Rag Desh (Chiranji Lal Tanwar) Flashcards
1
Q
Melody
A
- 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
2
Q
Harmony
A
- 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
3
Q
Tonality
A
*Tonal centre is note C
4
Q
Structure
A
- 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
5
Q
Instrumentation/Timbre
A
- 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
6
Q
Texture
A
- Melody and accompaniment
- Alap is thinner because has no tabla
- Occassional solos
7
Q
Rhythm
A
- 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)
8
Q
Tempo
A
*When tabla comes in, tempo increases and music gets more exciting
9
Q
Mood
A
- Bhajan - Hindu devotional song from Rajasthan
- Princess pining at night for Hindu deity Lord Krishna to arrive in the morning
- Rainy season