Past Activities

 Research | Education | Documentation

Research on the musicology embedded in

Guru Granth Sahib

1. "The meaning of ghar in shabad headings of Guru Granth Sahib,"
by Dr. Inderjit Kaur,
UC Riverside International Seminar on Sikhism in Global Context
Saturday, December 6, 2008, 1-2:30 pm, San Diego Room, Mission Inn Riverside, California

2. "Research Issues in Sikh Music," by Dr. Inderjit Kaur,
UCSC Graduate Colloquium on Current Issues in Music
Tuesday May 8, 2007, 4-5:45 pm, Room 128, UCSC Music Center, Santa Cruz, California

3. "Partaal and Guru Arjan Dev ji's contribution to Gurbani Keertan,"
by Dr. Inderjit Kaur,
at International Conference on Guru Arjan Dev ji,
San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, Saturday, July 29, 2006.


(Click on the image for a bigger picture)

Back to top

Educational programs on heritage keertan,

especially for the youth

1. Farid Bani Shabad Keertan
(Sikh Classical Devotional Music Performance)
by Dr. Inderjit N. Kaur
Research Associate, Music Department, UC Santa Cruz
Founding Director, Sikh Music Heritage Institute, Santa Cruz, California
Sponsored by the Center for South Asia Studies, UC Berkeley
Saturday, April 19, 2008

The performance followed after the
2008 Amrit Kaur Ahluwalia Memorial Lecture on Sikhism
"Sikh & Muslim Understandings of Baba Farid"
by Professor Christopher Shackle
School of Oriental and African Studies and Centre of South Asian Studies, University of London

 

2. Collaboration with the Sri Hemkunt Foundation

 Keertan Competition

19th International Hemkunt Symposium
Orlando, Florida, United States, August 2-5, 2007

This program was founded, designed and implemented by
Dr. Inderjit N. Kaur, President of SMHI

3. Lecture and presentation on Sikh Music to Professor Gurinder Singh Mann's Sikhism class,

University of California, Santa Barbara,
by Dr. Inderjit N. Kaur,
Monday, March 5th, 2007

4. "Chauki, Aasa ki" - commentary on Sikh Musicology,
by Dr. Inderjit N. Kaur,
followed by keertan according to Sikh maryada,
by SMHI youth jattha.
Fremont gurdwara, Fremont, CA
Saturday, August 5th, 2006

5. Puraatan Ramkali Keertan and presentation by SMHI women's jattha
at International Conference on Guru Arjan Dev ji,
San Jose State University, San Jose, CA, Friday, July 28, 2006.

6. Keynote speech at 2nd annual Gurbani Keertan Sammelan, Guru Nanak Foundation of America, Silver Spring, MD, Sunday, May 28, 2006.
SMHI Director Dr. Inderjit Kaur also served as a judge for the GNFA youth keertan competition

7. "Sikh Musical Instruments from the 16th and 17th Century,"
by Bhai Baldeep Singh, January 8, 2006


(Click on the image for a bigger picture)

8.  "Puraatan Reetan" (16th and 17th century shabad compositions),
by Bhai Sahib Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi, July 30, 2005


To purchase a DVD of this program click here.


(Click on the image for a bigger picture)

Back to top

Documentation of heritage keertan,

especially by accomplished musicians

1. DOCUMENTARY FOOTAGE OF 11TH GENERATION SIKH MUSICIAN
   · Two-hour interview of Bhai Gurcharan Singh Ragi
   · Conducted by Dr. Inderjit N. Kaur, Fremont, May 2009
    · Covers his life and his views on Gurmat sangeet
    · Raw footage to be used for future documentary project

2. DVD, PURAATAN REETAAN IN EVENING RAAGS  
   · Keertan program of compositions from the Sikh Guru period
   · Live, at the Sikh Gurdwara San Jose, July 30, 2005
By Bhai Sahib Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi and Jattha
    · 11th generation ragi sahib
    · Recognized by Punjabi University, Patiala, as master of old compositions

Heritage Documentation Features
   · Medieval melody - Moosay ki vaar ki dhooni
   · Traditional way of starting Sikh music session - shaan, manglacharan
   · Traditional Sikh instruments - taus and jori
   · Raags distinct to the Sikh tradition - Maajh, Aasa
   · Raags preserved in the Sikh tradition - Kaanra (pre-darbari), Vadhans
   · Taals not prevalent any more in other vocal traditions - punjtaal

Presentation and release of Puraatan Reetaan DVD
at the Gurdwara Sahib San Jose, CA, USA, March 5, 2006



(Click on the image for a bigger picture)

Back to top