birminghamsingh

‘Amrit Vela’ is the first official music release by The Gurmat Sangeet Academy (GSA) - a ‘not-for-profit’ Sikh Music school. The primary artists Bhai Harjinder Singh Lallie and Bhai Narinderjit Singh Lallie are very well known in the UK and abroad for their very traditional and orthodox kirtan which is performed using authentic stringed and percussion instruments such as the taoos and the Jori. 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 leading to a near extinction of particular Sikh instruments, reets (musical renditions and tunes) and even the rendition of some of our ragas. The GSA set out to reinvigorate these styles and in particular to raise awareness of the traditional style of kirtan. The release of 'Amrit Vela’ comes amidst a revival of traditional Sikh musical instruments and an avid interest in Sikh musicology around the UK and the rest of the world. The album features a number of traditional compositions performed with a number of Sikh instruments including the Sarangi, Taoos, Dilraba, Tarsehnai and the Rabab. All the recordings are accompanied by the Jori (Sikh percussion) and a tabla. This album contains sabads that are in Ragas generally recited in the early hours of the morning during sunrise. During these hours one has the opportunity for deep contemplation and self-reflection, it is an opportune time for spiritual practice and growth. The Sikh scriptures give Gurbani Kirtan the highest status with regards to spiritual practice and we hope the listener can appreciate the subtleness, penetrating and empowering sequencing of notes within the Ragas and sabads chosen for this album. Amrit Vela can be purchased directly from the Gurmat Sangeet Academy from here: http://www.gurmatsangeet.org/purchaseamritvela/. Alternatively, you can purchase from iTunes/Amazon by clicking here: http://www.gurmatsangeet.org/purchase-ambrosial-hours/. In addition, the album is also available from DTF stores (Birmingham UK). The Gurmat Sangeet Academy provides professional and high class Indian music tuition open to all regardless of background, colour, race, religion and perhaps most importantly musical ability! Their aim is to promote kirtan (Sikh music), especially Tanti Saaj (stringed instruments) based kirtan which is done in accordance with Gurmat (the way of the Guru) Contributions made by the musicians on the album are done solely on a Seva (selfless service) basis and all proceeds are going back into Gurmat Sangeet Academy projects. These projects are purely non-profit in which no money is made by any of the project contributors. All proceeds go back into Seva and to maintain the future longevity of the series. We urge you to offer your support by purchasing only legitimate and legal copies of the album. Press and media can claim a free copy of “Amrit Vela” from the Gurmat Sangeet Academy team by emailing harj@lallie.co.uk citing 'general enquiries' in the subject header.

VJKKVJKF, the quote came from me. I didn't comment on the issue of the couple getting married because I genuinely felt there was a much bigger problem at hand in the Sikh community. On the one hand we are suggesting through our intervention in this case (the Swindon couple case), that we take the ceremony 'very seriously' but on the other hand are doing nothing to try to address a problem that every single one of us knows exists - that of the behaviour of the sangat and the family (and occasionally the couple) during the ceremony itself. I have no problem in the edict that only *Sikhs* should get married in accordance with the stipulated ceremony, i.e. those adhering to the rehat etc. This is a controversial view, but it is the 'official' view of the Sikh Kaum and we shouldn't undermine it. The same view is held in other dharams as well (I am not saying they are right or wrong to hold them - sorry to continue sounding very non commital). At the same time, we should not turn away people who want that level of spirituality at this - the happiest moment of their life. in other words, should we turn them away? So a proposal that caters for them as well should be actively considered by the Sikh Kaum. Perhaps there is the equivalent of a Sikh civil ceremony like veer ji/bhen ji above proposed.

Just want to correct this posting. I teach at Hockley On Sunday Mornings and at Soho Road Gurdwara (NCA) On Monday evenings , next term is due to start in September (please email harj@lallie.co.uk for dates/times). Jujhar Singh teaches at Nanaksar Wolves on Tuesday evening.

This is in fact his second, he hit one in West Indies a couple of months ago as well.

VJKKVJKF I dont think there is anything deliberately malicious in the way these programmes have been organised, I have known about both of them for a while back and as far as I can gather there was nothing inadvertent going on in the way that they were organised. It is very encouraging to see the two kirtan darbars and I hope that the countdown to the actual divas goes with increased shanti and love. H

I have loads of DVDs of Baba Ji and in excess of 300 audio recordings. I also have some rare film footage of Baba ishar Singh (Kaleran Wale) which i hope to upload at some point and some of Sant Sujan Singh which i will upload when i get time to www.santsujansingh.org