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A kirtan question!

ElizabethGould

ElizabethGould

Iik Onkaar
This will sound a stupid question, but given I'm a pianist, I'm curious.

I'm just wondering, can Western instruments be used in the performance of kirtans? Is the majority use of the harmonium/tablas/other Indian musical instruments a matter of tradition and culture or is there some sort of prohibition against the use of Western musical instruments?
 
Treks

Treks

Well-Known Member
Sat Sri Akaal Ji

I don't see any reason why other instruments can't be used... unless there is something to do with raag that the classical instruments are more tuned to.

There's stacks of Western kirtan at SIkhnet's Gurbani Media Centre: Gurbani Media Center | SikhNet

Hopefully that link works properly...
 
Treks

Treks

Well-Known Member
At least it's not down as far as 'AAAAHHH!!! My ears are bleeding!!!'

Gursikh bhaji, can you play harmonium? I'm curious how easily piano skills transfer to harmonuim. The keys are in the same order, right?
 
ElizabethGould

ElizabethGould

Iik Onkaar
Treks said:
At least it's not down as far as 'AAAAHHH!!! My ears are bleeding!!!'

Gursikh bhaji, can you play harmonium? I'm curious how easily piano skills transfer to harmonuim. The keys are in the same order, right?
Click to expand...

Good point!

Now I want a harmonium....not that I'd ever get my head around raags. They confuse me.
 
GURSIKH

GURSIKH

chardi kla
ElizabethGould said:
Good point!

Now I want a harmonium....not that I'd ever get my head around raags. They confuse me.
Click to expand...

i love Raaga Kirtan especially with "tanti saajs" (string based instrument ) , my cousin bro plays Saranda ( a string based instrument invented by Guru Arjan dev ji ) .


Kirtan by Snatam Kaur is also balle balle ;)
 
chinu

chinu

chinu
Regardless of the word "kirtan" is said to be used for "Hymns" (A song of praise to God or to a saint) in Sikhism, Hinduism, or perhaps may be among some more Indian religions too. But according to Sikhism, stuff other than "Gurbani" is not said to be a true kirtan.

What is said to be the difference between "Gurbani" and "Any other stuff" ? The word "Gurbani" is used only for the hymns lyricist by Guru's in respected shri Guru granth sahib, where as any other song of praise is lyricist by normal person other than ten Sikh guru's.

IMO, what is true kirtan according to guru granth sahib ?

"Dukh rog santap utre suni sachi bani" -GGS

Which means: "All worries, sicknesses, and pains gets vanish for ever after HEARING a Genuine-Bani "

IMO, what is the hearing of Genuine-Bani ?
Its the hearing of internal-Gurbani (Kirtan), rather that the hearing of external gurbani (Kirtan).

IMO, What is the difference between Internal-Kirtan and external Kirtan ?
-Internal-kirtan is divine sound which is present inside everybody, one can only hear this sound after long meditation practise, whereas external-kirtan are just the outer songs of praise.
-Internal-kirtan vanishes all worries, sicknesses and pains for ever, and take one away from the cycle of deaths and births, whereas external-kirtan doesn't have the ability to do so.
-Internal-kirtan need not any outer musical instruments, its the continual divine sound which is directly coming from the home of God which is preasent inside every human being, neither this sound gets stops ever and nor a listener get tired of listening whether it is listened for the whole life time. Whereas external-kirtan is played with the help musical instruments which gets ends when the singer and listener feel tired after some time. :)
 
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