
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
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
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