Rag Desh (Chiranji Lal Tanwar)

Question 1

Melody

Answer 1

• Male voice sings raga - uses lots of vibrato and portamento
• Alap is sung as a version of the chorus, based on raga notes
• In bandish, vocal is more elaborate, with trills and portamento

Question 2

Harmony

Answer 2

• Based on raga - scale/mode that ascends and descends but pitches and number of notes varies in each direction
• Rag Desh raga has more notes coming down, and one is flattened

Question 3

Tonality

Answer 3

*Tonal centre is note C

Question 4

Structure

Answer 4

• Bhajan - verse form. First line of alap sung again but in tempo with Kerherwa tal with tabla
• Verses return to first line as a chorus, followed by sarod and sarangi solos, then another verse etc. until ending in a short tihai

Question 5

Instrumentation/Timbre

Answer 5

• Voice, sarod (plucked string), sarangi (bowed string), pakhawaj (double-headed drum), cymbals, tabla
• Alap on sarangi then voice
• Cymbals more frequent towards the end as the music builds

Question 6

Texture

Answer 6

• Melody and accompaniment
• Alap is thinner because has no tabla
• Occassional solos

Question 7

Rhythm

Answer 7

• Begins free before tabla comes in after alap
• Repetitive cyclic rhythm pattern called tala on tabla
• Competition between singer and drum to copy rhythm ideas while keeping within tala cycle
• Kerherwa tal (8 beats)

Question 8

Tempo

Answer 8

*When tabla comes in, tempo increases and music gets more exciting

Question 9

Mood

Answer 9

• Bhajan - Hindu devotional song from Rajasthan
• Princess pining at night for Hindu deity Lord Krishna to arrive in the morning
• Rainy season