S-rR-G-m-P-D-N-S
A joining of Bhairav and the archaic Sikh form Asa (Sanskrit for ‘hope’), matching the swaras of ‘Bilawal double-Re’ – with the shuddha taken in ascent, and the komal in descent. Parrikar notes that “the Bhairav-ang is expressed in the poorvang [e.g. Gm(G)rS], and the rest of the contour looks to Asa [e.g. S, S(m)RmP, DNPD, S]…Ravi Shankar furnishes a delightful play on the theme”. Shankar himself notes having “learned this rare raga from Baba [Allauddin Khan], and developed it myself…its mood is of viraha shringar” (‘the loneliness of being apart from a lover’). Few other artists have cut full-length recordings, leaving ample space for future experimentation.
• Raga Megalist (365+) •
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• Hindustani Raga Index •
—Ravi Shankar (1991)—
[refrain, e.g. 23:54] (m)RmP DS, S(NS)D, mG(mG) (S)rS, (m)RmP DS…
• Classifiers •
Explore hidden inter-raga connections: swara geometries, melodic features, murchana sets, ragangas, & more (also see the Full Tag List):
Swaras: -4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10+
Sapta: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Poorvang: SRGM | SRG | SRM | SGM
Uttarang: PDNS | PDS | PNS | DNS
Varjit: Re | Ga | Ma | Pa | Dha | Ni
Double: rR | gG | mM | dD | nN
Thaat: 10 | 32 | Enclosed | Inexact
Chal: All-shuddha | All-komal | Ma-tivra
Gaps: Anh. | Hemi. | 3-row | 4-row | 5-row
Symmetries: Mirror | Rotation | Palindr.
Aroha: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Avroh: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Jati: Equal | Balanced | Av.+1 | Av.+2
Samay: Morning | Aftern. | Eve. | Night
Murchana: Bhup. | Bihag | Bilaw. | Charu.
Raganga: Bhairav | Malhar | Kan. | Todi
Construction: Jod | Mishra | Oddball
Origin: Ancient | Carnatic | Modern
Dominance: Poorvang | Uttarang
Prevalence: A-list | Prachalit | Aprach.
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S-rR-G-m-P-D-N-S
• Reverse: SrgmPdnNS (=none)
• Inverse: ni; SmdnS (=none)
• Imperfect: 2 (re, Ni)
• Detached: 1 (re)
• Symmetries: none
• Murchanas: Miyan ki Malhar (on Re)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Suryakantam
S-R1-R2-G3-M1-P-D2-N3-S
• Jazz: Ionian dbl. 2nd
1-b2-2-3-4-5-6-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-1-2-4-5-7-9-11-0
(1–1–2–1–2–2–2–1)
o o o • o o • o • o • o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Asa Bhairav, Asha Bhairav
—Ravi Shankar (2004)—
[MORE TO FOLLOW]
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• Hindustani Raga Index •
An open-ended project seeking to bring North Indian raga closer to all who approach with open ears. Combines direct input from dozens of leading Hindustani artists with in-depth insights from music history, global theory, performance practice, cognitive science, and much more! [out 2023]
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George Howlett is a London-based musician, writer, and teacher (guitars, sitar, tabla, & santoor). Above all I seek to enthuse fellow sonic searchers, interconnecting fresh vibrations with the voices, cultures, and passions behind them. See Homepage for more, and hit me up for Lessons!
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