Gayakapriya

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Gayakapriya
Arohanam S R₁ G₃ M₁ P D₁ N₁ Ṡ
Avarohanam Ṡ N₁ D₁ P M₁ G₃ R₁ S

Gayakapriya (pronounced gāyakapriya) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 13th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music.

Carnatic music music genre originating in southern India

Carnatic music, Karnāṭaka saṃgīta, or Karnāṭaka saṅgītam, is a system of music commonly associated with southern India, including the modern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, as well as Sri Lanka. It is one of two main subgenres of Indian classical music that evolved from ancient Hindu traditions, the other subgenre being Hindustani music, which emerged as a distinct form because of Persian or Islamic influences from Northern India. The main emphasis in Carnatic music is on vocal music; most compositions are written to be sung, and even when played on instruments, they are meant to be performed in gāyaki (singing) style.

Melakarta set of 72 sampurna ragas in Carnatic music

Mēḷakarta is a collection of fundamental musical scales (ragas) in Carnatic music. Mēḷakarta ragas are parent ragas from which other ragas may be generated. A melakarta raga is sometimes referred as mela, karta or sampurna as well, though the latter term is inaccurate, as a sampurna raga need not be a melakarta.

Contents

It is called Geyahejjujji in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music. [1] [2]

Muthuswami Dikshitar Indian poet and composer

Muthuswami Dikshita or Dikshitar was a South Indian poet, singer and Veena player, and a legendary composer of Indian classical music, who is considered one of the musical trinity of Carnatic music. His compositions, of which around 500 are commonly known, are noted for their elaborate and poetic descriptions of Hindu gods and temples and for capturing the essence of the raga forms through the vainika (veena) style that emphasises gamakas. They are typically in a slower speed. He is also known by his signature name of Guruguha which is also his mudra. His compositions are widely sung and played in classical concerts of Carnatic music.

Structure and Lakshana

Gayakapriya scale with Shadjam at C Gayakapriya scale.svg
Gayakapriya scale with Shadjam at C

It is the 1st rāgam in the 3rd chakra Agni. The mnemonic name is Agni-Pa. The mnemonic phrase is sa ra gu ma pa dha na. [1] Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

Arohana, Arohanam or Aroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the ascending scale of notes in a raga. The pitch increases as we go up from Shadja (Sa) to the Taar Shadja (Sa), possibly in a crooked (vakra) manner.

An Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avaroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the descending scale of any raga. The notes descend in pitch from the upper tonic down to the lower tonic, possibly in a crooked (vakra) manner.

(the notes used in this scale are shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, shuddha dhaivatham, shuddha nishadham)

As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale). It is the shuddha madhyamam equivalent of Dhavalambari , which is the 49th melakarta.

Dhavalambari 49th raga in the Melakarta

Dhavalambari is a rāgam in Carnatic music. It is the 49th Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Dhavaḻāngam or Dhavaḻāngi in Muthuswami Dikshitar school of Carnatic music.

Asampurna Melakarta

Geyahejjujji is the 13th Melakarta in the original list compiled by Venkatamakhin. The notes used in the scale are the same, but the ascending scale is different and vakra (zig-zag usage of notes in phrases of the scale). It is an shadava-sampurna raga (6 notes in ascending scale, while full 7 are used in descending scale). [3]

Venkatamakhin or Venkatamakhi, was an Indian poet, musician, and musicologist of Carnatic music. He is renowned for his Chaturdandiprakashika in which he explicates the melakarta system of classifying ragas. Venkatamakhin composed geethams and prabandhas, as well as 24 ashtapadis in praise of Lord Thyagaraja of Tiruvarur.

Janya rāgams

Gayakapriya has a few minor janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Kalagada is heard occasionally in concerts. See List of janya rāgams to see all the rāgams associated with Gayakapriya.

Compositions

Here are a few common compositions sung in concerts, set to Gayakapriya.

Muthuswami Dikshitar's composition Ramachandra bhakthum is set to Geyahejjujji rāgam.

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Gayakapriya's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam , yields a minor melakarta rāgam Dhatuvardani . 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 further details and an illustration refer Graha bhedam on Gayakapriya .

Notes

  1. ↑ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S Ṟ G M P Ḏ D Ṡ
    • Western: C C# E F G G# A C
  2. ↑ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ D Ḏ P M G Ṟ S
    • Western: C A G# G F E C# C
  3. ↑ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S Ṟ M G M P Ḏ Ṡ
    • Western: C C# F E F G G# C
  4. ↑ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ D Ḏ P M G Ṟ S
    • Western: C A G# G F E C# C

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References

  1. 1 2 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. ↑ Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
  3. ↑ Shree Muthuswami Dikshitar Keerthanaigal, by A Sundaram Iyer, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai
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