S-r-G-m-P-d-S
A distinctive Bhairav raganga offshoot with uncertain origins, summarised in oddly poetic fashion by MeetKalakar: “Being Nishad-taboo, its caste is shadav. Dhaivat and Rishabh are used softly…which are respectively the plaintiffs”. Performed by only a handful of khayal vocalists (e.g. Abhirang, Purnima Sen, and Yunus Hussain Khan) – but remains a staple of the Dagarvani Dhrupad, often includng flourishes of komal ni and shuddha Dha. Listen to a pakhawaj-less rendition by Nasir Aminuddin Dagar (“after the death of [his brother] Moinuddin in 1966, Aminuddin sang alone…and changed the pitch of his singing far lower”) – and another by his nephew Wasifuddin Dagar from a 2007 concert at Paris’ Bibliotheque Nationale (a city which has arguably become Dhrupad’s ‘second home’ over the past half-century). The raga displays significant variance between different performers – e.g. some omit Ni altogether, and others include it in movements such as GmP, (n)d – and many include both Dha, while others limit themselves to the komal throughout. Compare to the nearby Shivmat Bhairav.
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—Priyanshu Ghosh (2022)—
[refrain, e.g. 1:13] G(PmP) m(Gm) G\r, GmP (n)d, d/S (n)d (d)P, G(mGm)P, G(PmP) m(Gm) G\r, GmP (n)d, d/S…
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Multi-step meend in Raag Bageshri: some riyaz improv in one of my all-time favourite ragas
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Sep 30
E8 Boogie (Squarepusher): @sqpusher did I get them right? Tried to work out guitar voicings for this curious chord sequence in E8 Boogie (…originally at the request of a student!)
Original: Squarepusher/Tom Jenkinson (from 1997’s Hard Normal Daddy)
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Sep 27
Raag Jaiwanti Todi (SrgmPDnS): An Ahiri-prakriti raga introduced by Maharaja Jaiwant Singh Waghela (1904-1980): the hereditary ruler of Sanand who gained wide renown as a spiritual teacher, vocal educator, and generous patron of the nascent Mewati gharana (also the creator of Gyankali and other ragas). Sung here by his student Pandit Jasraj – a bandish I’ve always loved, especially the ferocious taan and colourful harmonium accompaniment…
—Original: Pandit Jasraj (khayal); Appa Jalgaonkar (harmonium); Nizamuddin Khan? (tabla)
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Sep 22
Raag Prabhateshwari (SrgmPDnS): A mysterious raga created by Hariprasad Chaurasia, played here by his nephew Rakesh – resembling a blend of the morning Ahir Bhairav and the late night Bageshri. I was inspired to learn the raga when researching Maa Annapurna Devi’s time teaching Hariprasad (many thanks to my crack team of experts including Rupak Kulkarni, Alam Khan, George Ruckert, Suresh Vyas, Anindya Banerjee, and Gopi Shanker, who all gave valuable assistance in illuminating the raga’s origins)
—Original: Rakesh Chaurasia (bansuri), live at Darbar 2008 @chaurasia_rakesh @darbarfestival
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Sep 15
• 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
Thaat: 10 | 32 | Enclosed | Inexact
Chal: All-shuddha | All-komal | Ma-tivra
Gaps: Anh. | Hemi. | 3-row | 4-row | 5-row
Aroha: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Avroh: Audav | Shadav | Sampurna
Jati: Equal | Balanced | Av.+1 | Av.+2
Samay: Morning | Aftern. | Eve. | Night
Construction: Jod | Mishra | Oddball
Origin: Ancient | Carnatic | Modern
Dominance: Poorvang | Uttarang
Prevalence: A-list | Prachalit | Aprach.
• Prakriti: (none found)
See all shadav ragas which omit Ni – and also compare to other members of the Bhairav raganga
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–r–G–m–P–d–S
• Reverse: SGmPdNS
• Complement: SRgMDnNS
• Imperfect: 3 (Ga, Pa, dha)
• Detached: 1 (Ga)
• Symmetries: none
• Murchanas: none
• Quirks: ‘jagged‘ (no ‘adjacent interval repetitions’)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Kannada Bangala
S-R1-G3-M1-P-D1-S
• Jazz: Double Harmonic (no 7th)
1-b2-3-4-5-b6-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-1-4-5-7-8-0
(1–3–1–2–1–4)
o o • • o o • o o • • • o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Bangal Bhairav, Bengal Bhairav, Bhairav Banghal
• Transliterations: Hindi (बंगाल भैरव); Bengali (বাঙালী ভৈরব)
—Wasifuddin Dagar (2007)—
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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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