-1- Rag Desh performed by Anoushka Shankar

Question 1

Instrumentation

Answer 1

1. Sitar: a plucked string instrument with a very long neck. It has seven main strings, which are used to play the melody. There are also about 12 sympathetic strings - these aren’t plucked, but resonate ‘in sympathy’ with the other strings, to create a characteristic shimmering sound.
2. Tabla: a pair of drums. The right one is called the dayan. It is smaller (so higher pitched) and made of wood. The left one is called the bayan. It is larger (so lower pitched) and made of metal. The drums are played mainly with the fingers.

Question 2

Rhythm

Answer 2

This version of Rag Desh uses two tals:

Jhaptal - a 10 beat cycle (2 + 3 + 2 + 3)

Tintal - a 16 beat cycle (4 + 4 + 4 + 4)

Question 3

Structure - Alap

Answer 3

• This section is for sitar only
• It is slow and has no regular pulse
• The sitar introduces the notes and mood of the rag
• The melodic line is decorated with slides and pitch bends (called meends)

Question 4

Structure - Gat

Answer 4

• The tabla enters after a few seconds
• The sitar plays a fixed composition (the ‘gat)
• The sitar and tabla improvise. The sitar’s improvisations are based on the gat, and the tabla’s on the tal. The improvisations end with a tihai - a short melody or rhythm played three times, which ends on the sam.
• Towards the end of this section, the tempo increases.

Question 5

Structure - Jhalla

Answer 5

• The music is fast and the sitar strings are strummed to create rhythmic excitement

Question 6

Who performs the first Rag Desh?

Answer 6

Anoushka Shankar, who plays sitar, is the daughter of the very famous Indian musician Ravi Shankar. This version of Rag Desh was recorded live in 2001, at a concert in New York.