INSIDE THE GURU'S GATE - Anpere

the musical components of kirtan should always be subservient to gurbani. The Sikh
musicologist Mansukhani (1982) recognizes four different types of kirtan which reflect
the delicate balancing between musical artistry and rendition of gurbani: “musicoriented”
performances give importance to the technical perfection of music and
subordinates verbal aspects; “instrument-oriented” kirtan displays skill of instruments;
“hymn-oriented” performances focus on correct wording and intonation of
gurbani, while “discourse-oriented” kirtan explains and interprets gurbani hymns and
pays less attention to melody and rhythm. Although music is the essential element,
Sikh musicians should ideally perform for the purpose of rendering and clarifying
gurbani in an aestetically appealing way and not merely display musical talent for
fame or financial profit. A term like Gurbani sangit – “the music of gurbani” ‒ underscores
that conveyance of the verbal content is paramount in Sikh music. The musical
components are vehicles to bring out the flavour of gurbani and create religious atmospheres.
Music has power to accomplish this. Given this accent on the verbal content,
the following sections will introduce the methods by which local performers
build up kirtan performances to enhance the semantic and poetic properties of gurbani
and adjust the content of separate verses to differnt social contexts in order to make
the Guru’s teaching relevant and revealing to an audience. First, however, one needs
to consider what notions and associations the term kirtan may evoke among local
Sikhs.
“THE FOOD FOR THE SOUL”
What is kirtan to religious Sikhs? The answers to this general question may be wideranging,
considering that each listener will always respond to the music in his or her
own way according to inner moods and needs. Keeping this in mind, I will quote a
few excerpts from interviews with Sikhs in Varanasi in order to illustrate the various
significations Sikhs may attribute to kirtan, as a devotional practice, when they are
asked to personally explain and interpret the concept in ordinary conversations.
1. A young man
When people are going to the gurdwara, they often think that I have to
go to the gurdwara, do matha tekna, and then immediately go back. But
kirtan makes people sit down and spend more the time there. People
spend more time with God because of kirtan.
2. A young female student
I think when anyone is doing kirtan the pronunciation should be correct.
Whatever is coming out [in kirtan performances] should not only
touch the ears but also go into people and touch their hearts.
3. A young man
To make the Guru happy, kirtan is the medium to make the Guru
happy.
287
Published on www.anpere.net in May 2008