About this book

Raganjli is a source of musical compositions in well-known ragas as well as in many rare ragas of North Indian classical music. It consists of 148 Ragas with about 320 compositions and every Raga is preceded by its description. The text of the compositions is from Gurbani and the pieces are mostly composed in the purist and rather intricate classical style with a few compositions in Kirtan style.

My intention at the start of this project was to write a book containing fifty or so compositions based on around 20 of the more common Ragas.  As the body of work progressed, I felt the need to extend the compositions to include some of the less well-known Ragas and, using traditional Indian notation in Punjabi and Hindi script, I tried to adopt a more purist style than perhaps is commonly used in Gurdwaras today.

Scriptures have been chosen which best suit the rhythm and mood of each tune. Whilst the level of difficulty varies, in general the compositions are targeted at those who are fairly well versed in classical music.

My motivation was, and continues to be, purely personal pleasure.  I hope that this work brings some pleasure to anyone who wishes to perform the compositions.

Although it has taken five years to complete ‘Raganjli’, in a sense these books are the culmination of a lifetime’s experience of playing classical music.

I hope that readers of Raganjli will find it instructive as well as entertaining.

The Hindi version of Raganjli is published by Academic Foundation, New Delhi. (www.academicfoundation.org)

The Punjabi version of Raganjli is published by Sapatrishi Publications, Chandigarh.

Click here to download a copy of Raganjli in Punjabi

The Hindi version of the book can bought from the publishers, Academic Foundation.

Please contact me at gurbuxsingh@gmail.com 

Gurbux Singh

 

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Endorsement

I have known Shri Gurbux Singh since 1995 and have had the privilege of working with him on a number of projects in which his skills as a musician and as a composer have been invaluable. These projects have included his solo performances, examining and developing graded syllabuses. Therefore it gives me great pleasure to see his work Raganjli.
Shri Gurbux Singh was trained in India under Sardar Mohinder Singh who had won president award in Thumri singing. After moving to England in 1965 he continued to pursue his passion for classical music under the tutelage of Sardar Mohan Singh Musapuri and Professor Yash Pal of Chandigarh. He has taught students of vocal music voluntarily in his local Gurudwara for over 22 years, thus passing on his considerable knowledge and expertise.

Since retiring in 2001 from teaching Engineering and Mathematics at Richmond-upon-Thames College he has devoted his time fully in the pursuit of music.
Raganili has been a major project of Shri Gurbux Singh for the past 5 years. All those who are reasonably well versed in classical music will find Ragangli a source of beautiful compositions in well-known Ragas as well as in many rare Ragas. It consists of 148 Ragas with 320 compositions and every Raga is preceded by its description. The text of the compositions is from Gurbani and the pieces are mostly composed in the purist and rather intricate classical style with a few compositions in Kirtan style.

For music lovers, teachers and serious students of classical vocal music, this book will be a valuable source of knowledge about both common and rare ragas as well as a source of unique and beautiful crafted pieces in the traditional classical style.

 

Dr. Frances Shepherd

Founder and Honorary Director

Pandit Ram Sahai Sangit Vidyalaya Middlesex, UK

 

A list of the 138 Raags in this book is below:

