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Spinning the wheels: Exploring the idea of ‘murchana’ in Hindustani music – including my systematic search for previously undiscovered rotational groupings, revealing some surprising geometric connections!

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–Taxonomy of Murchana–

• 5 swaras: Bhupali | Kalavati | Shivranjani • 6 swaras: Shankara | Jog | Hemshri | Kameshwari • 7 swaras: Bilawal | Charukeshi | Bhairav | Nat Bhairav | Basant | Kedar | Khokar | Kirwani | Todi • 8+ swaras: Bihag | Gara | Hanskinkini | Pilu • Pairs

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–More Murchana Musings–

• Self-murchanas: rotational symmetries •

• Jasrangi jugalbandi: simultaneous scales •

• Ravi Shankar’s swara-swirling car-ride •

• Further learnings: scale geometries •

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What is murchana? ‘Murchana’ describes the concept of ‘melodic rotation’ in Hindustani music – i.e. ‘relocating the Sa within the same interval pattern’ to form a fresh scale (somewhat akin to the Western idea of ‘modality’). For example, if you treat Bhupali‘s Ga as the ‘new Sa’, Malkauns is produced: as both swara-sets are rotations of the same ‘round-the-octave’ sequence:

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• Bhupali set (5) •

…2-2-3-2-3…

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• 1 (S-R-G-P-D-S): Bhupali | Deshkar | Pahadi | Jait Kalyan
• 2 (S-R-m-P-n-S): Megh | Madhumad Sarang
• 3 (S-g-m-d-n-S): Malkauns
• 4 (S-R-m-P-D-S): Durga | Jaldhar Kedar | Shuddha Malhar
• 5 (S-g-m-P-n-S): Dhani

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• Kalavati set (5) •

…4-3-2-1-2…

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• 1 (S-G-P-D-n-S): Kalavati
• 2 (S-g-mM-d-S): –
• 3 (S-R-g-m-D-S): Abhogi
• 4 (S-r-g-P-n-S): Bairagi Todi
• 5 (S-R-M-D-N-S): –

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• Shivranjani set (5) •

…2-1-4-2-3…

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• 1 (S-R-g-P-D-S): Shivranjani
• 2 (S-r-m-P-n-S): Bairagi
• 3 (S-G-M-D-N-S): Hindol
• 4 (S-R-m-P-d-S): Shobhawari
• 5 (S-g-mM-n-S): –

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• Kameshwari set (6) •

…2-4-1-2-1-2…

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• 1 (S-R-M-P-D-n-S): Kameshwari | Saraswati
• 2 (S-G-m-P-d-n-S): Gangeshwari
• 3 (S-r-gG-M-d-S): –
• 4 (S-R-g-m-P-N-S): Rangeshwari
• 5 (S-r-g-m-D-n-S): Parameshwari | Deen Todi
• 6 (S-R-G-dD-N-S): –

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• Shankara set (6) •

…2-2-3-2-2-1…

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• 1 (S-R-G-P-D-N-S): Shankara | Kesari Kalyan
• 2 (S-R-m-P-D-n-S): Gorakh Kalyan | Narayani | Durgawati
• 3 (S-g-m-P-d-n-S): Gopika Basant | Pancham Malkauns
• 4 (S-R-G-m-P-D-S): –
• 5 (S-R-g-m-P-n-S): Suha Kanada | Nayaki Kanada | Gaudgiri Malhar
• 6 (S-r-g-m-d-n-S): Lankeshri Kanada

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• Jog set (6) •

…3-1-1-2-3-2…

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• 1 (S-gG-m-P-n-S): Jog
• 2 (S-rR-G-P-D-S): Jait
• 3 (S-r-g-M-d-N-S): Gujiri Todi
• 4 (S-R-m-P-nN-S): Sarang
• 5 (S-g-m-dD-n-S): –
• 6 (S-R-mM-P-D-S): –

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• Hemshri set (6) •

…3-2-2-3-1-1…

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• 1 (S-g-m-P-nN-S): Hemshri |
• 2 (S-R-G-P-dD-S): –
• 3 (S-R-mM-P-n-S): –
• 4 (S-gG-m-d-n-S): Madhurkauns | Nandkauns | Mohankauns
• 5 (S-rR-m-P-D-S): –
• 6 (S-r-G-M-d-N-S): Din ki Puriya

