Elementary Terms of Indian Music

Swara - Musical note

Shuddha Swara - Natural note

Komal Swara - Flat note

Teevra Swara - Sharp note

Vadi Swara - Most prominent note used in the raga.

Samvadi Swara - Prominent note but less than vadi.

Anuvadi Swara - Other than vadi and samvadi.

Vivadi Swara - Prohibited swara but sometimes is used to beautify the raga in rare cases.

Varjit Swara - Swaras which are not used.

Nyas Swara - Resting note.

Saptak - Set of seven swaras

Madhya Saptak - Swaras between tonic to higher tonic, in other word Madhya Sa to Tar Sa.

Mandra Saptak - Swaras below tonic

Tar Saptak - Swaras above higher tonic.

Aroha - Ascending order of swaras

Avaroha - Descending order of swaras

Pakad - Particular note combination by which a raga isrecognized.

Jati - Depends on the usage of swaras of a raga in ascending and descending

order.

Sampurna Jati - Seven swaras in Aroh & Avaroh

Shadav Jati - Six swaras in Aroh & Avaroh

Audav Jati - Five swaras in Aroh & Avaroh.

What is a That ?

The literal meaning of That is “personality or outer appearance”.

THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF THAT

That1. A that sould always be sampurna i.e. it should

possess seven swaras or musical notes.2. These seven swaras should be in perfect order such as

‘Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni.’3. A that must be capable of giving birth to a raga.4. A that is not supposed to have both Aroha and

Avaroha. Rather it has only an Aroha of 7 swaras.5. A that can include Komal (flat (sign of flat - R G) ) and

Tivra (sharp (sign of sharp – M)) form of the same note.

Musical Notes of each That (That is never sung. It just shows the swaras)

.1. Bilaval – S R G M P Dh N S

.2. Kalyan - S R G M P Dh N S .3. Khamaj – S R G M P Dh N S .4. Bhairav – S R G M P Dh N S .5. Kaphi – S R G M P Dh N S

.6. Asavari – S R G M P Dh N S

.7. Poorvi – S R G M M P Dh N S

. 8. Marwa – S R G M P Dh N S

.9. Todi - S R G M P Dh N S . 10. Bhairvi – S R G M P Dh N S

Swaras which are not having any sign are natural swaras.

What is a Raga?

A Raga means that which gives us pleasure and ultimately leads to spiritual sublimity.

THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF RAGA

Any and every tune can not be called a Raga unless it obeys the following distinctive conditions-

1. Every raga must belong to its Janak That.2. A raga should have at least 5 swaras and maximum 7

swaras. For this purpose they have been allotted Jati such as, the ragas having five swaras belong to Audav Jati, having six swaras belong to Shadav Jati, having seven swaras belong to Sampurna Jati. These 3 further give birth to interelated 9 kinds.

3. Every raga must have its Vadi, Samvadi and Anuvadi Swaras. Vadi is the chief swara, Samvadi is next to Vadi in importance and the remaining swaras are known as Anuvadi.

What is a Khyal?

The term khyal means “imagination’ and it is the most important form of musical composition for the last two hundred years and more, it has almost monopolized the attention of the best musical brains. Khyal was the product of the combination of music style of Hindus and Muslims. It was liked by both. Soon it became very popular with the rulers and courtiers to enjoy its popularity even to this day. As against Dhrupad and Dhamar , it is more imaginative than technical. In this type of singing, the rules are relaxed. The compositions of Khyal are more romantic and an artist can add one’s own his or her imaginative patterns in this form .

Universal Musical Notes

C D E F G A B C

Do Re Mi Fa So La Si Do

Indian Musical Notes .

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa

Distinctive Features of Raga Bhairav• Raga - Bhairav• That - Bhairav• Jati - Sampurna (using all notes in ascending & descending order)• Vadi - Dha• Samvadi - Re• Swaras - R, Dh Komal, rest of the

swaras are Shuddha (natural)• Varjit Swara - No one• Nyas Swaras - Dh, R, P and M• Similar Ragas - Kalingara and Ramkali• Time to sing - Early morning

Bhairav is one of the oldest ragas of classical Indian music. We find its references in all old musical books. It is one of the six old ragas which have been mentioned as Raga and Ragini scheme in our old Indian treatises.

Its Vadi Swara is Dh which is mostly used and Samvadi is R. Raga Bhairav is sung in early morning i.e. between 4 to 7 a.m. It is therefore called morning Sandhiprakash Raga (or morning down).

It is of very serious nature and has the same effect on the listeners. Vilambit and Drut Khyal suit most in raga Bhairav. Dhrupad and Dhamar are also sung in this raga.

Raga Bhairav is an Ashray Raga its that Bhairav. Raga Bhairav uses R and Dh Komal. These two swaras R and Dh are used resting and stressed again and again which indicate Bhairav. For example -

G M. . . R . . . . . S R . . S.

G M. . . Dh . . . . . P.

Sometimes Pancham or P is not

used in its Aroha such as G M Dh N. Mostly

Gandhar or G is Vakra in its Avaroha such as - M P G M R . . . . S.

Raga Bhairav

Aroha -Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa

Avaroha – .

Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa

Particular Note Combination –

G M Dh,. . . P, G M R . . . .S