• Raag Champak •

S-R-G-m-P-D-nN-S


A seldom-heard neighbour of Khambavati, distinguished (often very subtly) by stronger use of shuddha ma, and sometimes involving a Gm\S catchphrase. Both ni swaras are used, with the komal introduced via vakra avroh motions (e.g. SRn). Named after a huge evergreen tree species with fragrant yellow-orange flowers, used in perfumery and featured in many myths and legends from Indian history (including a famous tale of a dishonest champak: “Sage Narada went back to the tree and cursed it for lying. He said that its flowers must never again be used in the worship of Lord Shiva…and also cursed the Brahmin, saying that he would be born as a demon…”).


Raga Megalist (365+) •
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—Narayanrao Vyas (~1960s)—


[refrain, e.g. 0:01] PmGS Rm, m(Gm)PD m(Gm)G, PmGS Rm, m(P)G (R)S, S(nDnDP)S, SRG(RS), SRG RGm m(PmP)G(R), PmGS Rm…

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• 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 | 32Enclosed | 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.

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–Swara Geometries–

Core form: S-R-G-m-P-D-nN-S
Reverse: SrRgmPdnS (=Gandhari)
Inverse: dha; SmPnS (=none)
Imperfect: 1 (Ni)
Detached: none
Symmetries: mirror (Gm—nN)
Murchanas: Bihag set

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–Global Translations–

Carnatic: Balahamsa
S-R2-G3-M1-P-D2-N2-N3-S
Jazz: Bebop Dominant
1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-7-8
Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-4-5-7-9-10-11-0
(2–2–1–2–2–1–1–1)

o • o • o o • o • o o o o


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• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Champak, Campak

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—Roshan & Ghulam Abbas Khan (2021)—

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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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