Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia | |
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Studio album by | |
Released | 1990 |
Recorded | 15 and 16 November 1989 |
Genre | Hindustani classical music |
Length | 71:01 |
Label | Nimbus |
Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia is a studio album by Indian classical musician Ram Narayan, released in 1990. Recorded on 15 and 16 November 1989 in Wyastone Leys near Monmouth, Wales, the album features a sarangi performance of the solemn night raga Shankara and a ragamala ("garland of ragas") based on the introspective early morning raga Jogiya (or Jogia). On both tracks, Narayan performs a long non-metrical introduction to unfold the raga, during which he adds a pulse, until he is joined by the tabla (percussion) player to perform a composition.
The album consists of performances of the ragas Shankara and Jogiya (also called Jogia); Jogiya is performed in raga mala form. [1]
Shankara is considered a solemn and dignified raga that is difficult to master. [2] It has been described by Vamanrao Deshpande as representing the "heroic mood". [3] Luiz Martinez José argued that the raga was named for a gentle and guarding incarnation of the Hindu deity Shiva. [4] Shankara is performed in the late night and distinguished by an emphasis on the third (Ga) and seventh (Ni) notes, the upper tetrachord, and several characteristic phrases and slow glides in descend. [2] It has similarities to the South Indian raga Hansadhvani . [2]
Jogiya is considered an introspective raga named for the yogi practice, and is often performed in devotional music and the light classical genre thumri . [5] Peter Manuel described it as the most important raga of the Bhairav that (raga class based on the Bhairav scale type). [6] Jogiya is performed at daybreak and emphasizes the tonic (Sa) and the fifth (Pa). [5] It has several characteristic phrases and, like Shankara, is suited for the upper tetrachord. [6] Joep Bor argued that the raga appears to be related to raga Asavari . [5] Jogiya is one of Narayan's favorite ragas. [1]
A raga mala ("garland of ragas") allows for the introduction of other ragas, which can be from any time of the day. [7] [8] The change from Jogiya into another raga and back must be smooth as there is no break in the music, making a raga mala difficult to perform. [8]
Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia was recorded on 15 and 16 November 1989 in Wyastone Leys near Monmouth, Wales. [1] Narayan begins the performances by playing a long alap (non-metrical introduction) and jor (performance with pulse). [1] The tabla player then joins Narayan in performing a composition, repeating the rhythmic cycle on which the composition is based and playing occasional improvisations. [1]
The album cover features a painting made ca. 1760 in Murshidabad in the provincial Mughal style of Bengal. [9] It depicts a young woman sitting next to a lake, playing on a rudra veena to a parakeet, which symbolizes her absent lover. [9] A picture of Narayan with his sarangi, taken by Joseph Stieger, is on the back of the album. [1]
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [10] |
New Straits Times | (favorable) [11] |
Allmusic critic Ken Hunt described Narayan's performance of "Rag Shankara" as "ideal for the night hours" [10] and R. S. Murthi of the New Straits Times argued that the album showcased the "delicate tone" of the sarangi and its capacity for "seductive lyricism". [11]
Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It is generally described using terms like Marg Sangeet and Shastriya Sangeet. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as Hindustani and the South Indian expression known as Carnatic. These traditions were not distinct until about the 15th century. During the period of Mughal rule of the Indian subcontinent, the traditions separated and evolved into distinct forms. Hindustani music emphasizes improvisation and exploration of all aspects of a raga, while Carnatic performances tend to be short composition-based. However, the two systems continue to have more common features than differences. Another unique classical music tradition from Eastern part of India, i. e. Odissi music has evolved since two thousand years ago.
The sārangī is a bowed, short-necked string instrument played in traditional music from South Asia – Punjabi folk music, Rajasthani folk music, and Boro folk music – in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. It is said to most resemble the sound of the human voice through its ability to imitate vocal ornaments such as gamaks (shakes) and meends. The sarangi (Nepali) is a different instrument, traditional to Nepal.
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