What is a Raga (1)?
Indian classical music is sometimes referred to as Raga Music.
There is no English word that properly explains the meaning the of Raga. Ragas are not tunes that follow a fixed pattern of notes, but melodic frameworks.
Raga is a Sanskrit word, that literally means “colour” or “passion.” Ragas are meant to colour the mind with emotion.
Ragas are referred to as Raag in the North and Ragam in the South. However, all three words, i.e. Raga, Raag and Ragam are understood both in the North and the South.
Ragas are made up of notes or swaras. As noted in the previous posts, there are seven basic notes (Sa, Re( or Ri), Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni) known as the saptak or the saptaswaras. Sa is repeated at the end of the scale and is higher in pitch, the exact double of the first Sa.
There are also “in-between notes” known as semi-tones and microtones (srutis), which are varieties of the seven main notes/tones.
Shadja, or Sa for short, is the swara that is always present in every Raga. It is the fundamental note and all the other notes are relative to it.
Traditionally, it has been accepted that a Raga has to have a minimum of 5 swaras. However, Ragas with fewer notes have been invented/discovered. The contemporary singer and composer Dr. Balamuralikrishna is famous for his Raga creations that have only three or four notes.
He is such a wonderful teacher. No airs about himself, never talks down to you but still explains things so simply!
Interesting as usual.
Btw did I send you IR’s three note composition?
I don’t think so.
lucid as always
Rama Verma is good. I like the way he explains.