Bageshri : Introduction
Bageshri is a Hindustani classical raga. It is a popular raga of the late night, which is meant to depict the emotion of a woman waiting for reunion with her lover. It is said to have been first sung by Mian Tansen, the celebrated court singer of the Emperor Akbar in the sixteenth century.
Raag Details
| Thaat | Kafi |
|---|---|
| Vaadi/Samvaadi | m/S |
| Prahar | 7 (12 am - 3 am) |
| Important Anuvaadi | |
| Aaroha | ’n-S-g-m-D-n-S’ |
| Bhaav | Shadj-Pancham |
| Avaroha | S’-n-D-m-P-D-g-m-g-R-S |
| Saptak-pradhaanata | Mandra-Madhya |
| Pakad | ’n-S-m-g-m-D-n-D-m, m-P-D-g-m-g-R-S |
| Tanpura Tuning | m |
| Jaati | Audav-Sampoorn |
| Other Characteristics | Performed during the first part of the prahar. |
| Similar Raagas | Rageshri |
| Popular Film Songs | 1. Aaja re pardesi, main to kab se khari is paar Film: Madhumati Singers: Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Keharva Music Director: Salil Chaudhari Poet: 2. Jaag dard-e-ishq jaag Film: Anarkali Singers: Hemant Kumar Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Dadra Music Director: C. Ramachandra Poet: Rajinder Krishan 3. Phir vahi shaam vahi gham vahi tanahaayi hai Film: Singers: Talat Mehmood Taala: Dadra Music Director: Poet: 4. Radha na bole na bole na bole re Film: Azad Singers: Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Music Director: C. Ramachandra Poet: Rajinder Krishan |
| Non-Film Songs |
Theory
The theoretical aspects of Bageshri are as follows.
Carnatic music
In the twentieth century, Bageshri raga found widespread popularity in Carnatic Music, in which it is said to be derived from the equivalent raga of Kafi, the 22nd Melakarta called Kharaharapriya. This raga is a janya raga (derived) as it does not have all the seven notes in the ascending scale.
Structure and Lakshana
Bageshri is an asymmetric scale that does not contain panchamam in the ascending scale. It is called a shadava-sampurna rāgam,[1] in Carnatic music classification (as it has 6 notes in ascending and 7 notes in descending scale). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
ārohaṇa : S R2 G2 M1 D2 N2 S
avarohaṇa : S N2 D2 N2 P M1 G2 R2 S
This scale uses the notes shadjam, chathusruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadam.
Popular compositions
Bageshri has become a popular raga in Carnatic music. It is pleasing but a scale that does not give much scope for elaboration (alapana). This scale has been used in a few kritis (compositions). In addition, many devaranamas, ashtapadis, thiruppugazhs, and other lyrics have been set to tune in this raga. It is typically sung in concerts after the main piece, in viruttams, padams, bhajans and ragamalika.
Here are some popular compositions in Bageshri.
Eru mayil eri vilayaducomposed by Arunagirinathar
Sagarasayana by M. D. Ramanathan
Maname ariyen by Papanasam Sivan
Antakanadutarige KiMchittu dayavilla by Purandaradasa
External links