Bhai Baldeep Singh founder of Anad Foundation charitable trust and Sikh heritage conservatory, is a poet, master percussionist, and vocalist in the Kirtan Maryada tradition. His classic compositions and style date back generations through an unbroken lineage of minstrels to the era of Sikhism's 10 Gurus.
On Sunday January 25th Bhai Baldeep Singh of New Delhi, India, gave a poetry recital and kirtan concert from 3:30pm to 8:00pm at the Indian Cultural Center (ICC) in Milpitias, California USA. Tickets sold for $100, $50 and $35, with an audience of about 100 attending.
Bhai Baldeep Singh recited original compositions of poetry in both Pujabi and English languages until nearly 6 pm.
He performed his metered Punjabi prose in an ancient style of percussive poetry adhering to rules of grammar rarely used in modern times. However his English prose seemed completely modern in all aspects.
"Don’t start!
don’t even think to!
close in?
not even in an entire eternity.
For there isn’t a space
—a place where from to begin, nor
a place where to go.
There aren’t any steps my friend!" -- Excerpt Bhai Baldeep Singh
Bhai Baldeep Singh offered framed copies of his original Punjabi percussive poetic compositions featuring calligraphy in his own beautifully handwritten Gurmukhi script.
Bhai Sahib shared his poetry in a very personable manner speaking straight to each of his listeners.
The kirtan concert began about 6pm with Bhai Baldeep Singh accompanied by six students, several of whom have trained with him for decades.
Bhai Baldeep Singh opened according to ancient maryada in the traditional manner of commencing kirtan at the darbar of the Guru’s court with an introductory Mangalacharan composition offered at the feet of the Guru entreating auspices.
Accompanied by Pakhawaj percussion of a rhythmic 12 beat cycle, Bhai Baldeep Singh sung verses of Guru Granth Sahib scripture set to an improvisation of Raag Jaitsree melody.
Bhai Baldeep then performed the Dhrupad shabadM.9 Bhulio Man Maya Ourajhaiyo composed by Ninth Guru Teg Bahadar set in Raag Jaitsree melody accompanied by traditional string instruments , Dilruba, Tanpura Taus and by 12 beat Chartaal rhythmic cycle on Jori drum.
Percussionist Parminder Singh Bhamra accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh singing and vigorously performing in traditional style upon his Pakhawaj, a wooden drum with a percussion head at either end, that he held in his lap while striking the tempo.
Parminder Singh Bhamra is Assistant Professor in the Pakhawaj Jori Department of Percussion at the Anad Conservatory in Sultanpur Lodhi, India. He is a senior pupil of Bhai Baldeep Singh and heir to the Sultanpur Amritsar Baaj School which teaches the oldest surviving tradition of percussion in all of India.
Parminder Singh is grandson of Gyani Harbhajan Singh Mistri (1920 - 2005) student of illustrious Ustad Bhai Batan Singh of Mehli. Maker of traditional instruments, the late Gyani ji played a crucial role in revival of extinct classic instruments important to Sikh tradition such as ancient Dilruba, Dhrupadi Rabab, Saranda, and the Taus Peacock.
Parminder Singh has studied other percussion styles with masters Pandit Mohan Shyam Sharma, Pandit Panna Lal Upadhyaya, and Pandit Ravi Shankar Upadhyay.
Parminder Singh obtained his 2013 degree in Pakjawaj from the National School of Dance and Drama of New Delhi where he took first prize as best player. He has performed in India, Europe and United States.
Sat Kirtan Kaur Khalsa modestly accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh in concert as a vocalist only leaving the audience, mounting the stage and joining the performance, at his request.
Sat Kirtan Kaur of Monterey CA, has been performing and teaching Gurbani kirtan since the early 1970s. She is proficient with both harmonium and violin. A senior student and supporter of Bhai Baldeep Singh, she has studied with Bhai Sahib since 1997, and teaches basics of Kirtan Maryada in the raga tradition.
