Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Bibi Jaswant Kaur

Recorded at her home in Delhi, July 2005


Bibi Jaswant Kaur in her home in Delhi in July 2005

Bibi Jaswant Kaur is the only known surviving student of Bhai Taba Ji, the legendary Rababi Kirtaniya, who with Bhai Chand, was one of the eminent Kirtaniyas at Sri Harmandir Sahib before 1947. Bhai Taba Ji will always be remebered for the tremendous service her rendered to the Sikh Panth by working with Gyani Gian Singh Ji Abbotabad and Gyani Dyal Singh Ji to document numerous ancient Gurmat Sangeet compositions.

As a young woman in Amritsar, Bibi Jaswant Kaur Ji studied Gurmat Sangeet with Bhai Taba Ji for sixteen years. She represents the Rababi Tradition, which has almost completely died after the partition of India and the migrations of most of the Rababis to Pakistan, where their art has withered and died.

Bibi Ji was kind enough o record a few compositions taught to her by Bhai Taba Ji. Bhai Kavinder Singh, a student of Gyani Dyal Singh Ji, provided tabla accompaniment.


Shabad Kirtan recordings:

Dekh phool phool phoolai
Raag: Basant

Dhan dhan oh ram ben baje
Raag: Maalee-gauraa

Ghar me thakur nadar na aaveh
Raag: Soohee

Har jan bolar sri ram nama
Raag: Shudh Malhaar; Taal: Partaal

Jal jasi dhola hath na lai kasumbde
Raag: Soohee

Maha maha mumarkhi
Raag: Basant (Marwa); Taal: Iktaal

Man re jap ram gopal
Raag: Darbari Kanarraa; Taal: Partaal


http://www.gurmatsangeetproject.com/Pages/JaswantKaur.asp
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5 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:48 am

    Bhaji dont you think we should use original Sikh instruments and use Raag more. When will be hear you singing raag kirtan bhaji?

    It should only be raag.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Manvir Singh (UK)6:50 pm

    Thanks for the comments.

    Anonymous Veerji/ Bhenji

    I have very little knowledge of Raag or Raag Kirtan. However, I am trying to teach myself about the different moods and emotions of each raag and try to play shabads in accordance to raag kirtan, using raag kirtan recordings from gurmatsangeetproject.com and other sources.

    We should all encourage, and inspire to do Raag Kirtan. However much one learns, its all good.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous4:02 am

    Sat Sri Akal Manweer Singh Jee!

    I extremely enjoyed with these classical shabad kirtan. She really did adorable job by recording her beautiful voice with shabads in raags. I wish I learn the way she sings. I do kirtan too but I am not good in that. I want to improve more and do my best at home. You also have done great job by recording her kirtan and put on the internet. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Baljit Toronto

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown11:02 pm

    Thanks from bottom of my heart to put on all these precious gurbani on Internet beautiful sung and in raags which lots of raagis does not sung these days

    ReplyDelete
  5. Unknown11:03 pm

    Thanks from bottom of my heart to put on all these precious gurbani on Internet beautiful sung and in raags which lots of raagis does not sing these days

    ReplyDelete