S-R-G-m-P-D-n-S
Introduced by Kirana legend Bhimsen Joshi, via combining Kalavati and Rageshri to span the full seven swaras of Khamaj thaat. Aarshin Karande notes that the raga’s origins lie in Gopalkrishna Bhobe’s 1969 sangeet natak [Marathi musical drama] ‘Dhanya Te Gayani Kala‘ (“Bhimsen-ji developed upon the melody, becoming Kalashri…He even named his home in Pune after this extraordinary raga”). Joshi’s renditions draw mostly from Kalavati, setting a strong Pa and recurring GPD movements in an audav aroha – with Rageshri’s imprint mainly evident in the vakra avroh phrase GmRnS (which helps to distinguish it from the nearby Jansammohini). Described by the Komal Rishabh blog as “beautiful and playful, a wonderful concoction of sweet and fragrant notes….Joshi was extremely fond of it, and [his] followers continue to perform it with passion”. You can even watch Joshi teach it to his daughter Shubhada Mulgund in a heartwarming baithak video. Also refer to Amjad Ali Khan‘s stellar sarod exploration, as well as Shahid Parvez’ 2024 take, entitled ‘Harmonic Bliss‘ (in Parvez’ own words, “A rare gem…few have ventured into the raga. My hope was to capture its essence on the sitar…”). Compare to other members of the Khamaj raganga.
• Raga Masterlist (1000+) •
राग कलाश्री
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—Bhimsen Joshi (1971)—
[refrain, e.g. 1:53] SGP D(PG)P\G, Gm R(n), (SG) G; GPD (DPG)P\G, mG, (nS)G, G mRS, n(D)…
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Multi-step meend in Raag Bageshri: some riyaz improv in one of my all-time favourite ragas
#raga #jazzguitar #indianmusic #icm #londonmusic
Sep 30
E8 Boogie (Squarepusher): @sqpusher did I get them right? Tried to work out guitar voicings for this curious chord sequence in E8 Boogie (…originally at the request of a student!)
Original: Squarepusher/Tom Jenkinson (from 1997’s Hard Normal Daddy)
#jungle #jazzguitar #warprecords #idm #dnb @warprecords
Sep 27
Raag Jaiwanti Todi (SrgmPDnS): An Ahiri-prakriti raga introduced by Maharaja Jaiwant Singh Waghela (1904-1980): the hereditary ruler of Sanand who gained wide renown as a spiritual teacher, vocal educator, and generous patron of the nascent Mewati gharana (also the creator of Gyankali and other ragas). Sung here by his student Pandit Jasraj – a bandish I’ve always loved, especially the ferocious taan and colourful harmonium accompaniment…
—Original: Pandit Jasraj (khayal); Appa Jalgaonkar (harmonium); Nizamuddin Khan? (tabla)
#raga #khayal #indianmusic #worldmusic #icm
Sep 22
Raag Prabhateshwari (SrgmPDnS): A mysterious raga created by Hariprasad Chaurasia, played here by his nephew Rakesh – resembling a blend of the morning Ahir Bhairav and the late night Bageshri. I was inspired to learn the raga when researching Maa Annapurna Devi’s time teaching Hariprasad (many thanks to my crack team of experts including Rupak Kulkarni, Alam Khan, George Ruckert, Suresh Vyas, Anindya Banerjee, and Gopi Shanker, who all gave valuable assistance in illuminating the raga’s origins)
—Original: Rakesh Chaurasia (bansuri), live at Darbar 2008 @chaurasia_rakesh @darbarfestival
#raga #darbarfestival #indianmusic #bansuri #worldmusic
Sep 15
• 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: Khamaj thaat, Jhinjhoti, Kambhoji, Khambavati, Sakh, Gaoti
Also compare to other members of the Khamaj raganga
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–R–G–m–P–D–n–S
• Reverse: SRgmPdnS (=Darbari)
• Complement: SrgMdNS (=Gujiri Todi)
• Imperfect: 1 (Ga)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: mirror (r—P)
• Murchanas: Bilawal set
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Khamas
S-R2-G3-M1-P-D2-N2-S
• Jazz: Mixolydian
1-2-3-4-5-6-b7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-4-5-7-9-10-0
(2–2–1–2–2–1–2)
o • o • o o • o • o o • o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Kalashri, Kalashree
• Transliterations: Hindi (कलाश्री)
—Bhimsen Joshi (~1980s)—
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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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