Dr. Francesca Cassio (Balhari Kaur) accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh as second solo vocalist in traditional Kirtan Maryada style. She played upon Tanpura, a tall drone instrument of embellished beauty with 4 strings. She balanced Bhai Sahib's endearing casual style with a countenance of professional composure while exuding a radiant blush in her demeanor of reserve.
Dr. Francesca Cassio (Balhari Kaur) holds the Sardarni Harbans Kaur Chair in Sikh Musicology and is an Associate Professor at Hofstra University, New York. Dr. Cassio is a vocalist and ethnomusicologist. She is a senior student of Bhai Baldeep Singh and has also studied with masters, Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar, Smt Girija Devi, and Professor Ritwik Sanyal.
Dr. Cassio provided student information and details relating to raag, taal, and shabads performed.
Bhai Baldeep Singh sang his second shabad M5Sajan Sant Ao Merai set in Raag Darbari Kanran, a Dhrupad in Chartaal rhythm with a 12 beat cycle. He performed a legacy composition made famous by the legendary Baba Jwala Singh, father of the late Bhai Avtar Singh renown Golden Temple Ragi and Bhai Gurcharan Singh, the uncles of Bhai Baldeep Singh.
Bhai Baldeep Singh is a 13th generation descendent in his family of Kirtan Maryada traditionalists.
Hand gestures by Bhai Sahib act as an aide to delivery of emotion and expression of raag, also served as a method of keeping tempo with taal.
Ravi Raj Singh accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh as with the Dilruba, a 4 string instrument with 18 resonating strings made popular among Sikhs in the 19th century by its ease of transportation. Ravi Raj Singh sat at the rear of the stage, but the melodious strains of his Dilruba strings reached forth to stir hearts, and ravish ears.
Ravi Raj Singh, a Health Sciences University of Western Ontario graduate, has been studying in the Gurbani Sangeet tradition with Bhai Baldeep Singh for several years. He is learning string instruments including Dilruba, and also is studying vocal music in the Khyal and Dhrupad traditions.
Nirvair Kaur Khalsa accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh singing and playing the Taus Peacock Instrument crafted by Bhai Baldeep Singh with 4 main strings and a score of resonating sympathetic strings. The modest unadorned Taus Peacock made its display in a sally of glorious raga notes and rhythmic taal tempos given countenance by Nirvair Kaur's timely touch upon its strings.
Founder and director of the Khalsa Montessori School in Tuscon Arizona, Nirvair Kaur has been involved with Gurbani kirtan for over 30 years. She is a senior student and has studied Kirtan Maryada with Bhai Baldeep Singh since 1997.
Nihal Singh accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh with Dilruba. Nihal Singh is also enthusiastic Jori percussionist and studies raag and taal in the tradition of Kirtan Maryada with Bhai Sahib. He brought exuberance to the performance with his penchant for punctuating Bhai Sahib's vocals and expressive movements.
Nihal Singh hails from Maryland and is a student at University of California, Berkeley.
Bhai Baldeep Singh and students performed the Bhagat KabirSalok, Gagan Damama Bhajeo as the third and final shabad, an original composition set to Raag Ramkali, in 16 beat rhythmic cycle Teen Taal.
The kirtan concert came to a close at about 8pm. In the Sikh tradition of langar, performers and the attending sangat enjoyed a vegetarian meal of Indian cuisine.
Heritage conservator Bhai Baldeep Singh is a candidate for the common people's party of Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Don't Miss:
Avoiding 5 Kinds of Corruption in Sikh Politics of Punjab
Bhai Baldeep Singh on Maintaining Integrity of the (AAP)
Disclosure: Complimentary concert tickets provided. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
(Sikhism.About.com. is part of the About Group. For reprint requests be sure to mention if you are a non-profit organization or school.)
