Vadi (music)

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Vadi, in both Hindustani classical music and Carnatic music, is the tonic (root) swara (musical note) of a given raga (musical scale). "Vadi is the most sonant or most important note of a Raga." [1] It does not refer to the most played note but it rather refers to a note of special significance. It is usually the swara which is repeated the greatest number of times, and often it is the swara on which the singer can pause for a significant time. Vadi swara in a raga is like a king in a kingdom. The specialty of any raaga depends on vadi swara and because of this, the vadi swara is also called the Jeeva swara or the Ansha swara. A good artist uses vadi swara in different ways like singing vaadi swara again and again, starting a raga with vadi swara, to end a raaga with vadi swara, singing vadi swara many times in important places with different swaras or sometime singing vadi swara for a longer time in one breath.

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Vadi swara is also helpful to identify the appropriate time for singing or playing a raga. If the vadi swara of a raaga is from the purvanga part of the saptak i.e. “Sa Re Ga Ma”, then it is called purvanga vaadi raaga and usually the time for singing or playing purvanga vaadi raagas is from midnight to noon. For example, ragas like Bhimpalasi, Pilu, Purvi, Marwa, Yaman, Bhoopali, and Bageshree etc. have purvanga vadi swara and so the time for singing and playing these ragas is from noon to midnight.

In the same way, if the vaadi swara of a raaga is from the utranga part of the saptak i.e. “Ma Pa Dha Ni” then it is classed as a utraanga vaadi raaga and the time for singing or playing utraanga vaadi ragas is from midnight to noon. For example, ragas in Hindustani classical music like Bhairav, Bhairavi, Bilawal, Kalingada, Sohini, and Asavari etc. have utraanga vaadi swara and so the time for singing or playing these ragas is between midnight to noon.

Vaadi swara, along with the Samavadi swara of a raga, usually brings out the uniqueness of the raga and its bhaava (mood) and rasa (emotion).

Etymology and Concept

Structure

Tonal Hierarchy

Relation to Raga

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Sankarabharanam (raga)

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Raga Bageshri or Bageshree 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 Miyan Tansen, the celebrated court singer of the Emperor Akbar in the sixteenth century.

Bhoopali, also known as Bhoop, Bhopali, or Bhupali, is a Hindustani classical raga. Bhupālī, is a raag in Kalyan Thaat. It is a pentatonic scale. Most of the songs in this raga are based on Bhakti rasa. Since it uses 5 notes, belongs to the "Audav jaati" of ragas.

Raga Bihag is a Hindustani classical raga belonging to the Bilaval Thaat. It is a melodious Raaga for beginners as well as experts. Raga Bihag uses all seven music swars. In Bihag, both the Madhyams are used. The Shuddha Madhyam is the prominent one while Teevra Madhyama is only used with Panchama in Phrase PA MA' GA MA GA. In Avaroha, Rishabh and Dhaivat are not used as resting notes however they are used in Meend. In this Raag, Nishad is a prominent note and Aalaps or Taans are generally started from this note.

Sohini is a raga in Hindustani classical music in the Marwa thaat. Alternate transliterations include Sohani and Sohni. Like Bahar, it is a small raga, with not much space for elaboration. It emotes the feel of longing, of passive sensuousness.

Malkauns

Malkauns, known also as rag Malkos, is a raga in Indian classical music. It is one of the oldest ragas of Indian classical music. The equivalent raga in Carnatic music is called Hindolam, not to be confused with the Hindustani Hindol.

Hameer is a nocturnal Hindustani classical raga nominally placed in Kalyan thaat. All the (shuddha swaras along with (teevra madhyam are used in it. Generally, its vaadi swar is dhaivat and the samavaadi swar is gandhar. However, some exponents consider the vaadi swar to be pancham as Hameer is mainly sung in the upper half of an octave and is nocturnal. Pancham is not taken in the aaroh but is taken in avroh. Its jati is "Shadav Sampurn". "Vadi Svar" is Dhaivat and Samvadi Swar is Gandhar.

Carnatic raga

Carnatic raga refers to ragas used in Carnatic music. A Carnatic raga has several components - primordial sound (nāda), tonal system (swara), pitch (śruti), scale, ornaments (gamaka) and important tones.

Rishabh (svara)

Rishabh is the second svara out of the seven svaras of Hindustani music and Carnatic music. Rishabh is the long form of the syllable रे for simplicity while singing the syllable. Rishabh is pronounced as Re and Ri. It is also called as ऋषभ in the Devanagri script.

Gandhar (svara)

Gandhar is the 3rd svara from the seven svaras of Hindustani music and Carnatic music. Gandhar is the long form of the syllable ग. For simplicity in pronouncing while singing the syllable, Gandhar is pronounced as Ga. It is also called as गान्धार or गंधार in the Devanagri script.

Pancham (svara)

Pancham is the fifth svara from the seven svaras of Hindustani music and Carnatic music. Pancham is the long form of the syllable प. For simplicity in pronouncing while singing the syllable, Pancham is pronounced as Pa. It is also called as पंचम in the Devanagri script.

Dhaivat

Dhaivat is the sixth svara from the seven svaras of Hindustani music and Carnatic music. Dhaivat is the long form of the syllable ध. For simplicity in pronouncing while singing the syllable, Dhaivat is pronounced as Dha. It is also called as धैवत in the Devanagri script.

Nishad (svara)

Nishad is the seventh svara from the seven svaras of Hindustani music and Carnatic music. Nishad is the long form of the syllable नी. For simplicity in pronouncing while singing the syllable, Nishad is pronounced as Ni. It is also called as निषाद in the Devanagri script.

Shadja

Shadja is the first svara out of the seven svaras of Hindustani music and Carnatic music. Shadja is the long form of the syllable सा. For simplicity in pronouncing while singing the syllable, Shadja is pronounced as Sa. It is also called as षड्ज in the Devanagri script.

Madhyam

Madhyam is the fourth svara from the seven svaras of Hindustani music and Carnatic music. This article is written from the Hindustani perspective. Madhyam is the long form of the syllable म. For simplicity in pronouncing while singing the syllable, Madhyam is pronounced as Ma. It is also called as मध्यम in the Devanagri script.

References

  1. Nad Understanding Raga Music, Bagchee, Sandeep