Rag Bilawal(Sankarabharanam) C-major

Ragaranjani-concept and articles on Indian musical scales analyzing in relation to Indian Classical,semiclassical and filmi musical compositions.

RAAGA RANJANI

Indian music is probably the most complex musical system in the world with a very highly developed melodic and rhythmic structure .Raaga often described as Scale or Mode is the soul of Indian music. Indian music is based on ragas-the tuneful combination of notes evoking a particular mood, which themselves are based on Naada, Sruthi, Saptaka and Thata. Every raaga which is based on five or six or seven notes, has it`s own definite characteristics,which makes it easy for discerning listener to recognize it. There are naya ragas exuding delicate charm, curvilinear colour and feminine grace which can portray Sringara(love),Karuna(pathos)Ex.Kafi,Sarang etc,.Rakthi ragas and majestic ragas filled with aesthetic beauty Ex.Bilaval,Kalyan etc.There are Spring melodies like Bahar,Basant Bahar,melodies of afternoon like Sarang,Brindavani Sarang..There are ragas to portray different feelings,moods,expressions like joy, happiness,seriousness,pathos,separation etc.

The saint composers as well as filmi composers have tried their best artistry to put in spontaneously raaga ,talaa.laya, bhaava and sahitya matching all of them together to turn out their compositions ,the majority of them living eternally.Investing the ragas in their compositions inteligently,the composers tried their best to portray the beauties and various facets of each raga .Some research minded composers have made experimentations and created wonderful and unforgettable compositions.

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The present concept namely `RAGA RANJANI’ is an informative, educative and entertaining audio visual live show which is based on Indian Ragas(The Indian music Scales)   The main idea behind this concept is to benefit the students, layman, the laity and the music lovers., which will be presented in a popular form mainly basing on film music.. It is first of its kind and also unique..It deals with the Indian music(both Hindusthani and karnatak) as well as western music.The characteristics ,beauties of a raga will be explained with a comparision of parallel scales of that raga in various systems of music.Live examples of various compositions in that particular raga

in different forms of music Indian classical(both hidusthani and karnatic),western classical music,Indian pop,Jazz,western Pop,,Rock,keertans,bhajans,folk.semiclssical,light music(Sugam sangeet,Film music both past and present and etc will be presented live (both voice and on instruments)by various artists both seniors as well as upcoming artists..More stress will be given to filmi music( both past and present) in order to make the show popular and commercially viable

There will also be discussions about the styles of various music composers,their experimentation  in the music etc.

This concept can be presented in many languages like Hindi,Telugu,Tamil,Kannada etc. on different regional and National(Hindi) T.V .channels.AN ARTCLE ON RAAG BILAVAL

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Bilawal occupies a pre eminent place in Indian music. This rag has its echo in almost every system of music.The corresponding raga in karnatak music is Dheera sankarabharanam.In Western music,the parallel is found in the C major scale.Approximate equivalent in other systems are the Lydic(Greek),the Ionion(Eccliciastical)and the Mesia(Arabic)

The major characteristic of this raga is the even and equal spacing between the swra-s.accordingly it has a perfectly symmetrical pair of tetra chords,that is raga`s purvaanga(sa-re.ga-ma)and the uttaranga(pa-da-ni sa) and are uniform and match perfectly.This characteristic makes it possible to give fluent and felicitous expression to it,whether the means used is the voice or an instrument.this is another reason for it`s popularity.

Bilawal has been utilized for every conceivable type of composition.Bcause of its three octave potential and because of it`s capable of evoking different rasa-s it has been popular with composers of operas and dance dramas.

Not surprisigly Bilawal as well as its parallels in karnatic music and also western music systems, has been a hppy hunting ground for all important composers like Surda,Tulasi das, Thyaga raja,Bach Bethoven Mozart and many others.

In both Hidusthani music and western music systems,the basic notes with which the elementary lessons in music are the swaras of Bilawal and the c-major scale.,respectively.
In karnatik classical music tyaagaraaja`s composition`swara raaga sudha rasa yuta bhakti can be quoted as a best example.

Films have not been far behind in using the raga(scale) and movie music directors have sourced Bilawal and it`s parallel scales karnatic and western music.

`Do-Re-Mi-doe a deer a female deer 'from the film Sound of music and

famous singer Doris day `s Que sera sera(whatever will be will be) in the Hitch cock`s film`` The man who knew too much’’ composed in C-major have become all time favorites.

Among the songs from Hindi films composed in ``Bilawal’’,`

` Sa-re ko sa-re ga-ma ko lekar gaatein chalein ‘’from the film`` Parichay’’ can be quoted as a best example.It is only`one of it`s kind in Hindi films where lyric and music are synchronized.

`` Ye chandki raat,ye raat hasin’’ from the film ``Anadi,’’

``Ai dil mushkil jeena yaha’’ from the film``C.I.D’’,`

`Miti miti batonse’’ from the film``Khaidi no.1

are some more songs composed in this raaga

The most promoinent example in South Indian film music composed in Sakarabharanam karnatic parallel of this raga is` Omkara naada anusandhanamau gaaname' from the film` Sankarabharanam',which is an altime film hit.

Another popular song composed in this raga is ``Sundari neeventi divya swarupamu’’ from the film ``Maaya bazar’’

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