On Sunday January 25th Bhai Baldeep Singh of New Delhi, India, gave a poetry recital and kirtan concert from 3:30pm to 8:00pm at the Indian Cultural Center (ICC) in Milpitias, California USA. Tickets sold for $100, $50 and $35, with an audience of about 100 attending.
Bhai Baldeep Singh Poetry Recital
Bhai Baldeep Singh recited original compositions of poetry in both Pujabi and English languages until nearly 6 pm.
He performed his metered Punjabi prose in an ancient style of percussive poetry adhering to rules of grammar rarely used in modern times. However his English prose seemed completely modern in all aspects.
"Don’t start!
don’t even think to!
close in?
not even in an entire eternity.
For there isn’t a space
—a place where from to begin, nor
a place where to go.
There aren’t any steps my friend!" -- Excerpt Bhai Baldeep Singh
Bhai Baldeep Singh Calligraphy
Bhai Baldeep Singh offered framed copies of his original Punjabi percussive poetic compositions featuring calligraphy in his own beautifully handwritten Gurmukhi script.
Bhai Sahib shared his poetry in a very personable manner speaking straight to each of his listeners.
Bhai Baldeep Singh and Company in Concert
The kirtan concert began about 6pm with Bhai Baldeep Singh accompanied by six students, several of whom have trained with him for decades.
Bhai Baldeep Singh opened according to ancient maryada in the traditional manner of commencing kirtan at the darbar of the Guru’s court with an introductory Mangalacharan composition offered at the feet of the Guru entreating auspices.
Accompanied by Pakhawaj percussion of a rhythmic 12 beat cycle, Bhai Baldeep Singh sung verses of Guru Granth Sahib scripture set to an improvisation of Raag Jaitsree melody.
Bhai Baldeep then performed the Dhrupad shabadM.9 Bhulio Man Maya Ourajhaiyo composed by Ninth Guru Teg Bahadar set in Raag Jaitsree melody accompanied by traditional string instruments , Dilruba, Tanpura Taus and by 12 beat Chartaal rhythmic cycle on Jori drum.
Parminder Singh Bhamra Percussionist
Percussionist Parminder Singh Bhamra accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh singing and vigorously performing in traditional style upon his Pakhawaj, a wooden drum with a percussion head at either end, that he held in his lap while striking the tempo.
Parminder Singh Bhamra is Assistant Professor in the Pakhawaj Jori Department of Percussion at the Anad Conservatory in Sultanpur Lodhi, India. He is a senior pupil of Bhai Baldeep Singh and heir to the Sultanpur Amritsar Baaj School which teaches the oldest surviving tradition of percussion in all of India.
Parminder Singh is grandson of Gyani Harbhajan Singh Mistri (1920 - 2005) student of illustrious Ustad Bhai Batan Singh of Mehli. Maker of traditional instruments, the late Gyani ji played a crucial role in revival of extinct classic instruments important to Sikh tradition such as ancient Dilruba, Dhrupadi Rabab, Saranda, and the Taus Peacock.
Parminder Singh has studied other percussion styles with masters Pandit Mohan Shyam Sharma, Pandit Panna Lal Upadhyaya, and Pandit Ravi Shankar Upadhyay.
Parminder Singh obtained his 2013 degree in Pakjawaj from the National School of Dance and Drama of New Delhi where he took first prize as best player. He has performed in India, Europe and United States.
Sat Kirtan Kaur Khalsa Vocalist
Sat Kirtan Kaur Khalsa modestly accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh in concert as a vocalist only leaving the audience, mounting the stage and joining the performance, at his request.
Sat Kirtan Kaur of Monterey CA, has been performing and teaching Gurbani kirtan since the early 1970s. She is proficient with both harmonium and violin. A senior student and supporter of Bhai Baldeep Singh, she has studied with Bhai Sahib since 1997, and teaches basics of Kirtan Maryada in the raga tradition.
