Rag Desh

Rag Desh

1. Key Features

   • Indian classical music
   • Improvised
   • Three Layers
     • Drone
       • stringed instrument
     • Rhythmic pattern
       • drums
     • Melodic line
       • solo instrument
   • Melody
     • Based on rag desh
       • late evening and monsoon season
       • Different on the way down
       • pattern of notes
   • Rhythm
     • Based on a tal
       • First beat called a sam
         • stressed
       • cycle of beats
         • repeated and improvised
   • Structure
     • sections progress from slow to fast tempo
     • 3. Jhalla
       • Fast final section
         • Virtuosic
         • Decorative
     • 2. Gat
       • Fixed composition
         • Percussion enters
         • Clear pulse
         • improvised on
           • solo intrument
     • 1. Alap
       • slow, introductory
         • Notes and mood introduced against drone
         • No regular pulse
         • no percussion

2. 'Rag Desh' performed by Anoushka Shankar

   • Instrumentation
     • 1. Sitar
       • Plucked string instrument
       • seven main strings
         • Plays melody
       • 12 sympathetic strings
         • resonate
           • create shimmering sound
           • 'in sympathy'
     • 2. Tabla
       • Pair of drums
         • left
           • Bayan
             • larger
               • made of metal
               • lower pitched
         • right
           • Dayan
             • smaller
               • made of wood
               • higher pitched
       • Played with fingers
   • Rhythm
     • 2. Tintal
       • 16 beat cycle
         • 4 + 4 + 4 + 4
     • 1. Jhaptal
       • 10 beat cycle
         • 2 + 3 + 2 + 3
   • Structure
     • 3. Jhalla
       • Fast
       • Sitar is strummed
         • Creates rhythmic exitment
     • 2. Gat
       • sitar plays fixed composition
         • Moderato tempo
       • Towards the end the tempo increases
       • Tabla enters
       • Sitar and Tabla improvise
         • Sitar based on the gat
         • Tabla based on the tal
         • improvisations end with a tihai
           • short melody or rhythm
             • played three times
             • ends on the sam
     • 1. Alap
       • no regular pulse
       • Sitar only
         • introduces notes and mood of the rag
         • Melodic line decorated with slides and pitch bends
           • meends
       • slow
   • Context
     • plays the sitar
       • Daughter of famous indian musician Ravi Shankar
       • Recorded live 2001
         • New York

3. 'Mhara janam maran' performed by Chiranji Lal Tanwar

   • Instrumentation
     • Sarod
       • plucked string instrument
     • Sarangi
       • bowed string instrument
     • Pakhawaj
       • long drum
       • head at each end
     • Tabla
     • A pair of cymbals
   • Rhythm
     • keherwa tal
       • 8 beat cycle
         • 2 + 2 + 2 + 2
   • Structure
     • 1. Alap
       • sarangi then voice
         • introduce notes of rag
       • slow
       • no regular pulse
     • 2. Bhajan
       • tabla joins in
         • keherwa tal
       • important words decorated
         • melismas and ornaments
       • sung verse
         • followed by short solos
           • for sarangi and sarod
   • Context
     • Performed by indian singer Chiranji Lal Tanwar
     • Released 2004
     • bhajan
       • Hindu devotional song

4. 'Rag Desh' performed by Steve Gorn and Benjy Wetheimer

   • Instrumentation
     • Bansuri
       • bamboo flute
     • Esraj
       • bowed string instrument
     • Shruti box
       • electronic instrument
         • drone
     • swarmandel
       • plucked string instrument
         • like a zither
     • Tabla
   • Rhythm
     • Rupak tal
       • 7 beat cycle
         • 3 + 2 + 2
     • Ektal
       • 12 beat cycle
         • 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2
   • Structure
     • 1. Alap
       • starts with drone
         • D + A
       • Bansuri
         • introduces notes and mood
       • Esraj takes over from Bansuri
         • instruments alternate improvised phrases
       • slow
       • No regular pulse
     • 2. Gat 1
       • slow
       • Bansuri solo
         • then tabla enters
           • bansuri plays composed gat
             • bansuri and tabla improvise
       • rupak tal
       • finishes with tihai
     • 3. Gat 2
       • tabla solo
         • improvisation becomes elaborate
           • bansuri plays tans
             • ends with three tihais
             • fast scales
       • fast
       • ektal
   • Context
     • 2004
     • American musicians
     • Steve Gorn
       • Bansuri
     • Benjy Wertheimer
       • esraj and tabla