His Master's Words

About the bookBooks written in Persian, Urdu, English and Punjabi are replete with history of music including references to some important Sikh musicians and musicologists. However, references to any bards or ragis who sing/sang the Sikh hymns exclusively according to the musical measure or ‘raga’ in which they were written by the gurus, are conspicuous by their total absence. And the situation is compounded by the fact that music rendered in non-classical tunes has been, of late, dominating the scenario. This book is a modest attempt to put to print some inputs that I gleaned about a few stalwarts who meticulously stuck to the respective musical measures in all their renderings. I hope it will be received in the spirit in which it has been writtenAbout the AuthorAdmittedly, I am not any trained vocalist or instrumentalist. However, listening repeatedly to some great stalwarts and iconic musicians or performers of holy ‘keertan’ bestowed on me a discerning ear. Repeated exposure, since childhood, to some former performers at the Golden Temple Amritsar and Gurdwara Janam Asthan Sri Nanakana Sahib ( Pakistan ) sharpened this ability to tell non-classical from classical scriptural music because the latter is now a rarity among present day musicians. Incidentally, I have with me some gleanings about those pure vocalists of yore who always stuck to the melody and rhythm as was available in the musical measure on which a hymn had been originally composed by our gurus. This skill or choice has almost faded into oblivion, but I am sure there still are many of this ilk around about whom I am unaware. My sincerest apologies to those hidden gems.