore

Sunset in singapore, originally uploaded by Angad Singh.

 

Ramiya Hou Barik Tera

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

I was going through the kirtan that I have and I chanced upon this shabad Ramiya Hon Barik Tera.

For almost two hours now I ve been playing it over and over again. The innocence in the voice of the Sonia Kaur who is singing appeals to me.

Please click here to download the shabad.

Rab Rakaha

Angad

Tanti Saaz shopping

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

After my last post, I decided I had enough of trying to make adjustments in my saaz cause nothing seemed to be reducing the rattling sound from the top of the instrument. This rattling sound was so annoying, I could hardly concentrate and do reaaz properly.

I decided it was time to buy a new saaz. The question was from where? I did not know any one who could help me get one from gurdial singh, nor could I wait indefinitely. The other choice was Raj Musicals. I had a word with Manav Singh ji, my friend from Bangkok. He told me  that if you want a top notch saaz from Raj you should go through some famous people. If an average person wants a saaz he will quickly make one for you and in the process over look some details. These minor defects can be fixed but only by an expert. And  you dont have a teacher near you, it can be a serious headache.

That did not make things any better for me. It was then I came across Manoj Kumar Sardar and Brothers who are based in Calcutta. They are supposedly the best makers of esraj and tarsheanis.

I took the chance and I called them up. Spoke to Mr. Manoj Kumar himself, he was very warm and spent time explaining to me the different varities of instruments they have ( in terms of kind of wood and price). On his recommendation I ordered a one piece tun wood esraj with wooden pegs for my main strings.

A month later when I received the instrument, it is just out of the world! The workman ship is just amazing! You can check out the pictures of the instrument here, here and here. I shall upload a sound sample one of these days!

Manav and I did a short practice over skype and he was totally bought over by the sound of he instrument. He has written an entry about it. Click here to read.

Now some of you may think Esraj is not our saaz in terms of Sikh Tradition, I agree it is not. Ideally I too wanted a dilruba. However, the lack of good quality dilrubas made me explore the option of the esraj. The main thing for me is the sound, the esraj sounds almost alike if not better. So till I can find a good dilruba or taus, I will stick to this saaz!

Finally to all of us out there who don’t have teachers near by, Harsangeet.com is going to launch soon. We are in the process of getting the content ready.( Do not sign up yet we are still under construction.)

You can call 91-33-2237 5835 and ask for Mr Manoj Kumar and do remember to tell him Angad from Singapore has recommended him. So as to ensure a good deal!

Thats all from me in Singapore

Guru Ang Sang Hove

Angad

One of a kind

 One of a kind, originally uploaded by Angad Singh.

 

These shoes are made specially Fauja Singh ji by Adidas. I got this picture from Kuljeet Singh’s face book who had the honor to run with Bhai Sahib ji.

 

Mun Jaapo Ram Gopaal

In this video bhai sahib ji sings a partaal from raag kannra- Mun Jaap Ram Gopaal.

I would like you to take note of how bhai sahib ji first recites the shabad before singing it. He does before reciting any old composition. I wonder if this was how it was done in the past.

The thing I want to point out is that the taals used in this reet are chaar taal and ek taal. Listen closely you will able to understand the difference in the two taals in terms of tempo and flow. Also watch bhai swaran singh ji play the pakahwaj char taal bols!

Guru Rakaha

Angad

ps the shabad ends at 8min 40 secs you can stop the video there!