S-R-g-m-P-D-nN-S
An Agra gharana speciality, Barwa blends ideas from Kafi (mP, mgR; mPDNS), Sindhura (SRmP; Pg), and Desi (RPRg). The komal ga tends to be omitted in aroha, and ma is rendered deergha, while Re–Pa is often given as the vadi-samvadi. Traditionally associated with the late morning hours, the raga is one of many Kafi-allied forms to have emerged from folk melodies (also see Zila Kafi), only becoming semi-formalised around the 18th century (Bhatkhande notes an older, audav form of Barwa: prakriti with the modern-day Dhani’s SgmPnS). Listen to classic khayal renditions by Faiyaz Khan & Latafat Hussain Khan (the ‘Prem Das’ and ‘Prem Priya’ of the Agra lineage) – as well as a rare instrumental take by sarodiya Buddhadev Dasgupta.
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—Waseem Ahmed Khan (2021)—
[refrain, e.g. 26:10] P(m)P, m\g(mg), m\R (R)g\S, (D)mR (mg)gRS, (PNS)R\n(SnD), NN NS, (PNSRm)g (mgm)g\R, R(Pm)P, m\g…
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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-R-g-m-P-D-nN-S
• Reverse: SrRgmPDnS (=none)
• Inverse: dha; SmdnS (=none)
• Imperfect: 2 (Dha, Ni)
• Detached: 1 (Ni)
• Symmetries: none
• Murchanas: Suha Todi (on Re)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: (~Kapi/Kannada)
S-R2-G2-M1-P-D2-N2-N3-S
• Jazz: Dorian (dbl. 7th)
1-2-b3-4-5-6-b7-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-3-5-7-9-10-11-0
(2–1–2–2–2–1–1–1)
o • o o • o • o • o o o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Barwa, Barava
—Buddhadev Dasgupta (~1990s)—
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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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