Yaman (raga)

Mechanics

Yaman's Jati is a Sampurna raga and in some cases Shadav; the ascending Aaroha scale and the descending style of the avroha includes all seven notes in the octave ( When it is Shadav, the Aroha goes like N,RGmDNS' , where the fifth note is omitted; Pa but the Avaroha is the same complete octave). All the scale notes (called swaras) in the raga are Shuddha, the exception being Teevra Madhyam or prati madhyamam. The notes of the raga are considered analogous to the western Lydian mode, which was the predominant scale used in classical antiquity, before being usurped by those of the pre-Modern era.

Not to be mistaken, Raag Yaman is slightly different from Raag Yaman Kalyan. Both have almost the same base, but they are sung differently. The Aroha and Avaroha of Yaman Kalyan goes like this: SRGMDNS' S'NDPMGRS

Avarohana S' N D P M⁺ G R S

Vadi and Samavadi

Vadi is ga, Samvadi is ni.

Pakad or Chalan

Kalyan has no specific phrases or particular features, many musicians avoid Sa and Pa in ascend or treat them very weakly. You often hear N⁰ R G M⁺ D N S' in ascent and S' N G M⁺ G R S in descend^[1]).
Sa is avoided in beginning the ascend such as N⁰ R G M⁺ P D N S'

Organization and relationships

There is some discussion whether Yaman and Kalyan really just are different names for the same raga, or that these are actually 2 ragas. Joep Bor says "Kalyan (today usually referred to as Yaman)",^[2] Kaufmann^[3] says that Yaman and Kalyan are just different names, but insists that rāga Yaman-Kalyan is different as there natural Ma is occasionally inserted between two Ga, like Ga Ma Ga Re Sa, while in all other instances tivra Ma (Ma⁺ is used as in Kalyan). S. Bagchee^[4] agrees with Kaufmann. Bor : If natural Ma is occasionally added in a concluding figure leading to Sa, the raga is known as Yaman-Kalyan.^[2]
Kalyan is mixed with several ragas:

• Shuddha Kalyan
• Puriya Kalyan
• Yamani Bilawal
• Hem Kalyan
• Gorakh Kalyan
• Hindol Kalyan
• Maru Kalyan
• Ram Kalyan
• Poorva Kalyan

Thaat: Kalyan is type raga of Kalyan thaat. In thaat Kalyan, all notes are shuddha (natural) except teevra (sharp) Ma.

Behavior

Yaman is regarded one of the grandest and most fundamental ragas in Hindustani music. It is one of the first ragas taught to students but it also has great scope for improvisation.

Samay (Time)

Ragas in the Kalyan thaat, including Yaman, should be performed during the first quarter of the night.

Rasa

Kalyan is described by Meshakarna(1570) as "lord in white garments and pearl necklace on a splendid lion-throne, under a royal umbrella, fanned with whisk, chewing betel"^[2]

A song text is:^[2]

Hey friend, without my lover
I don't find peace
At any moment of the day;
Since my lover went away
I spend my nights counting the stars

Important recordings

• Amir Khan – Shuddh Kalyan, Yaman, and Yaman Kalyan
• Rashid Khan – bandish in vilambit ektal (India Archive Music IAM CD 1003)
• Ravi Shankar in matta tal: "The Genius of Pandit Ravi Shankar", Oriental Records Inc, New York AAMS CD108
• Imrat Khan "Nordindische Ragas, Live"
• Zia Mohiuddin Dagar on Nimbus Records, LS5871 / NI7047/8

Film songs

• "Aap ki aankhon mein kuch" in "Ghar" (1978)
• "Man re, tu kaahe na dheer dhare" in "Chitralekha"
• "Zindagi bhar nahin bhulegi barsaat ki raat" in "Barsaat Ki Raat" (1960)
• "Aansoo bhari hai yeh jeevan ki raahen" in "Parvarish" (1977)
• "Chandan sa badan, chanchal chitvan" in "Saraswati Chandra" (1968)