S-R-G-P-N-S
Hansadhwani translates to ‘call of swans’ – a creature with rich cultural associations in the Subcontinent (Saraswati, goddess of music and learning, is often depicted atop a swan, said to symbolise purity, discernment, and the process of breathing). Originally an import from Carnatic music, the raga’s pentatonic simplicity invites the listener towards the calm of nature, with a strong vadi-samvadi pairing of Sa–Pa retaining a central reassurance amidst what Jairazbhoy describes as “an inherently unbalanced scale”.
• Raga Megalist (365+) •
Search | Glossary | Tags
• Hindustani Raga Index •
—Parveen Sultana (2018)—
[alap phrases, e.g. 0:56] (N)P/SN(SN), P/S(NSPGSNRSN), (NP)SN(SN)S, (N)S S(NPGPNRS), N(PSN)GR, NRSNPG, PGPS NRS, PS, PG, S…
• 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 | 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-P-N-S
• Reverse: SrmdnS (=none)
• Inverse: ni; SgmPdnNS (=none)
• Imperfect: 2 (Re, Ni)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: none
• Murchanas: none
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: Hamsadhwani
S-R2-G3-P-N3-S
• Jazz: Ionian (no 4th/6th)
1-2-3-5-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-4-7-11-0
(2–2–3–4–1)
o • o • o • • o • • • o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa (+Ni)
• Names: Hansadhwani, Hamsadhwani, Haunsadhwani, Hans Dhwani
—Hariprasad Chaurasia (~2000s)—
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• 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]
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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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