Sayva Kaur
Sayva Kaur
An Overview of the Evolution of Gurmat Sangeet InstrumentsGurbani’s Musical Mediums

All Intern Projects 2025
GSRI 2025 Intern

About Sayva Kaur

My name is Sayva Kaur and I am a 17 year old from Chicago Illinois. In my free time I like to play dilruba and sitar. I also enjoy writing and painting.

About my project

An Overview of the Evolution of Gurmat Sangeet InstrumentsGurbani’s Musical Mediums

This paper explores the role of instruments within the Gurmat Sangeet tradition and how this role is evolving over time. Specifically, this research will analyze the instrument types that have traditionally been utilized in Sikhi, and why these instrument types have changed as society has come closer to the modern era. Throughout the paper, five main sections can be observed. The first will introduce the reader to Gurmat Sangeet as well as the overall structure of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. In this section, the reader will gain a basic knowledge of how Indian Classical Music has been adapted into Sikhi to create the practice of Gurmat Sangeet. The second section will then take a closer look at the fundamental role that Gurmat Sangeet has played within Sikhi. Next, the third and fourth sections will deepen the reader's knowledge of traditional Gurmat Sangeet instruments and explain the types of changes that have progressed in the instruments that Sikhs have used over time. Individually, the third section will discuss classic Gurmat Sangeet instruments, and the fourth will discuss non-traditional instruments that have been incorporated into the Gurmat Sangeet tradition. Ultimately, the main focus of this paper is the changes that have transpired in the instruments that Sikhs use. The fifth section will talk through the implications of these changes. By observing musical trends throughout time, a better understanding of how one’s circumstances change musical developments can be obtained.


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