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• Bilawal set (7) •

…2-2-1-2-2-2-1…

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• 1 (S-R-G-m-P-D-N-S): Bilawal thaat | Bilawal | Tilak Kamod | Nat | Nat Kamod | Hem Bihag | Bihari | Swanadi | Gagan Vihang | Maluha | Gaud Malhar | Hemant | Manjari Bihag
• 2 (S-R-g-m-P-D-n-S): Kafi thaat | Kafi | Bageshri | Bhimpalasi | Shahana | Desi | Dhanashree | Hussaini Kanada | Mudriki Kanada | Raisa Kanada
• 3 (S-r-g-m-P-d-n-S): Bhairavi thaat | Bhairavi | Bilaskhani Todi | Asavari (komal re) |
• 4 (S-R-G-M-P-D-N-S): Kalyan thaat | Yaman | Shuddha Kalyan
• 5 (S-R-G-m-P-D-n-S): Khamaj thaat | Khamaj | Jhinjhoti | Kambhoji | Khambavati | Gaoti | Savani | Chaya Malhar
• 6 (S-R-g-m-P-d-n-S): Asavari thaat | Asavari (shuddha Re) | Darbari | Kaunsi Kanada | Jaunpuri | Adana | Sampurna Malkauns
• 7 (S-r-g-mM-d-n-S): –

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• Charukeshi set (7) •

…2-2-1-2-1-2-2…

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• 1 (S-R-G-m-P-d-n-S): Charukeshi | Gunjikauns | Malayalam
• 2 (S-R-g-mM-d-n-S): –
• 3 (S-r-gG-M-d-n-S): –
• 4 (S-R-g-m-P-D-N-S): Patdeep
• 5 (S-r-g-m-P-N-n-S): Ahiri | Jaiwanti Todi | Prabhateshwari
• 6 (S-R-G-M-dD-N-S): –
• 7 (S-R-G-M-P-D-n-S): Vachaspati

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• Bhairav set (7) •

…1-3-1-2-1-3-1…

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• 1 (S-r-G-m-P-d-N-S): Bhairav thaat | Bhairav | Kalingada | Gauri | Prabhakali
• 2 (S-gG-M-P-nN-S): –
• 3 (S-r-gG-P-dD-S): –
• 4 (S-R-g-M-P-d-N-S): Simhendra Madhyamam
• 5 (S-r-G-mM-D-n-S): Ahir Lalit
• 6 (S-gG-m-dD-N-S): –
• 7 (S-rR-mM-dD-S): –

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• Nat Bhairav set (7) •

…2-2-1-2-1-3-1…

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• 1 (S-R-G-m-P-d-N-S): Nat Bhairav
• 2 (S-R-g-mM-D-n-S): –
• 3 (S-r-gG-P-d-n-S): –
• 4 (S-R-g-M-P-D-N-S): Madhuvanti | Anjani Kalyan
• 5 (S-r-G-m-P-D-n-S): Ahir Bhairav
• 6 (S-gG-M-dD-N-S): –
• 7 (S-r-g-mM-dD-S): –

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• Kedar set (7) •

…2-3-1-1-2-2-1…

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• 1 (S-R-mM-P-D-N-S): Kedar | Shuddha Sarang
• 2 (S-gG-m-P-D-n-S): Jogeshwari Pancham
• 3 (S-rR-G-M-P-D-S): –
• 4 (S-r-g-mM-d-N-S): Mangal Todi
• 5 (S-R-G-m-P-nN-S): Lachari Kanada
• 6 (S-R-g-m-dD-n-S): –
• 7 (S-r-g-M-P-d-n-S): ‘Unfilled thaat #16’

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• Khokar set (7) •

…4-1-2-2-1-1-1…

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• 1 (S-G-m-P-D-nN-S): Khokar
• 2 (S-r-g-mM-P-d-S): –
• 3 (S-R-G-mM-P-N-S): Shyam Kalyan
• 4 (S-R-gG-m-D-n-S): Rageshri Kanada
• 5 (S-rR-g-P-d-n-S): –
• 6 (S-rR-M-P-D-N-S): –
• 7 (S-r-mM-d-nN-S): –