	Raag	Page
1	Abhogi Kanhra	392
2	Ahir Bhairon	64
3	Ahir Vibhas	282
4	Ahiri Todi	295
5	Asavari	122
6	Assa	98
7	Assa Kalyan	34
8	Audhav Bageshari	361
9	Bageshari	208
10	Bageshari Todi	289
11	Bahar	130
12	Bakhzar	245
13	Basant	146
14	Basantmukhari	273
15	Bhairavi	263
16	Bhairon	60
17	Bhatiari Bhairon	156
18	Bhatyar	160
19	Bhim	223
20	Bhimpalasi	200
21	Bhupal Todi	285
22	Bhupali	19
23	Bihag	53
24	Bilaskhani Todi	292
25	Bilaval	3
26	Chander Kauns	356
27	Chander Kauns-Purana	361
28	Chander Prabha	251
29	Charukesi	254
30	Darbari Kanhra	396
31	Des	193
32	Desi	306
33	Deskar	15
34	Devgandhar	125
35	Devgiri Bilaval	105
36	Dhani	216
37	Durga	12
38	Gauri	242
39	Gauri Bairagan	443
40	Gond	235
41	Gopika Basant	375
42	Gujari	302
43	Gunkali	166
44	Hamir	137
45	Hansdhuni	10
46	Hemant	117
47	Hindol	40
48	Jaijaivanti	184
49	Jait	421
50	Jaitsiri	434
51	Jhinjhoti	448
52	Jog	350
53	Jogeshwari	213
54	Jogkauns	353
55	Kafi	270
56	Kalingra	240
57	Kalyan	22
58	Kaunsi Kanhra	379
59	Kaushik Ranjani	372
60	Kedara	132
61	Khamaj	47
62	Kirvani	177
63	Komal Rikhab Asavari	127
64	Kukabh Bilaval	112
65	Kular Sarang	339
66	Lankadehan Sarang	336
67	Lilavati	256
68	Madh Kauns	369
69	Madhmad Sarang	342
70	Madhu Kauns	349
71	Madhuvanti	94
72	Majh	445
73	Majh Khamaj	51
74	Malgunji	229
75	Malkauns	84
76	Marag Bihag	141
77	Marva	487
78	Megh	403
79	Megh Malhar	411
80	Mian ki Sarang	329
81	Mishar Shivranjani	173
82	Multani	309
83	Naiki Kanhra	386
84	Nand	44
85	Nand Kauns	367
86	Nat	233
87	Nat Bhairon	154
88	Nat Bilaval	110
89	Pahari	69
90	Palasi	226
91	Parmeshari	289
92	Patdeep	196
93	Pilu	74
94	Poorbi	91
95	Puria	415
96	Puria Dhanasari	427
97	Puria Kalyan	37
98	Rageshvari	205
99	Rajeshvari	211
100	Ramkali	169
101	Reva	431
102	Sarang	315
103	Sarasvati	413
104	Sarasvati Malhar	409
105	Sarasvati Sarang	334
106	Sarparda Bilaval	115
107	Shahana Kanhra	389
108	Shankra	88
109	Shivmat Bhairon	163
110	Shivranjani	173
111	Shobhavari	248
112	Shudh Bhairavi	268
113	Shudh Kalyan	28
114	Shudh Sarang	345
115	Shyam Kalyan	31
116	Sindhra	221
117	Siriraag	423
118	Sohni	419
119	Sorath	190
120	Sughrai	399
121	Suha Kanhra	381
122	Suha Sughrai	400
123	Suhi	237
124	Surdasi Malhar	406
125	Tilak Kamod	183
126	Tilak Shyam	231
127	Tilang	73
128	Todi	298
129	Triveni	437
130	Tukhari	311
131	U’shaq	260
132	U’shaq Kanhra	384
133	Uttari Gunkali	440
134	Vadhans Sarang	326
135	Vairagi	149
136	Vibhas Bhairon	277
137	Vibhas Marva	279
138	Yamani Bilaval	107

 

Links:

Interview at Sarb Akal music society in Calgary, Canada, April 2017

Book review of Raganjli in the magazine Amrit Kirtan (Feb 2017), by Dr Jagir Singh

Gurbux Singh with tabla maestro Ustad Tari Khan

Book Presentation to S. Harjeet Singh, President of Sarb Akal Music Society, Calgary.

Raag Uttri Gunkali, (Raganjli page 440). Software developed by Dharambir Singh MBE

Jatinder Juttla sings Raag Sarang (page 39 from Raganjli)

Raag Bilaval played on Sitar by Manjit Singh Mann (page 5 on Raganjli)

Book review in Sikh Virsa, Calgary, 2017

 

Being presented with the award at Parkash Smagam, 2017, UK

 

 

Interview with editor of Amrit Kirtan, December 2019

 

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Vidushi Dr. Kamla Shankar supported by her outstanding pupil Shiri Nirmal Saini demonstrating Raag Shyam Kalyan for Shrimati Moushumi Nandi of Gurukul Academy Jabalpur, and Gurbux Singh. Watch on YouTube

 

Vidushi Dr. Kamla Shankar plays Raag Saraswati Malhar on Shankar Guitar. This is a new Raag innovated by Gurbux Singh of UK who has authored a music book Raganjli (gurbaniraags.com). Saraswati Malhar is a combination of Shudh Malhar and Saraswati. Dr. Kamla Shankar is accompanied on Tabla by Shri Gyanswarup Mukherjee. Watch on YouTube

 

Gurukul Academy presents “Shabad in Rag Vrindavani Sarang” – Music composed by Gurbux Singh. Watch on YouTube

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