Bageshri (Hindi: बागेश्री) is a Hindustani classical raga. It is a popular raga of the late night, which is meant to depict the emotion of a woman waiting for reunion with her lover. It is said to have been first sung by Mian Tansen, the celebrated court singer of the Emperor Akbar in the sixteenth century.
Contents
Theory
The theoretical aspects of Bageshri are as follows.
Scale
Arohana : s n D n s, m g m D n s Avarohana : S n D ,m P D, g R SVadi & Samavadi
Vadi : Madhyam (Ma) Samavadi: Shadaj (Sa)Pakad or Chalan
D n s, m, m P D, m g R S
Varjit Swara - R P in Aaroh Jati : - Odhav SampoornaOrganization & Relationships
Thaat: Kafi
Samay (Time)
The time for this raaga is madhya raatri (middle of the night).
Carnatic music
In the twentieth century, Bageshri raga found widespread popularity in Carnatic Music, in which it is said to be derived from the equivalent raga of Kafi, the 22nd Melakarta called Kharaharapriya. This raga is a janya raga (derived) as it does not have all the seven notes in the ascending scale.
Structure and Lakshana
Bageshri is an asymmetric scale that does not contain panchamam in the ascending scale. It is called a shadava-sampurna rāgam, in Carnatic music classification (as it has 6 notes in ascending and 7 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, chathusruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadam.
Popular compositions
Bageshri has become a popular raga in Carnatic music. It is pleasing but a scale that does not give much scope for elaboration (alapana). This scale has been used in a few kritis (compositions). In addition, many devaranamas, ashtapadis, thiruppugazhs, and other lyrics have been set to tune in this raga. It is typically sung in concerts after the main piece, in viruttams, padams, bhajans and ragamalika.
Here are some popular compositions in Bageshri.