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• Kirwani set (7) •

…2-1-2-2-1-3-1…

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• 1 (S-R-g-m-P-d-N-S): Kirwani
• 2 (S-r-g-mM-D-n-S): –
• 3 (S-R-G-m-dD-N-S): –
• 4 (S-R-g-M-P-D-n-S): Madhukant | Hemavati
• 5 (S-r-G-m-P-d-n-S): Basant Mukhari
• 6 (S-gG-M-P-D-N-S): –
• 7 (S-r-gG-M-dD-S): –

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• Basant set (7) •

…1-3-2-1-1-3-1…

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• 1 (S-r-G-M-P-d-N-S): Basant | Shree | Puriya Dhanashree | Shuddha Basant | Gauri Basant | Tankeshree
• 2 (S-g-mM-P-nN-S): –
• 3 (S-R-gG-P-dD-S): –
• 4 (S-rR-mM-P-n-S): –
• 5 (S-r-G-mM-D-N-S): Lalita Sohini | Malti Basant
• 6 (S-gG-m-d-nN-S): –
• 7 (S-rR-m-P-dD-S): –

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• Todi set (7) •

…1-2-3-1-1-3-1…

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• 1 (S-r-g-M-P-d-N-S): Todi thaat | Todi | Multani | Annapurna
• 2 (S-R-mM-P-nN-S): Noor Sarang
• 3 (S-gG-m-dD-n-S): –
• 4 (S-rR-mM-P-D-S): –
• 5 (S-r-G-mM-d-N-S): Lalit | Paraj
• 6 (S-gG-m-P-nN-S): –
• 7 (S-rR-G-P-dD-S): –

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• Bihag set (8) •

…2-2-1-1-1-2-2-1…

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• 1 (S-R-G-mM-P-D-N-S): Bihag | Nand | Hameer | Kamod | Maru Bihag | Pat Bihag | Chayanat | Gaud Sarang | Nagadhwani Kanada | Khem Kalyan | Lakshmi Kalyan | Sanjh Saravali
• 2 (S-R-gG-m-P-D-n-S): Malgunji | Bheem | Lankeshwari | Sorath | Neelambari
• 3 (S-rR-g-m-P-d-n-S): Gandhari | Gandhari Todi | Bahaduri Todi
• 4 (S-rR-G-M-P-D-N-S): –
• 5 (S-r-g-mM-d-nN-S): –
• 6 (S-R-G-m-P-D-nN-S): Desh | Des Malhar | Champak | Alhaiya Bilawal | Devgiri Bilawal | Kukubh Bilawal | Bihagara | Bihagda | Arun Malhar | Tilak Malhar
• 7 (S-R-g-m-P-dD-n-S): –
• 8 (S-r-g-mM-P-d-n-S): –

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• Gara set (8) •

…2-1-1-1-2-3-1-1…

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• 1 (S-R-gG-m-P-nN-S): Gara | Jaijaiawanti
• 2 (S-rR-g-m-dD-n-S): –
• 3 (S-rR-G-P-dD-N-S): –
• 4 (S-r-g-M-P-d-nN-S): –
• 5 (S-R-mM-P-D-nN-S): Pancham se Gara | Saraswati Sarang | Ambika Sarang | Sawan Sarang
• 6 (S-gG-m-P-dD-n-S): –
• 7 (S-rR-G-mM-P-D-S): –
• 8 (S-r-gG-mM-d-N-S): –

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• Hanskinkini set (8) •

…2-1-1-1-2-2-2-1…

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• 1 (S-R-gG-m-P-D-N-S): Hanskinkini
• 2 (S-rR-g-m-P-D-n-S): –
• 3 (S-rR-G-M-dD-N-S): –
• 4 (S-r-g-m-P-d-nN-S): –
• 5 (S-R-G-M-P-D-nN-S): Shankara Karan
• 6 (S-R-G-m-P-dD-n-S): Gunji Kanada
• 7 (S-R-g-mM-P-d-n-S): –
• 8 (S-r-gG-mM-d-n-S): –

