The 58th Biannual Gurbāṇī Sangīt Intensive Retreat was held at the blessed residence of Sardār Sāhib Siri Datta Singh Khalsa and Sardārnī Sāhibā Awtar Kaur in San Francisco from December 26, 2024, till January 5, 2025.

Here are a few images from the December 2024 – February 2025 visit to the USA, Canada, and Italy. The 58th retreat was once again hosted by Sardār Siri Datta Singh Khalsa and his dear family. The logistics and administrative hosting were so graciously managed by Harshdeep Singh Walia of Anad USA.

Meeting former Vice-Chancellor of Khairagarh University, Professor Geeta Kaur Paintal, wife of the late maestro, Professor Ajit Singh Paintal, is always very moving. It was a pleasure to watch the film shooting of Guru Nanak Jahaj (Released April 2025) with writer-director, Sharan Art, and to meet his colleagues and actors. In Italy, my first engagement was with maestro Luigi Polsini, and maestro Marcel Peres who was teaching a workshop on Roman Chants — it was phenomenal. Later, I was invited to give a lecture at the Conservatorio di Rovigo by pianist maestro Roberto Prosseda and to meet with the President and Vice President of the Conservatorio. It was wonderful to see administrators and students from faraway conservatories especially travel to join in. A special dinner was organized by maestro Prosseda with his students and colleagues — the interaction once again showcased the scholarship and music-o-philosophical acumen of the gifted maestro’s students. Such mentorship is rare to find. Thanks to Professor Francesca Cassio, I got to spend with some of the most important musicologists Italy has produced in the last few decades — it was such a meeting of these heavyweights!

As always, our dear friend Dr. Tiziana Lorenzetti, and her family kindly hosted me at the International Institute of South Asian Studies, Rome. Maestro Giuliana Soscia came along to meet as well, who also happens to be Prosseda’s classmate. Giuliana and I weren’t happy with the noisy cafe — it was like sipping chaos than coffee.

Notes:

“Sat Kartaar to all 🙏🏻
I hope everyone is doing good.
I would like share my humble feelings about the retreat.

This journey of the 58th biannual retreat has been an eye opener for me. It was my first time attending this retreat. Honestly, it seemed a bit intense in the beginning, but as days went by, I got the hang of it. What initially appeared to be playing in fast forward motion, gradually seemed to slow down and got clearer with each passing day. But to my surprise, by the 12th day, my mind was as fresh and relaxed as ever, full of energy and ready to begin the retreat all over again!

We were always encouraged to learn about the history of music, to know about the elders who have contributed to this field in past and to listen to them. This is a rarity, because I’ve not seen many Ustads, who would allow their pupils to listen to anyone but themselves. I can not appreciate enough how we were given the chance to ask questions, and not just for the sake of it, Bhai Saab Ji always answered to the deepest depths, in a way that everyone understood.

Words fall short when I think about the generosity with which we were taught the centuries old repertoire, including the original compositions of Guru Sahib, Bhagats of Bani and stalwarts like Baba Harivallabh Ji, which I never even knew existed.

We got to learn about the repertoire of Jori as well. It was my first time practising with Jori, and every time it was played, it felt as though an army was marching with great valour. Never have I experienced such an intense and melodious rhythm in my life.

Sometimes, the lessons would be impromptu I feel, arising from the questions that the Sangat would ask. But they always carried structure and purpose. Nothing felt vague. Everything done had a deep and nuanced reasoning to it. Bhai Saab Ji painstakingly notated each composition and exercise that was taught to us. We didn’t just learn about musical compositions, Gurbani or history, but also the tehzeeb of treating them and the art of conveying them.

I would like to borrow a few words from Gurbani and say, “Bahuta Ehu Vidaan”. Astonishingly, years worth of knowledge was imparted to us in a matter of days. The pedagogy ensured that nothing went over our heads and the learning was actually absorbed by both heart and mind.

In the end, I would like to apologise for any mistakes that I may have made, knowingly or unknowingly. I am also thankful to the Sangat, who were always encouraging and helpful along the way. I hope that, with passing time, I will come to appreciate even deeper aspects of the invaluable guidance that Bhai Saab Ji bestowed upon us. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity of being a part of the Sangat in this retreat, that God gave me as his Parshaad.”

Sincerely,
Bhagatmeet Singh
January 9th, 2025