I have been introduced to two powerful forms of devotional group signing, one is called Qawwali and the other Kirtan. Qawwali is a form of Sufi devotional singing which is meant to praise and sing the names of the Divine to allow one to have an experience of the Divine Beloved. Kirtan is an ancient Vedic call and response style chant, set to music to do the same. Both music forms are meant to express loving devotion to the Divine. Both tend to begin gently and build steadily to a very high energy level in order to induce ecstatic states both among the musicians and within the audience. The picture you see above is of a Harmonium which is one of the instruments used in both forms of music. I would qualify both forms as an active and group form of Mantra Meditation. 

 

My introduction to Qawwali was by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

and to Kirtan by Krishna Das.

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Both of these talented musicians and God infused souls have been instrumental in my spiritual journey, providing me a musical practice that has become a profound part of my daily meditation. After listening to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan perform on CDs for many years, I had the honor to spend time with him before a performance during his final US concert tour in 1996, as he unexpectedly passed away the next year. His performance was a transcendent personal experience for me when I was going through a difficult time in my life. I witnessed a performer use music to fully merge with the Divine. I have had the blessed opportunity to attend many Krishna Das concerts as well as sit and listen to his wisdom shared during Satsangs. His performances of the call and response chanting is a deep form of meditation practice for me. A way to help clear my mind and heart of the many blocks and obstructions as I move towards Freedom. It is am honor and privilege to call Krishna Das one of my spiritual teachers.

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  Grateful for Qawwali Master

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and 

Kirtan Wallah Krishna Das

 

 

 

 

 

My mother loved to sing and she would stay up many weekends singing Qawwalis into the early morning hours with friends and family. This led me to pursue my interest in music since age 12 and I have played brass instruments in orchestras, concert bands and brass quintets. My most memorable moment as a musician was playing tuba at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 1987 as a member of the Brown University Orchestra.

 

During the pandemic I decided to learn how to play the harmonium after singing with my friend Greg and his kirtan gathering pre-pandemic. Krishna Das was kind enough to make available a tutorial on his website to learn to play and sing some of his chants. I thank him for this tutorial as it allowed me to learn how to play the harmonium and reconnect with my musical roots. I also want to thank Mike Cohen who provided me with harmonium lessons and how to be a kirtan performer. This led to the creation of our kirtan group Keshava. Please see the link to our website below.