Sikh Gurdwara in Tucson

August 19, 2013 — 1 Comment

I attended the services of the Sikh gurdwara to see and hear my friend Nirviar Kaur Khalsa play her instrument, the taus.  She showed me the beautifully carved string instrument a few weeks ago after the services had concluded.  She practices on the taus about two hours daily to create the background ragas for the shabads she chants for the ceremony.  Her voice is very well practiced to paint these musical pictures of the one, the friend, the eternal guru. The message reminded me of the Sufis, but the service reminded me a lot of  Jews and Catholics.   The music is all in minor keys  (like Jewish music) , and there is no written vocal music. This technique is passed down in person in the same way the Torah is taught in person.  The music itself is the prayer and the meditation for the congregation, not unlike chanting in Latin or Hebrew.  Her vocation to study and revive some of the most ancient shabads is now her passion.  She shares this talent and hard work because she wants to embody inner peace in the Sikh tradition.  Although I am not a Sikh I can appreciate her historical preservation efforts as well as the ideas she promotes in her practice.

I asked some of the congregation how they feel about her dedication to master this ancient art and religious practice from India.  She is very highly praised by everyone.  One lady I had met on my previous visit told Nirvair as she left she wished she could leave a tip for the music, which is a common practice in India.  It is remarkable that she is so committed to her vocation to preserve this tradition here in the United States.  I learned that professional ragis from Phoenix charge $500 a visit to come to your gurdwara and do the music.  Since the entire service is sung the importance of the musical accompaniment is central to the experience.