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Microtonal Ragas Scales in Indian Classical Music
Microtonal Ragas Scales in Indian Classical Music
Raag Darbari-Kanada
Raag Darbari-Kanada is one of the most stately
ragas in the Hindustani tradition. The first part of its
name, Darbari, comes from the word darbar (the
king's court), and the second part, Kanada, indicates
that it is originally a Carnatic (south Indian) raga.
Grave and majestic, this raga is best sung in a
heavy bass voice during the late evening hours, and
sometimes deep into night. It is characterized by its
extensive use of powerful gamak ornamentation.
Raag Bahar
Bahar means spring, and Raag Bahar is filled with
the lightness and joyous celebration of springtime. It
is sung through out the spring season during the
early afternoon hours and lends itself best to a lively
tempo.
Raag Miya-Ki-Malhar
The world-famous Raag Miya-Ki-Malhar is one of
the most ravishing ragas in the Hindustani tradition.
Malhar means "giver of rain" and all ragas that
contain the word Malhar in their names are rain
ragas. But not just any rain; it has to be the onset of
the Indian monsoon. If you haven't endured four
months of relentlessly rising mercury, searing heat,
dry dust storms during the day and suffocating
airless nights, you don't know what it feels like when
suddenly one day, black clouds gather in the
horizon, the thunder rumbles and temperatures drop
like lead as a cool wind swirls in dried leaves and
twigs ahead of the first monsoon storm. The
fragrance that rises as the first raindrops touch the
scorched earth is indescribable, peacocks start to
dance. And that is when the Malhar ragas are sung.
Miyan-Ki-Malhar can depict the joy and relief of the
first rains, but on a dramatically contrasting note, it
can also depict restless longing in separation and
unnamed fears. Ornamentations are used to great
effect in this raga to suggest the wind blowing, the
thunder rumbling and lightning cracking.