The Legendary Maestro - Mohan Singh Musapuri

Описание: Raag Bilaskhani Todi - Ustad Mohan Singh & Charanjit Singh Musapuri

The great Ustad, Mohan Singh Dhiraj was one of the greatest exponents of Indian Classical Music of the last century. Hailing from the village Musapur in Punjab, India, his ancestors sung Indian Classical music and Kirtan (Shabads from Sri Guru Granth Sahib) for centuries and the School of Music or Gharana came to be known as Musapur. At a very young age, Ustad Mohan Singh moved with his family to East Africa and settled in Kampala, Uganda before finally moving to West Drayton, London, UK. He had many students in India, East Africa and the UK. A totally unique feature of his philosophy and love of music, was that he never charged a fee for any lesson he gave! He believed that Raag Vidiya or the Knowledge of Raags is sacred and should be freely available to all. He was a Ramgarhia Sikh and a Plumber by trade but will be remembered mostly for his unique contribution to Indian Classical Music, especially in East Africa and the UK.

Although he was primarily a classically trained vocalist, he was just as adapt at playing the Violin, Sarangi, Dilruba and Tabla. In the picture at the beginning of this YouTube clip, you can see Ustad Mohan Singh ji singing at the Royal Albert Hall in London on the 500th Birthday celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Patshah. His knowledge of Raags was so profound and in-depth, that his counsel was often sought by the leading Ragi Jathas and Classical Music artists of the time from both India and Pakistan. Although he specialised in singing pure Khayal Raag through Vilambit, Madhyam and Drut (Slow, Medium & Fast) tempos, he was very much at home with singing Shabads, Ghazals, Tumris, and other styles of Indian Classical Music.

He passed this knowledge on to his many students, including his children, who became great exponents of this art-form, in their own right. Unfortunately, there are very few recordings of the legendary Ustad. In this rare video footage from 1986 at our house in West London, Ustad Mohan Singh accompanies is his son Ustad Charanjit Singh ji on the Harmonium (also known as the Waja). Ustad Mohan Singh often said, that in Kirtan, although Taanti Saaj or String Instruments were quite significant, the highest of all instruments was the Human Voice. In this clip, Ustad Charanjit Singh demonstrates the very high level of skill and knowledge he has been blessed with by Guru Nanak Patshsah, as well as the knowledge he received from his illustrious father.

The Raag being sung is called Bilaskhani Todi and legend has it, that is was composed by the son of the Miyan Tansen, Bilas Khan. It comes under the Taath known as Bhairavi and is a morning Raag. The rendition begins with a long Alaap, followed by a Shabad by GuruGobind Singh Ji ‘Deenan Ki Pritpal Kare Nit Sant Ubar Gani Mun Garey’. You will notice the vast depth and range of the vocals to enhance the feeling expressed in the Shabad. Also, there are many intricacies in the Alaaps, Sargams and Taans, which only advanced exponents of this art possess.

Unfortunately, there has been a steady decline in the level of classical Raag Kirtan. You do not have to be a connoisseur to realise that the Kirtan we hear nowadays is a very far cry from what was commonly heard just 40 or 50 years ago. The calibre and level of the Kirtaneeay such as Ustad Mohan Singh ji, Bhai Dharam Singh Zakhmi, Bhai Gurcharan Singh Avtar Singh, or Giani Inderjit Singh from Derby cannot be compared to, what is being offered in Gurdwara Sahibs today. The families of these great artists have been singing for generations, going back hundreds of years to the times of the Gurus and beyond.

Why is Kirtan seldom sung like this anymore? The first thing to try and prevent a total decline is to acknowledge the gigantic difference between modern day Kirtaneeay and those Maestroes from just half a century a go. Then to teach the coming generations some of these compositions. We will be releasing more rare recordings of the artists mentioned above and others soon.

Please note, this Seva is being carried out by lovers of Raag Kirtan with no other purpose, except to bring this level and deep insight of Kirtan back into our Gurdwara Sahibs.