Tankeshree | SrGMPdNS | Hindustani Raga Index

S-r-G-M-P-d-N-S

Tankeshree is a seldom-performed Shree–ang raga, which lies closest to the predominant form of Triveni (the same scale minus Ma). Pa is strong and tivra Ma is weak – at least based on the evidence of Omkarnath Thakur’s soaring 1940 rendition (Malan Laaye Chun Chun Kaliyan), which regularly ascends in sparse SGP fashion (also see Malashree and Kalavati). Vanishingly few others have recorded the raga, however it seems to be the same form as ‘Shree Tank’ (although the derivation of these names is unclear) – with Subbha Rao’s Raga Nidhi Vol. 4, which links it to Puriya Dhanashree, noting that “There are three types of Shree Tanki: shadav-sampurna [no Ma in aroha], audav-sampurna [no Ma and Ni in aroha], and audav-shadav [also omitting Ma in avroh]”. Also prakriti with Basant and Jaitashree.

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राग तनकेश्री

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—Omkarnath Thakur (~1960s)—

[refrain, e.g. 0:09] rS(rS)N SG(Gr), (P)G/P(MG), (P)G G(Gr) (S)PGP(G), G(Gr), (S)PGP, GrS, NNd, (N)dNd SN(Sr), S(d) dP(GPG), SGP, GrS…

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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.

• Prakriti: Poorvi thaat, Shree, Puriya Dhanashree, Basant, Jaitashree, Gauri Basant

–Proximate Forms–

Todi = ‘Tankeshree komal ga‘

Bhairav = ‘Tankeshree shuddha ma‘

Poorvi = ‘Tankeshree double Ma‘

Din ki Puriya = ‘Tankeshree no Pa‘

Maligoura = ‘Tankeshree double Dha‘

Hansa Narayani = ‘Tankeshree no Dha‘

(n.b. these are just ‘scalar similarities’, with nothing particular implied about phraseological overlap)

–Swara Geometries–

• Core form: S–r–G–M–P–d–N–S

• Reverse: SrGmMdNS (=Lalit)

• Negative: 4-1-4-1-2 (e.g. Bhupali Todi)

• Imperfect: 2 (Pa, dha)

• Detached: none

• Symmetries: none

• Murchanas: Basant set

–Global Translations–

• Carnatic: ~Kamavardhini (mela #51)

S-R₁-G₃-M₂-P-D₁-N₃-S

• Jazz: Lydian b2 b6

1-b2-3-#4-5-b6-7-8

• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):

0-1-4-6-7-8-11-0

(1–3–2–1–1–3–1)

o o • • o • o o o • • o o

• Tanpura: Sa–Pa

• Names: Tankeshree, Tankeshri

• Transliterations: Hindi (तनकेश्री); Bengali (শ্রী টঙ্ক)

—Omkarnath Thakur (~1960s)—

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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!