Notes on Aarti

Historical perspective - 2-3 months.

Background:

Positivity of Guru Nanak on "Importance of Name" is compared to whether he is making fun of the regular aarti.

Nice article on Freedom of Choice.
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Freedom_to_choose

What is incorporated in the shabad: Shabad Simran

Repetition elements
Kaisee Aarti
Kaisee aarti hoye

Raag Bhimpalasi and Puriya Dhanasri are more popular in Indian classical music. Not Raag Dhanasri. Someone said this about Dhanasri:

The name Puriya Dhanasri is a misnomer for there isn't an allegiance to raag Puriya or the Marwa thaat here. It is a Poorvi thaat raaga whose name used to be poorvi dhanasri at one time.Raga Dhanasri is an ancient raaga belonging to Kafi thaat and has the same scale as bheempalasi (the latter actually evolved from the former). However, unlike Bheempalasi, "Ma" is given little importance in this raaga and pancham takes its place and therein lies the essential difference between the two raagas. Lore is that Raag Shree also belonged to Kaafi thaat at one point of time but it evolved over time into a poorvi-thaat raaga with the dhaivat becoming komal and other poorvi-features making their way into Shree. The poorvi-face of Shree was then grafted onto Dhanasri as well to create poorvi dhanasri (now called puriya dhanasri). Hope that clarifies things for you. I'd be happy to refer to Bhatkhande ji's books if you need further clarification.

Phrasing


Some examples of Aarti

My memories of Aarti go back to Kirtan programs at our neighbor's house in Delhi. The Mansukhanis.

Bhai Harjinder Singh sings Guru Nanak's Aarti in a Mishrat raag based on Khamaj. At the end of Guru Nanak's Aarti (2:53"), Bhai Sahib changes from Raag khamaj to a more familiar tune based on Raag Dhanasri. Then goes back to the Khamaj at 3:53".

Mishrat (Khamaj, ): Aarti - Bhai Harjinder Singh

Here are renditions in the popular Raag Bhairavi

Bhairavi - Aarti - Bhai Harcharan Singh Khalsa
Bhairavi: Aarti - Unknown , start 3:50"

Changing very little in the notes, Bhai Pritpal Singh skips the komal gandhar, and sings his version of Aarti in Raag Megh. Instead of 5 notes used in the tune for the first line, just 2 along with one grace is need. Sometimes intentionally, and other times unintentionally, small changes are made to existing compositions. Although the change seems subtle, there is a sea change in the mood of this Aarti.
Megh-based: Aarti - Bhai Pritpal Singh

Instead of Komal, Sudha Ga is used, and it changes the mood of the Aarti:
Rageshree-based: Aarti - Bhai Arjan Singh


Small change that I would rather take; beautiful use of sequencing (Pa Ma ga, Ma ga Re). However, I long for 'Dha' in this composition; it comes too late, and too little.

Dhanasri: Aarti - Bhai Parwinder Singh

Bhai Sadhu Singh starts out in a popular bilawal tune, and then turns to the dhanasree tune.
http://radio.sikhnet.com/ramgen/8GH3R/banis/bhai%20sadhu%20singh/bhai%20sadhu%20singh%20-%20aarti.rm?usehostname


I prefer the Aarti sung more often. Guru Nanak's Arti is sung along with several other compositions as in the following example. Normally it is sung in a tune based on raag Dhanasree. Even though Bhai Jasbir Singh uses shudha gandhar sometimes, and occasionally beautifies the ending of the first line in Re, by a slide from Re to Ma, the tune (at least until 3:01"), in essence, is intact.

Dhanasri: Aarti - Bhai Jasbir Singh
Dhanasri: Aarti - Bhai Dilbagh Singh, start at 0:50"
Dhanasri: Aarti - Baba Maan Singh, 12:39" - 14:23" for Guru Nanak's Aarti.
Dhanasri: Aarti - Sant Amar Singh


Bhai Gurpreet Singh sings the Aarti in the enchanting night Raag Malkaus.

Malkaus - Aarti - Bhai Gurpreet Singh, start at 1:51"

The following are renditions are in Dhanasri, in order of my liking for the renditions.

Kaisi Aarti Hoye - Dr. Gurnam Singh

Kaisi Aarti Hoye - Bhai Amarjit Singh Taan

Aarti - Sant Niranjan Singh
Kaisi Aarti Hoye - Bhai Avtar Singh
Kaisi Aarti Hoye - Bhai Gurmej Singh