Value 3

ਭਾਈ ਲਾਲ ਜੀ

Bhai Lal Ji

On July 09, 1999, Bhai Avtar Singh Ragi, my younger granduncle, was requested to sing at the funeral (Bhog) ceremony of the legendary Sikh scholar, Giani Jagir Singh. This is the first composition sung by Bhai Avtar Singh in which I played the Pakhāwaj of my student Rabbi Shergill to honour his late Sikh-scholar dad. Bhai Sahib Swaran Singh, a nephew of Bhai Avtar Singh, and with whole he played Jori & Tabla since early 1950s is on the Jori-Tabla. For a few years, after I had revived the instrument Jori in Gurbani Sangeet in its original playing technique and making, Bhai Swaran Singh and I would play with Bhai Sahib Bhai Avtar Singh on major occasions. 
A lay listener can easily distinguish, my playing on Pakhāwaj from 4:44 minutes marker onwards, from a very busy and distinct rendition along with the composition.
Bhai Avtar Singh's Mangalācharan-Alāpa and extraordinary rendition of this original composition of Guru Nanak Dev is worthy of note —a great example of the once rich Gurbani Sangeet tradition of the Darbār Sahib, Amritsar.

Rāga Gauri Bairagan Dhurpad By Bhai Avtar Singh With Bhai Baldeep Singh On Pakhāwaj

May 5, 1991, Dr. Sudarshan Singh was at the residence of his dear late daughter Professor Amardeep Kaur (d. 2016) and was reminiscing about the legendary Bhai Sahib Bhai Jwala Singh. He recalled one composition that he had studied directly from him saying that he used to sing this Gurbāni Dhurpadā on a very slow tempo Teel Tāla (Punjabi Thekkā). At my request, he recorded this very rare Rāga Dhanāsri (Rāga Gujri Añg) for me. I tried playing the Tabla with him in this recording.
Sardar Shukar Singh, father of Dr. Sudarshan Singh, was a close associate of Bhai Jwala Singh. Dr Sudarshan Singh was also a student of Sant-Rein Warayam Singh, who in turn was a student of Giani Gyan Singh Almast. Even at this elderly age, one can see his classical training by way of very high quality vocal ornaments such as Meend and Lehak.

(Dr) Sudarshan Singh Raga Dhanasri Gujri Ang

From The Anād Foundation Archives, TAFaRC, I am sharing this old recording of one of India's finest vocalists of the 20th century, Sardar Sohan Singh. He was a doyen of the illustrious Agra Gharana having studied from the legendary Ustad Faiyaz Khan. 

TAFaRC shares this first of three compositions in the 20th century version of Rāga Tukhari, which is basically Rāga Madhuvanti with an additional Flat 6th, or Komal Nikhad. The Gurbani Pada is "Mere Lāl Rangile".

Sadly, there has been no mention of this legendary singer on social medias nor his recordings available. Even though not much has survived of his music, I hope this will help introduce the aesthetical brilliance of this extraordinary maestro to the audiences present and future.

2016 TAFaRC Restoration I Ustad Sohan Singh: Rāga Tukhari — Lal Rangile

From The Anād Foundation Archives, TAFaRC, I am sharing this old recording of one of India's finest vocalists of the 20th century, Sardar Sohan Singh, a Padma Shri awardee. He was a doyen of the illustrious Agra Gharana having studied from the legendary Ustad Faiyaz Khan. 

TAFaRC humbly shares this third composition, Gurbani Pada is "Bhavjal Bin Sabdai Keo Tariye", sung by Sardar Sohan Singh in Rāga Bhairao. 

Sadly, there has been no mention of this legendary singer on social medias nor his recordings available. Even though not much has survived of his music, I hope this will help introduce the aesthetical brilliance of this extraordinary maestro to the audiences present and future.

2016 TAFaRC Restoration, Ustad Sohan Singh: Rāga Bhairao — Bhavjal Bin

Album

Paap Kamavdeyan

Jo Sir Sain Na Niwe

Gobind Milian Ki Eh Teri Bahreeaa

Bhnni Rehanarhiye

Bade Bade Jo Dise

I sang this at KTS Tulsi's and Suman Tulsi's residence on Sunday, February 7, 2021, and their daughter Japna recorded this on her phone from at least 10 feet away. There were no microphones. There is some hustling noise at 2-3 places so some discretion is solicited.

Besides, this was sung wearing an N95 mask — so, this is a #Covid19 Special!

20210207 Bhai Baldeep Singh | Rāg Darbārī Manglācaran | Dhurpadā Sājnā Saṅt (Śudh Kānrā Āsāvarī Mēl)

ਨਿਰਬਾਣ ਕੀਰਤਨੁ ਗਾਵਹੁ ਕਰਤੇ ਕਾ ਨਿਮਖ ਸਿਮਰਤ ਜਿਤੁ ਛੂਟੈ ॥੧॥
In the state of Nirvaanaa, sing the Kirtan of the Creator's Praises; contemplating Him in meditation, even for an instant, one is saved. ||1||

Paap Kamavdeyan

Nirbaan Kirtan