Music
Unique Partnership: Ghulam Ali & Bhai Nirmal Singh
by PERNEET SINGH
Amritsar, Punjab
In what can be termed as a unique musical partnership venture, noted Pakistani Ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali has joined hands with former Hazuri Raagi Bhai Nirmal Singh to record a CD of shabads which will come out sometime this year.
During their visit to the Darbar Sahib here today, Ghulam Ali and Nirmal Singh said they had a detailed discussion over the matter and soon they will start their work on the CD. Bhai Nirmal Singh said he will make the selection of ‘shabads' for the CD and send it across to Ghulam Ali who will get it written in Urdu - as he cannot read Gurmukhi - for the rehearsal, before turning it into a reality.
This will be the first CD of these two singers whose respective styles consist of entirely different kinds of music. While Ghulam Ali has sung a plethora of ghazals and given thousands of performances in India, Pakistan and other countries, Bhai Nirmal Singh has been singing ‘shabads' for years, apart from being a raagi at the Harmandar Sahib. Interestingly, the latter acknowledges Ghulam Ali as his mentor in classical music.
Meanwhile, speaking about the contemporary music scenario, Ghulam Ali hit out at the commercial mindset of the music companies which are trying to distort classical music. He said today's music doesn't provide an individual mental peace, but is aimed at superficial entertainment. He lamented that the trait of honesty is on the decline in the music world. On the slew of 'reality' shows on singing, he said the organizers of such shows have brought in other streams like dance and acting into it, which is not good.
"Their focus should be purely on singing abilities of the contestants," he averred.
[Courtesy: Tribune]
February 9, 2011
Conversation about this article
1: Kalwant Singh Panesar (Houston, U.S.A.), February 09, 2011, 3:15 PM.
This is excellent. We had joint ventures before the partition of Punjab. Muslims are known for ghazals, qawalis and classical music. But radicals and other hate groups have divided people. The only people who have benefited from the divisions are the politicians. We should always remember that Guru Arjan asked Mian Mir to lay the foundation stone of Harmandar Sahib.
2: Harminder Singh (California, U.S.A.), February 09, 2011, 3:44 PM.
Can't wait for this collaborative work to come to fruition!
3: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), February 09, 2011, 4:38 PM.
This would be a landmark step towards "interfaith understanding."
4: I.J. Singh (New York, U.S.A.), February 09, 2011, 8:18 PM.
A fantastic initiative - two maestros at work; they will surely create something bigger than either can alone.
5: Harminder Dhillon (London, United Kingdom), February 10, 2011, 10:51 AM.
I remember listening to Mohammed Rafi singing shabad-style songs for Punjabi movies in the early 70's and it was beautiful. Very religious, gurbani-based 'songs' or shabads - I'm not sure what they are classified under. I'm very pleased that this partnership is happening, because in music at least, there shouldn't be religious tensions, unlike in real life, where they are sadly becoming all too common.
6: Jasbir Singh (London, United Kingdom), February 10, 2011, 7:54 PM.
Music cannot be held by any boundaries. Divine Music (Ilaahi Bani) NEVER! We would all remember Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. And of course Bhai Mardana who was the foremost voice of Ilaahi Bani ... Waheguru!
7: Sadhu Singh Saar (Delhi, India), February 11, 2011, 4:50 AM.
Whenever I had the opportunity to listen to Bhai Nirmal Singh ji, it reminded me of the melodies of the great Ghulam Ali Sahib. The outcome of their combined effort will surely prove to be the evolution of something meaningful.
8: G.S. Narula (U.K.), February 14, 2011, 1:12 PM.
It will lead to better understanding between the two parts of the great state of Punjab.