one voice

Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Gurcharan Singh are recipients of a rich tradition of Gurmat music. They are the bright minaret of the raagi tradition of Bhai Sahib Bhai Jwala Singh Ji. They hold the unique experience of singing successfully the ancient singing ang. They started learning Kirtan from their father in 1934 and in 1954 they started performing service as kirtaniyas in Delhi Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. They attained honour and title both in the country and abroad. The greatest work presented by Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Gurcharan Singh is their book in two volumes, Gurbani Sangeet, Prachneen Reet Ratnavali. The raag nirnayak committee of the unique Gurmat Sangeet Sammelan has always derived inspiration from this work.
The research regarding the raagis trained out of various taksals of the gurmat music is yet in its beginning stages. Among the ancient taksals, the service performed by Bhai Jwala Singh Ji's family is really unique. Bhai Jwala Singh Ji's family has been continuously and prominently contributing by way of its own connections throughout the past eleven generations. Bhai Jwala Singh performed Kirtan for sixty years and Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Gurcharan Singh have performed for more than half a century. Guru Gobind Singh Ji bestowed the great gift of amrit to the great ancestor of this dynasty, Bhai Sahib Singh. Out of this dynasty, Bhai Mehtab Singh, Bhai Tehal Singh, Bhai Dewa Singh, Bhai Narain Singh, Bhai Jwala Singh and Gyani Bhagat Singh maintained and secured the ancestral learning and preached it continuously.

Bhai Gurcharan Singh was born in 1915 and Bhai Avtar Singh was born in 1926 at village Saidpur, district Kapurthala in the home of Bhai Jwala Singh Ji and Mata Ranjit Kaur Ji. Both brothers studied the Guru's bani and learned taus, Kirtan and tabla from their father. In 1946 they formed a jetha. Along with percussionist Bhai Swaran Singh, they served the Delhi Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee for 37 years, retiring in 1997.
Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Gurcharan Singh have practiced the Kirtan maryada established by the Guru Maharaj. They have written in their book, “ We came to know from our father that the ancient kirtanias would do Kirtan only considering the gurbani line and the impact of intonation, meend, gamak, tec so that they could create a continuous impact of the gurbani line through raag. The tradition of sargam and taranas is a modern addition whereas the great ancient kirtaniyas remained steadfastly centered on Gurubani while singing great tals in pure rag with a unique style. This was the approved method of the Ten Masters.”
Sensing the danger of losing this invaluable treasure, scholars, writers, musicians and gurmukhs accomplished the great task of the notation of the ancient parameters for singing. The administrators of Punjabi University, Patiala took the initiative of printing this collection. At the university's request, Bhai Avtar Singh and Bhai Gurcharan Singh started the work of recording the notation of the ancient reets in 1973. In 1976 this work was finished. The recording and notation of 497 shabad-reetan included the vaaran, dhunian and paudian of Guru Granth Sahib.
Bhai Avtar Singh and Ghai Gurcharan Singh rightly deserve thankfulness. With great devotion, enthusiasm, hard labour and sincerity they completed the great task of composing their book and recordings. Now any researcher, student or artist can not only listen to the recordings but can learn from the notations and instructions given in the books. They have represented the character of ideal kirtaniyas and great raagis.