Vasantha (raga)

Vasantha
ArohanamS G₃ M₁ D₂ N₃ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ 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]

Structure

Vasantha is an asymmetric scale that does not contain panchamam. It is called a vakra audava-shadava raga, malathiga[1] 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. Some claim that Vasantha had only D1 and not D2 originally.

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

Notes

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

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 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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