Inspired by the other thread 'your favourites..', perhaps we can have another thread with lots of links to all members favourite keertan. I will start (bear with me i have quite a few!):
anything by mallian vale singhs!! [akj.org] -Bhai Sukhpal Singh Ji, Satgur khotioh khare kare shabad savaranhaar. anything by bhai sukhpal singh ji on youtube. and [sikhbytes.guroocities.com]
i would check out jagpal singh 2009 newyork rainsbhai jagpal singh 2008 atlanta rainsbhai giani gurdev singh 2009 sheperton rainsbhai(insane go to 40 minutes dasam bani too the max) giani gurdev singh 2010 atlanta rainbhai
Thanks Veer Uttam Singh for starting this thread and the links you have provided are beautiful. There is so much Rass in kirtan of Bhai Mani Singh. I listened to these Shabads many years ago and have always enjoyed Anand from them.
for "raagi jatha" keertan, i really like bhai gurmail singh jee (amritsar), who uses simple tunes that follow the rules of raag. i'm just learning keertan, and i like the idea of playing in raag, but without the music overwhelming the shabad, i have found his keertan very easy to learn from:
[akj.org] (first time i heard sangat do swaas swaas simran so openly at a samagam, just amazing!
[akj.org] (first time i heard giani gurdev singh jee, and it seems like he has some magic button he hits and all of sangat starts simran, even before he does. as though they simply can't wait to say waheguru!)
bibi manjeet kaur jee blew me away with this... i must have listened 20 times!
and of course, the indomitable bibi amarjit kaur jee:
if anyone knows where i can hear more of her keertan, PLEASE let me know!
and MANY MANY more, including some i can't post here because i know the sevadar might be reading.
The first time I listened to Bhai Gurmail Singh was about 20 years ago, when he came to Dixie Gurdwara Sahib. He stayed there for few months and did great Kirtan. He does wonderful Kirtan and as Bhain jee pointed out, his semi-classical style very soothing. Bahut Mithee Avaaz uhna dee.
Regarding Bhai Balbir Singh jee, I have noticed that when he sings Raag Kaanra, he really shines. It seems like this raag is his favourite.
The link of Bibi Manjinder Kaur provided by Bhain jee is excellent. I discovered it few months ago and have listened to it numerous times. Many I have spoken to claim that Bibi jee is just pretending but I say that Dhan is such pretending too. It's a delight to hear this Kirtan that is full of Josho-Kharosh.
Veer Uttam Singh jeeo, the second link of Bhai Mani Singh jee's Kirtan contains a Saakhi of a Gursikh (who passed away) who had an amazing spiritual jeevan. He used to do 5 Siri Sukhmani Sahibs a day plus 250 Siri Chaupai Sahibs a day. Once he did Ardaas to do 50 Siri Sukhmani Sahib paaths for Bhai Mani Singh's health and he completed these paaths in 3 days. WOW!
I was going to start a new post on truly heavenly Kirtan, but changed my mind and will add to this thread instead. Please add Kirtan that you believe is mind blowing, pure ras and something that melts the heart.
I'll kick off by posting this very short video, it is pure Anand.
ਬਿਰਹਾ ਬਿਰਹਾ ਆਖੀਐ ਬਿਰਹਾ ਤੂ ਸੁਲਤਾਨੁ ॥ Birhā birhā ākẖī▫ai birhā ṯū sulṯān. Many talk of the pain and suffering of separation; O pain, you are the ruler of all.
ਫਰੀਦਾ ਜਿਤੁ ਤਨਿ ਬਿਰਹੁ ਨ ਊਪਜੈ ਸੋ ਤਨੁ ਜਾਣੁ ਮਸਾਨੁ ॥੩੬॥ Farīḏā jiṯ ṯan birahu na ūpjai so ṯan jāṇ masān. ||36|| Fareed, that body, within which love of the Lord does not well up - look upon that body as a cremation ground. ||36||
I was listening to Tarsem Singh Ji's kirtan on you tube yesterday. Would love to hear their piercing voice live. Inspiring to see that they do kirtan kanth..!!
How do you tell if a shabad is in raags with the taal being played is kehrva or dadra?
Only if we are fluent in Raags we can tell which Raag is being played at a certain time. Depending on what combination of Surs are used, the Raag comes into play. The easily recognizable Raags are Bhairo, Bilaval, Bhairavee, Shivranjini, Bhopali, Malkauns, and Darbari Kanra because of their unique sounds and tunes. You just need some basic knowledge, that's all.
As for taal, its Dadra if the beats are 6, Teen Taal if the beats are 16 and Kehrva if the beats are 8. These 3 are the most common Taals. Upkaar Singh can shed more light on Taals.
Having said that, what's the need to know what Raag or Taal is playing. You eat your mangoes; why are you worrying about what trees these mangoes have come from?