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• Pilu set (9) •

…2-1-1-1-2-2-1-1-1…

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• 1 (S-R-gG-m-P-D-nN-S): Pilu | Jaijaiwanti Nat | Zila Kafi | Jayant Malhar | Ramdasi Malhar | Rageshri Bahar | Tilang Bahar | Patdeepaki
• 2 (S-rR-g-m-P-dD-n-S): Amiri Todi
• 3 (S-rR-G-M-P-dD-N-S): –
• 4 (S-r-g-mM-P-d-nN-S): Khat Todi | Adarangi Todi
• 5 (S-R-G-mM-P-D-nN-S): Pancham se Pilu | Nat Bihag | Chandni Kedar | Saraswati Kedar | Manj Khamaj | Shuddha Chaya | Medhavi
• 6 (S-R-gG-m-P-dD-n-S): Lachari Todi
• 7 (S-rR-g-mM-P-d-n-S): Jaunpuri Todi
• 8 (S-rR-G-mM-P-D-N-S): –
• 9 (S-r-gG-mM-d-nN-S): –

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• Murchana Pairs •

Some other rotational partners I came across via querying the Ragatable (many of which also have their own prakriti forms: see individual raga pages). Let me know if you find any matches I’ve missed!

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5: Devshri [Pa=Sa] Madhuranjani

5: Gunkali [dha=Sa] Kaushik Dhwani

5: Rajeshwari [ma=Sa] Chandramadhu

5: Chandrakauns [ma=Sa] Madhukauns

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6: Marwa [re=Sa] Tulsikauns

6: Tilang [Pa=Sa] Jogeshwari

6: Lilavati [ni=Sa] Shivawanti

6: Kalashri [Dha=Sa] Saheli Todi

6: Malavi [Dha=Sa] Milan Gandhar

6: Jansammohini [ni=Sa] Raj Kalyan

6: Miyan ki Malhar [Re=Sa] Suha Todi

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8: Adi Basant [ma=Sa] Maligoura

8: Virat Bhairav [ni=Sa] Tanseni Madhuvanti

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9: Mand [Ga=Sa] Shivmat Bhairav

9: Roopkali [Pa=Sa] Basanti Kanada

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• Chandrakauns/Madhukauns – Ranjani & Gayatri (2017):

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“We present two ragas at the same time, through a device called murchana…”

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• More Murchana Musings •

T…

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—Rotational Symmetries—

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Some ragas are also ‘self-murchanas’ – i.e. when rotated through each position, they form at least one scale identical to that of the starting point. This property of ‘rotational symmetry‘ is vanishingly rare: with only two ragas in the entire Index displaying it precisely:

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• Gaurimanjari: A ten-toned raga, which (aided by its reflectional palindromicity),

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• Sehera: Among the strangest scales in the whole Hindustani pantheon, Sehera’s 6 swaras are each spaced in 2-semitone jumps (akin to the Western Whole-Tone scale and the Carnatic Gopriya). This structure produces an ‘equilateral hexagon‘, which is thus rotationally symmetric from all swara positions – summoning a curious, centreless mood…

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• Sehera Ghazal – Mehdi Hassan & Sultan Khan (1977):

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“Sarangiya Sultan Khan once described Sehera as “the forbidden scale”, and, after pre-recording it for All India Radio, reportedly requested that his session “should not be aired…it is too sad”. Thankfully, he did cut a haunting ghazal with Mehdi Hassan, manipulating a GMdS refrain over ambiguous harmonium drones (…I mean, what would you even tune a tanpura to?)”

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—Jasrangi Jugalbandi—

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Mewati vocal pioneer Pandit Jasraj used murchana to bring new life to the male-female jugalbandi duet. This zone has long presented great challenge to raga performers – artists are rarely comfortable singing a full octave apart, and Hindustani music provides no explicit ‘harmony’ parts for higher voices. Jasraj sought to overcome this by matching ragas which form near-exact rotations of each other, which could then be sung simultaneously.

 

—Shankar’s ‘Car ki Seat’ Set—

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• Parameshwari:

 

—Further Learnings—

Onward links for my fellow swara-swirling explorers…

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• Murchana history:

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• Header image: ‘Nataraja: Shiva as Divine Cosmic Dancer’, bronze figurine of unknown origin (Commons)

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