Rag Desh

Question 0

What is the raga in Rag Desh?

Answer 0

C, D, F, G, B, C, Bb, A, G, F, E, D, C

Question 1

What is Rag Desh?

Answer 1

Rag Desh is the rainy season raga - to be played at night. It has a feeling of romance and devotion. There are 3 versions studied:

1. Performed by Steve Gorn and Benjy Wetheimer
2. Performed by Anoushka Shankar
3. By S.D.Dhandhada and H.Dhandhada

Question 2

What are the Key features of Steve Gorn and Benjy Wertheimer’s version (Priyagitah)?

Answer 2

This version was improvised in a recording studio. Based around the traditional raga structure, the musicians miss out some sections (to keep the audience interested).
It is divided up onto 3 tracks: 1.Alap 2 +3. Gats (each gat based on a different tala).

Question 3

What are the key features of the Alap in Pryagitah?

Answer 3

At the beginning you can hear the tambura drone. Then, the bansuri and esraj come in - they improvise using notes of the rag Desh. This is a slow and flowing section - there is no pulse to drive it along.

Question 4

What are the key features of the Gats in Priyagitah?

Answer 4

1. In this section the tabla comes in playing a steady rhythm. The bansuri plays another improv melody. It’s a bit faster than the Alap. This Gat is based on the rupak, which has 7 beats.
2. This second Gat has a faster Raga. The Tabla plays a fast, complex rhythm using the 12-beat ektal tala. The bansuri’s melody is much more structured. Still based on the Rag Desh, the melody is now pre-composed with lots of runs.

Question 5

What are the key features of the Alap in Shankar’s live at Carnegie Hall?

Answer 5

When there’s just the sitar and the tambura playing, you can hear the different techniques Anoushka uses; she plucks, strums and bends the notes of the sitar.

Question 6

What are the features of the Gats in Shankar’s live at Carnegie hall?

Answer 6

1. Uses a 10 beat tala called Jhaptal.
2. Gets a bit faster, using the 16-beat tintal tala. - a pre-composed melody is used.
   This rag Desh is all on one track with no gaps.

Question 7

What are the features of the Alap in Mewar Re Mira (Dhandhada)?

Answer 7

The sitar improvises using the notes of the Raga over the tambura drone. It is joined by a sarangi, then the voice comes in. The voice is Male, he uses a lot of vibrato + scoops notes (portamento). This is quite a short Alap.

Question 8

What are the key features of the final two sections in Mewar Re Mira?

Answer 8

1. The tempo increases and the tabla comes in.
2. (The Bandish - like a gat with Singing) the vocal part is more elaborate, lots of trills and portamentos. Hand cymbals come in towards the end.

Question 9

What are the 4 typical sections of a raga?

Answer 9

1. Alap: Sitar player introduces, improvising freely. No beat or pulse to the melody - just flows accompanied by the tambura
2. The Jhor: speeds up and becomes more rhythmic
3. The Jhala: Speeds up loads faster,
   players improvise around the melody
4. The Gat or Bandish: The raga really takes off - the tabla comes in, the group play a pre-composed piece, improvisations added, in a sort of question and answer style.

Question 10

What is the difference between a Gat and a Bandish?

Answer 10

A Gat is an instruments only pre-composed piece whereas a Bandish has singing.