What is Raga?
A Raga is the foundation of Indian classical music. It is a melodic framework made of selected musical notes (swaras) arranged in a specific order, used to create a particular mood or emotion.
A raga is not just a scale. It is a set of rules that guide how notes are used, emphasized, and ornamented to express rasa (feeling).
Definition
A raga can be defined as:
A melodic structure that evokes a specific emotion and is formed according to fixed rules of swaras, ascent (Aroha), descent (Avaroha), and characteristic phrases.
Main Features of a Raga
-
Swaras: Selected notes from the seven basic notes (Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni)
-
Aroha: Ascending order of notes
-
Avaroha: Descending order of notes
-
Vadi: Most important note
-
Samvadi: Second most important note
-
Pakad: Characteristic phrase of the raga
-
Time Theory: Each raga is traditionally sung or played at a specific time of day or season
-
Rasa: The emotion or mood (peaceful, joyful, devotional, etc.)
Importance of Raga
-
Ragas give identity and structure to Indian classical music
-
They allow creativity within discipline
-
Different ragas express different moods and emotions
Example
-
Raga Yaman – peaceful and devotional, usually performed in the evening
-
Raga Bhairav – serious and meditative, performed in the morning
https://raag-hindustani.com/Scales1.html
No comments:
Post a Comment