Dr. Francesca Cassio Vocalist and Tanpura
Dr. Francesca Cassio (Balhari Kaur) accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh as second solo vocalist in traditional Kirtan Maryada style. She played upon Tanpura, a tall drone instrument of embellished beauty with 4 strings. She balanced Bhai Sahib's endearing casual style with a countenance of professional composure while exuding a radiant blush in her demeanor of reserve.
Dr. Francesca Cassio (Balhari Kaur) holds the Sardarni Harbans Kaur Chair in Sikh Musicology and is an Associate Professor at Hofstra University, New York. Dr. Cassio is a vocalist and ethnomusicologist. She is a senior student of Bhai Baldeep Singh and has also studied with masters, Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Dagar, Smt Girija Devi, and Professor Ritwik Sanyal.
Dr. Cassio provided student information and details relating to raag, taal, and shabads performed.
Bhai Baldeep Singh Expression and Delivery
Bhai Baldeep Singh sang his second shabad M5Sajan Sant Ao Merai set in Raag Darbari Kanran, a Dhrupad in Chartaal rhythm with a 12 beat cycle. He performed a legacy composition made famous by the legendary Baba Jwala Singh, father of the late Bhai Avtar Singh renown Golden Temple Ragi and Bhai Gurcharan Singh, the uncles of Bhai Baldeep Singh.
Bhai Baldeep Singh is a 13th generation descendent in his family of Kirtan Maryada traditionalists.
Hand gestures by Bhai Sahib act as an aide to delivery of emotion and expression of raag, also served as a method of keeping tempo with taal.
Ravi Raj Singh Dilruba
Ravi Raj Singh accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh as with the Dilruba, a 4 string instrument with 18 resonating strings made popular among Sikhs in the 19th century by its ease of transportation. Ravi Raj Singh sat at the rear of the stage, but the melodious strains of his Dilruba strings reached forth to stir hearts, and ravish ears.
Ravi Raj Singh, a Health Sciences University of Western Ontario graduate, has been studying in the Gurbani Sangeet tradition with Bhai Baldeep Singh for several years. He is learning string instruments including Dilruba, and also is studying vocal music in the Khyal and Dhrupad traditions.
Nirvair Kaur Khalsa Taus
Nirvair Kaur Khalsa accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh singing and playing the Taus Peacock Instrument crafted by Bhai Baldeep Singh with 4 main strings and a score of resonating sympathetic strings. The modest unadorned Taus Peacock made its display in a sally of glorious raga notes and rhythmic taal tempos given countenance by Nirvair Kaur's timely touch upon its strings.
Founder and director of the Khalsa Montessori School in Tuscon Arizona, Nirvair Kaur has been involved with Gurbani kirtan for over 30 years. She is a senior student and has studied Kirtan Maryada with Bhai Baldeep Singh since 1997.
Nihal Singh Dilruba
Nihal Singh accompanied Bhai Baldeep Singh with Dilruba. Nihal Singh is also enthusiastic Jori percussionist and studies raag and taal in the tradition of Kirtan Maryada with Bhai Sahib. He brought exuberance to the performance with his penchant for punctuating Bhai Sahib's vocals and expressive movements.
Nihal Singh hails from Maryland and is a student at University of California, Berkeley.
Bhai Baldeep Singh Original Composition
Bhai Baldeep Singh and students performed the Bhagat KabirSalok, Gagan Damama Bhajeo as the third and final shabad, an original composition set to Raag Ramkali, in 16 beat rhythmic cycle Teen Taal.
The kirtan concert came to a close at about 8pm. In the Sikh tradition of langar, performers and the attending sangat enjoyed a vegetarian meal of Indian cuisine.
Heritage conservator Bhai Baldeep Singh is a candidate for the common people's party of Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Don't Miss:
Avoiding 5 Kinds of Corruption in Sikh Politics of Punjab
Bhai Baldeep Singh on Maintaining Integrity of the (AAP)
Disclosure: Complimentary concert tickets provided. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.
(Sikhism.About.com. is part of the About Group. For reprint requests be sure to mention if you are a non-profit organization or school.)
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