Vasantha (raga)

Vasantha
Arohanam S M₁ G₃ M₁ D₂ N₃ Ṡ
Avarohanam Ṡ N₃ D₂ M₁ G₃ R₁ S

Vasantha (pronounced vasantā) is a raga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya raga of Suryakantam, the 17th Melakarta raga.[1] According to P|Subba Rao, majority opinion is that the raga is derived from Mayamalavagowla, the 15th Melakarta raga.[2]

Vasantha is suitable to be sung in evening and is considered an auspicious raga.[1] It has been in use for more than 1000 years.[1]

Structure and Lakshana

Vasantha is an asymmetric scale that does not contain panchamam. It is called a vakra audava-shadava raga,[1] in Carnatic music classification (as it has 5 notes with zig-zag notes in ascending scale and 6 notes in descending scale). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

This scale uses the notes shadjam, shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kakali nishadam.

Arohanam and avarohanam for Vasantha with tambura

Vasantha has ample scope for alapana. This scale has been used by many composers for compositions in classical music. Here are some popular compositions in Vasantha.

Non-Classical Film based songs

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this raga.

Scale similarities

  • Lalitha is a popular raga that sounds very similar to Vasantha.[1][2] Lalitha uses chatusruti rishabham in ārohaṇa also,[2] while the dvisruti dhaivatam is used in it, compared to trisruti dhaivatam in Vasantha.[1]

Notes

  1. ↑ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S M G M D N Ṡ
    • Western: C F E F A B C
  2. ↑ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ N D M G Ṟ S
    • Western: C B A F E C# C

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. 1 2 3 Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
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