• Raag Gagan Vihang •

S-R-G-m-P-D-N-S


As per Ocean of Ragas, Gagan Vihang (Sanskrit: ‘Birds of Heaven’) “was composed by Pandit Dinkar Kaikini…we find features of Bihag, Savani, Nand, and Mand, although the raga maintains its independent melody [via] unique phrases such as SRPGm, GmRS, NDmP” – while others also point to the influence of Shankara. The Agra khayal innovator (also the father of tabla maestro Yogesh Samsi) recorded his creation several times, but few have followed. Compare to the many other Bilawalprakriti ragas listed below – and also see Kaikini’s other creations, including Gunaranjani and Bayati (an intriguing ‘quarter-tonal‘ raga, adapted from a Middle Eastern maqam).


Raga Megalist (365+) •
Search | Glossary | Tags
Hindustani Raga Index •

BlackLineNARROWER

—Dinkar Kaikini (1987)—


[bandish, e.g. 1:32] GSRPm(G) m, m(GmG)P\G, GmG\R(S)G(RS), S(RSN), NSG, mG/P(SDPDPmGmP), PNS G\RS(N), NS(DP), PP(DP)D P(mPmG), G(RGmG)R\S S, GmP(SNSNDN), GSRPm(G) m

BlackLineNARROWER

• 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.

BlackLineNARROWER

• Prakriti: Bilawal thaat, Bilawal, Tilak Kamod, Nat, Hem Bihag, Bihari, Savani, Swanandi, Maluha, Mand, Chaya Malhar, Hemant, Manjari Bihag

BlackLineNARROWER

–Swara Geometries–

Core form: SRGmPDNS
Reverse: SrgmPdnS (=Bhairavi)
Negative: 3-2-3-2-2 (e.g. Malkauns)
Imperfect: 1 (Ni)
Detached: none
Symmetries: mirror (R—d)
Murchanas: Bilawal set

Quirks: maximal‘ (swaras are optimally ‘spread out’)

BlackLineNARROWER

–Global Translations–

Carnatic: ~Sankarabharanam
S-R2-G3-M1-P-D2-N3-S
Jazz: Major / Ionian
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8
Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-4-5-7-9-11-0
(2–2–1–2–2–2–1)

o • o • o o • o • o • o o


BlackLineNARROWER

• Tanpura: Sa–Pa (+Ni)
• Names: Gagan Vihang, Gaganvihang

BlackLineNARROWER

—Kishan Patel (2020)—

BlackLineNARROWER

 

Get started with learning raga! •

Share these ragas! My site is 100% reliant on organic visitors (and none of your donations go to ad agencies…) – share this with fellow sonic searchers!

[MORE TO FOLLOW]

Like everything on my site, the Raga Index will always remain open-access & ad-free: however, anti-corporate musicology doesn’t pay the bills! I put as much into these resources as time and finances allow – so, to hasten the project’s expansion, you can:

Support the Raga Index! •

—Riyaz-focused notations & bandish—
—Resurrecting rare and ancient ragas—
—Further melodic & geometric analysis—
—Engaging with Hindustani performers—
—Ensuring that high-quality raga knowledge will remain open to all, at no cost: free from commercial motive!—

 

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 2023-24]

Megalist (365+ ragas)
Search: Find your new favourite •
Tags: Classifying the ragascape •
Glossary: Raga jargon demystified
Murchanas: Swara-set rotations •
Thaat: Bhatkhande’s base scales •
Ragatable: Analytical connections •
Tanpuras: Divine overtonal drones •
Quotes: Musings from raga artists •
Talas: Hindustani rhythm cycles •
Sa | Re | Ga | Ma | Pa | Dha | Ni
[Random Raga]

—Search the Raga Index—

Feedback / Contact •

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!

Projects & articles: full list •

everything 100% ad-free and open-access