Kaur gives peace a chance

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Kaur gives peace a chance

By: Olga Deshchenko, Collegian Correspondent

Issue date: 3/27/07 Section: Arts & Living

 

 

She has a gentle face, a delightful smile, bright eyes and a soothing

voice that is meant to be heard. Snatam Kaur, a name she received from

herteacher Yogi Bhajan, means " Universal " or " Friends to All. " This

dedicated follower of the Sikh tradition and sacred chant artist has

been on The Celebrate Peace World Tour with her band mates since 2004.

 

" We call it 'Celebrate Peace' because we believe that peace inherently

exists within each of us, and that it is a matter of recognizing that

and then celebrating the reality of that, " explained Snatam

 

Kaur. " Through the vibration of the music we intend to give people an

experience of peace, weather they come to the concert or take a CD

home with them. There is no doubt that the vibration of the music is

very powerful, " she added.

 

Born and raised in the United States, Snatam Kaur's parents practiced

editation, yoga and chanting, embedding the principles of the Sikh

tradition which originated in India, into the young girl. This

practice calls for recitation and singing of sacred words in a

language called Gurumukhi, explained Snatam Kaur. The language,

designed by the Gurus of the tradition, is meant to pass on healing to

anyone who hears or recites the words. In harmony with a talented

team, Snatam Kaur's performances strive to do just that: spread peace

and healing.

 

" I travel with an incredibly talented tabla player, Manish Vyas, who

is really a master at his art form and brings a beautiful love and

flavor of Indian Classical music, " she said. " I am also accompanied by

GuruGanesha Singh who plays the steal stringed guitar; he brings a

joyful spirit to our performances along with some western elements

with his soul journeying guitar playing. Finally, Ram Das Singh is

with us and he plays piano and clarinet and really gives us the wings

to fly. I play the harmonium, an Indian instrument, and the violin.

Mostly in concert I like to sing. "

 

When Snatam Kaur arrives to a performance, serene and relaxing music

is not the only thing that she and her band mates bring with them;

they reach out to the community in a number of ways with the belief

that people have the power to affect the planet through their thoughts

and actions.

 

" During the tour, GuruGanesha and I also teach Kundalini Yoga

workshops to give people tools to maintain a state of inner peace on a

daily basis, " she explained. " So, with this tour we are really working

to help people have a very strong sense of inner peace. During our

tour we are dedicated to doing community service and we offer free

children's yoga and song hours in many neighborhoods across the country. "

 

Although Snatam Kaur plays the violin and harmonium, her favorite

instrument is her voice. She has found that her voice is directly

related to how she feels physically, mentally and spiritually. Since

it is an instrument that allows her to spread healing and spiritual

power, Snatam Kaur tries to take care of herself.

 

" Music can take me into a feeling faster than anything I have ever

known. It seems to transcend everything: language barriers, cultural

barriers and religious barriers, " she said. " We travel all over the

world, and in most

 

cases people don't understand the words we are singing, and they don't

understand why I am dressed in the Sikh clothing and turban. Once the

music starts, people don't really care who we are or even what we are

singing. They feel the love in the music and they are transported by

it. " Snatam Kaur has brought the sacred chanting accompanied by

tranquil layers of music courtesy of her band mates to several corners

of the world: Asia, Europe, United States, Mexico and Canada.

Nonetheless, this artist does not have one favorite place to take the

stage.

 

" I'd have to say that my favorite stop on the tour is when I come out

on stage, 'stop' and sit down at my harmonium with my band members on

either side, " explained Snatam Kaur. " For a moment we look at each

other with a flash of joy in our eyes, and then look out to the

audience and start our first song. "

 

This chant artist has released six albums on Spirit Voyage Records and

is a firm advocate of the idea that music holds the actualization of

peace in its hands. " I encourage other musicians to use the medium of

music to communicate the messages of love and peace because it is so

powerful. I do believe that musicians have a key role on our planet at

this time to bring peace through music, " she said.

 

Snatam Kaur, who considers her music and concerts to be a " journey, "

will fill the Helen Hills Hills Chapel at Smith College with her voice

on March 31, 2007 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are available on

spiritvoyage.com.