S-R-G-mM-P-D-N-S
A rare-but-charming raga of the Agra gharana, Khem Kalyan is a Kalyan variant with Hansadhwani-like touches. Deepak Raja recounts decoding its phraseology from old recordings, having failed to find a guru who knew it: “This was no ordinary raga…not even just another rare raga. It was a special raga, perhaps beyond reach without a guru…The raga has a quadratonic ascent of stark tonal geometry (SGPNS), with each swara having equal weightage. The descent is hyper-heptatonic (SNDPMmGRS), with tivra Ma being deployed subliminally (as in Shuddha Kalyan), and shuddha Dha deployed subliminally (as in Bihag). The zigzag phrasing [is] essential…”.
• Raga Megalist (365+) •
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• Hindustani Raga Index •
—Ashwini Bhide Deshpande (2018)—
[refrain, e.g. 2:15] GPD S\N\D M\G, GRS, NSG G\R…
• 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-mM-P-D-N-S
• Reverse: SrgmMPdnS (=none)
• Inverse: ni; SgmnS (=none)
• Imperfect: 1 (Ma)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: mirror (mM—NS)
• Murchanas: Bihag set
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Begada
S-R2-G3-M1-M2-P-D2-N3-S
• Jazz: Lydionian
1-2-3-4-#4-5-6-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-4-5-6-7-9-11-0
(2–2–1–1–1–2–2–1)
o • o • o o o o • o • o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Khem Kalyan, Khemkalyani (not Hem Kalyan)
—Jitendra Abhisheki (~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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