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Hamsadhvani

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Hamsadhvani

Hamsadhvani (meaning Sound of Swans) also spelled as Hansadhwani, is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of Carnatic tradition of Indian classical music). It is an audava rāgam (or owdava rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a janya rāga of the Melakartha raga, Dheerasankarabharanam (29th) but according to Hamsadhvani's prayoga or the way it is sung it is said to be the janya of Kalyani (65th) Hamsadhvani is also extensively used in Hindustani music and said to be borrowed into it from Carnatic music. It was created by the Carnatic composer Ramaswami Dikshitar (1735–1817) and brought into Hindustani music by Ustad Aman Ali Khan of the Bhendibazaar gharana.

Contents

Structure and Lakshana

Hamsadhvani does not contain madhyamam or dhaivatam. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

  • ārohaṇa : S R2 G3 P N3 S
  • avarohaṇa : S N3 P G3 R2 S

    • The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chatushruti rishabham, antara gandharam, panchamam and kakali nishadam. . In Hindustani music it is associated with Bilaval thaat (equivalent of Shankarabharanam).

    Compositions

    Hamsadhvani rāgam lends itself for elaboration and exploration and has many compositions in both classical music and film music. It is usually sung at the beginning of a performance. There are many kritis (compositions) in praise of Lord Ganesha set in this musical scale.

  • Jalajaskhiro an adi Talam Varnam
  • Raghunāyaka and Śrī Raghukula by Tyagaraja in Telugu
  • Vātāpi Gaṇapatiṃ by Muthuswami Dikshitar in Sanskrit
  • Pāhi Śripatē by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma
  • Varanamukha vā by Koteeswara Iyer
  • Mūlādhāra mūrti and Karunai seivai by Papanasam Sivan in Sanskrit and Tamil
  • Gajavadana beduvae by Purandaradasa
  • Vināyakā by Veena Kuppayyar in Sanskrit
  • Varavallabha Ramaṇa by G. N. Balasubramaniam
  • Gaṃ Gaṇapatē by Muthiah Bhagavatar
  • Pirai Aniyum Peruman by Dr M. Balamuralikrishna
  • Vinayaka Vighnavishaka by R Ganapati
  • Sundar Gopālaṃ by Devaki Pandit
  • Va Va Va Kanna Va by Ilayaraaja rendered by Mano (singer) and K S Chithra in Tamil
  • Varuvai Arulvai Shantanayagi by Manachanallur Giridharan rendered by P. Unni Krishnan
  • Tumbikkai Andavane by Manachanallur Giridharan rendered by P. Unni Krishnan
  • "Vellai Pookal" from the movie "Kannathil Muthamittal"
  • "Sriranga Ranganathanin" from the movie "Mahanadi"
  • "Let me see the love" by "Colonial Cousins"
  • "Lagi Lagan Pathi Sakhi Sang" from the movie "Meghe Dhaka Tara"

    • Graha bhedham

    Hamsadhvani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields another pentatonic rāgam, Nagasvaravali. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Hamsadhvani.

    Scale similarities

  • Mohanam is a rāgam which has chatushruti dhaivatam in place of the nishadam. Structures are shown in second table.
  • Amritavarshini is a rāgam which has Prati Madhyamam in place of the rishabham. Structures are shown in first table.
  • Gambhiranata is a rāgam which has shuddha madhyamam in place of the rishabham. Structures are shown in first table.
  • Niroshta is a rāgam which has chatushruti dhaivatam in place of the panchamam. Structures are shown in second table.

    • Vadi & Samavadi


    Vadi
    Re


    Samavadi
    Pa

    Pakad or Chalan

    Re Ga Re Ni Pa Sa Re Sa

    The packad is the one where one can identify to which raga does the composition belongs.

    Organization & Relationships

    Thaat: Bilawal.

    Time

    Second quarter of night.

    Important Recordings

  • Amir Khan, Ragas Hansadhwani and Malkauns, on HMV LP (long-playing record), EMI-EASD1357
  • Lagi Lagana (Drut – Teental) by A. Kanan in Meghe Dhaka Tara
  • Ja Tose Nahin Bolun Kanhaiya by Lata Mangeshkar in Parivar (1956)

    • • “Ther Kondu Sendravan" by P Susheela in "Enakul Oruvan" (1984)

  • Huns Dhun by Mekaal Hasan Band
  • Lagi Lagan by Ustad Rashid Khan
  • "Lady" by Colonial Cousins on SONY
  • "Song of the Swan" by Shyam Panchmatia on RCA Records

    • Literature

    Bor, Joep (ed). Rao, Suvarnalata; der Meer, Wim van; Harvey, Jane (co-authors) The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas. Zenith Media, London: 1999.

    References

    Hamsadhvani Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA