S-r-G-mM-P-D-nN-S
Perhaps the only Kanada raga to give prominence to tivra Ma (which appears in Basant-like poorvang motions such as GMDMG; MGrS), Basanti Kanada is a thinly-analysed form which summons idiosyncratic tensions via a precise mixing of seemingly incongruous elements (e.g. from the bandish below: DmG, GMdM\G, MGrS). Predominantly associated with vocalists of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana, the raga is best-known via Kishori Amonkar’s numerous renditions (also refer to a superb recording by her disciple Arun Dravid, and another by Mallikarjun Mansur). As yet untouched by instrumentalists.
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राग बसंती कान्ह्डा
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—Arun Dravid (1984)—
[refrain, e.g. 1:23] D m G, G GM(d)M\G, (M)G rS, (S)G rS, S(NR)S, Sm, m m\G, P m\G, G(m)D DP, DPDND, PDnDP…
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Raag Jog: exploring different ways the electric guitar can support a Dhrupad-ang nomtom (syllabic improvisation)…
(From ‘Around the World in Eight Ragas’: my show with Ashwin Baliga & Marc Clayton at Mehfil Space on 11 Jun 2026) @ashwinbaligaofficial @marc_plays_tabla @mehfilspace
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Jun 28
Raag Kafi: Electric guitar improv around the adha bandish ‘Aaj Khel Shaam Sang Hori’
(From ‘Around the World in Eight Ragas’: my show with Ashwin Baliga & Marc Clayton at Mehfil Space on 11 Jun 2026) @ashwinbaligaofficial @marc_plays_tabla @mehfilspace
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Jun 22
Raag Jog: some sawal-jawab (‘question-answer’) fun with Marc Clayton on tabla
(From ‘Around the World in Eight Ragas’: my show with Ashwin Baliga & Marc Clayton at Mehfil Space on 11 Jun 2026) @ashwinbaligaofficial @marc_plays_tabla @mehfilspace
#raga #indianmusic #icm #worldmusic #ragaguitar
Jun 15
Some tintal improv around a wonderful Durga bandish I’ll be playing at @mehfilspace @the_rose_hill in Brighton on Thu 11th June! with vocalist @ashwinbaligaofficial and @marc_plays_tabla
https://therosehill.co.uk/event/the-mehfil-space-presents-around-the-world-in-8-ragas/
‘Around the World in 8 Ragas’: exploring cross-cultural melodic forms (e.g. scales that turn up independently in Japan, India, Mali, etc)
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Jun 10
• 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)
Also compare to other members of the Kanada raganga
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–r–G–mM–P–D–nN–S
• Reverse: SrRgmMPdNS
• Complement: SRgdS
• Imperfect: 2 (re, Pa)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: none
• Murchanas: Roopkali (on ma)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Sourashtram
S-R1-G3-M1-M2-P-D2-N2-N3-S
• Jazz: Phrygian Dominant (dbl. 4th/7th)
1-b2-3-4-#4-5-6-b7-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-1-4-5-6-7-9-10-11-0
(1–3–1–1–1–2–1–1–1)
o o • • o o o o • o o o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Basanti Kanada, Basant Kannada
• Transliterations: Hindi (बसंती कान्ह्डा); Bengali (বসন্ত কানাড়া)
—Kishori Amonkar (~1970s)—
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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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