S-R-gG-m-P-D-nN-S
A springtime raga described by Satyaki Dutta as “a flow of a thousand feelings…the advent of new beginnings, painted with gleaming colours and shimmering joy”. Its Zila component places greater emphasis on the double-Ga, while the rest of the raga tends to fit into the thumri-allied Mishra Kafi framework. Almost all recordings are on either sarod (e.g. Ali Akbar Khan) or sitar (notably Nikhil Banerjee). Pleasingly, Zila Kafi appears to be on the resurgence – in keeping with its themes of springtime rejuvenation.
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—Amjad Ali Khan (2017)—
[theme, e.g. 2:06] nPS RgR; SR PPP, PmGmmm, gRggg, RSRRR; nPS gRgR, nPS GRGR, nPS gRgR…
• 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.
• Prakriti: Jaijaiwanti, Jaijaiwanti Nat, Gara, Hanskinkini, Jayant Malhar, Ramdasi Malhar, Rageshri Bahar, Tilang Bahar, Nagadhwani Kanada, Patdeepaki
–Swara Geometries–
• Core form: S–R–gG–m–P–D–nN–S
• Reverse: SrRgmPdDnS (=Amiri Todi)
• Negative: 5-5-2
• Imperfect: 1 (Ni)
• Detached: none
• Symmetries: mirror (r—P)
• Murchanas: Jaijaiwanti set
• Quirks: ‘maximal‘ (swaras are optimally ‘spread out’)
–Global Translations–
• Carnatic: ~Kapi
S-R2-G2-G3-M1-P-D2-N2-N3-S
• Jazz: Dorian-Ionian
1-2-b3-3-4-5-6-b7-7-8
• Pitch classes (‘fret-jumps’):
0-2-3-4-5-7-9-10-11-0
(2–1–1–1–2–2–1–1–1)
o • o o o o • o • o o o o
• Tanpura: Sa–Pa
• Names: Zila Kafi, Zeela Kaafi, Zilla Kafi, Jilha-Kafi
—Ali Akbar Khan (~1980s)—
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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 2023-24]
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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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