Yakshagana Raga
Encyclopedia
Yakshagana Rāgarefers to melodic modes
used in Yakshagana
. It is based on pre-classical melodic forms that comprise of a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody
is founded. Yakshagana Ragas have indigenous ragas and others derived from other forms of music. Ragas in Yakshagana are closely associated with a set of melodic forms called as Mattu. Yakshagana Ragas have their own Gamaka
. Although Yakshagana Ragas shares names with other systems of music Ragas are different though names are same with a few exceptions. More than 80 ragas have been identified to have survived the onslought of popular and elite musical systems. In Yakshagana tradition, rāgas are associated with different times of the night throughout which Yakshagana is performed.
. Yakshagana Raga is based not only on rules but also certain melodic structures called Mattu. It specifies the rules for movements up (aaroha [आरोह]) and down (avroha [अवरोह]) the scale
, which Swara
(notes) should figure more and which notes should be used more sparingly, which notes may be sung with gamak
a, phrases to be used, phrases to be avoided, and so on. The result is a framework that can be used to compose
or improvise
melodies, allowing for endless variation within the set of notes. What makes Yakshagana singing different are, among other things, 'Yaksha Gamaka'. Yaksha Gamaka are distinct sets of notes and also way of approaching a note or rendering a note to form a particular "Mattu".
More than adhering to stricter scale Yakshagana Raga follows the metre of Yakshagana Poetry
called the Yakshagana Chandhas. The melody is formed from a deep voice formed by controlling muscles as low as pelvic and abdominal muscles. This high pitched singing might have come out of need to reach all audience in a Yakshagana bayalata which is an outdoor activity. Recently singers have adopted softer singing because of the mike. Some Hindustani Ragas modified to suite Yakshagana performance can also be seen (e.g. Bhimpalas). .
Musical mode
In the theory of Western music since the ninth century, mode generally refers to a type of scale. This usage, still the most common in recent years, reflects a tradition dating to the middle ages, itself inspired by the theory of ancient Greek music.The word encompasses several additional...
used in Yakshagana
Yakshagana
Yakshagana is a musical theater popular in the coastal and Malenadu regions of Karnataka, India. Yakshagana is the recent scholastic name for what are known as kēḷike, āṭa, bayalāṭa, bayalāṭa, daśāvatāra . It is believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre during Bhakti movement...
. It is based on pre-classical melodic forms that comprise of a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
is founded. Yakshagana Ragas have indigenous ragas and others derived from other forms of music. Ragas in Yakshagana are closely associated with a set of melodic forms called as Mattu. Yakshagana Ragas have their own Gamaka
Gamaka
Gamaka also known as Kaavya Vaachana is a unique form of storytelling by singing. This originated in Karnataka, India. One person reads a stanza of a poem with highest emphasis on meaning, applying suitable raga or a Dhaati usually matching the emotion of the poem. Another person then explains...
. Although Yakshagana Ragas shares names with other systems of music Ragas are different though names are same with a few exceptions. More than 80 ragas have been identified to have survived the onslought of popular and elite musical systems. In Yakshagana tradition, rāgas are associated with different times of the night throughout which Yakshagana is performed.
Nature of Yakshagana rāga
Rāga describes a generalised form of melodic practice. It also prescribes a set of rules for building the melodyMelody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
. Yakshagana Raga is based not only on rules but also certain melodic structures called Mattu. It specifies the rules for movements up (aaroha [आरोह]) and down (avroha [अवरोह]) the scale
Musical scale
In music, a scale is a sequence of musical notes in ascending and descending order. Most commonly, especially in the context of the common practice period, the notes of a scale will belong to a single key, thus providing material for or being used to conveniently represent part or all of a musical...
, which Swara
Swara
The seven notes of the scale , in Indian music are named shadja, rishabh, gandhar, madhyam, pancham, dhaivat and nishad, and are shortened to Sa, Ri or Re , Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, and Ni and written S, R, G, M, P, D, N. Collectively these notes are known as the sargam...
(notes) should figure more and which notes should be used more sparingly, which notes may be sung with gamak
Gamak
Gamaka, also known as gamak or gamakam, refers to ornamentation that is used in the performance of Indian classical music. The unique character of each raga is given by its gamakas, making their role essential rather than decorative in Indian music...
a, phrases to be used, phrases to be avoided, and so on. The result is a framework that can be used to compose
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
or improvise
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
melodies, allowing for endless variation within the set of notes. What makes Yakshagana singing different are, among other things, 'Yaksha Gamaka'. Yaksha Gamaka are distinct sets of notes and also way of approaching a note or rendering a note to form a particular "Mattu".
More than adhering to stricter scale Yakshagana Raga follows the metre of Yakshagana Poetry
Yakshagana poetry
Yakshagana poetry is a collection of Kannada poems used to enact a music dance drama called Yakshagana. The poems are composed in well known Kannada metres using the frame work of Yakshagana Raga and Yakshagana Tala. Yakshagana also has what is called a Yakshagana metre...
called the Yakshagana Chandhas. The melody is formed from a deep voice formed by controlling muscles as low as pelvic and abdominal muscles. This high pitched singing might have come out of need to reach all audience in a Yakshagana bayalata which is an outdoor activity. Recently singers have adopted softer singing because of the mike. Some Hindustani Ragas modified to suite Yakshagana performance can also be seen (e.g. Bhimpalas). .
Yakshagana Rāga and Time
Unlike in other classical forms Yakshagana performance starts with Raga Naati or Chala Naati in late evening( But the actual story or prasanga starts with raga bhiravi) and ends with Mohana Raga in early morning.Yakshagana Gamaka
Yakshagana music has its own Gamakas. Yakshagana Gamakas are name given to the set of sequence of notes often used in only in Yakshagana ragas. It can also refer to, in popular parlance, inflections applied on notes. These Gamakas give a distinct flavor to Yakshagana ragas. These Gamakas are learned by training and are among features which make Yakshagana sound different from other forms of music.Indigenous Yakshagana ragas
- Shatpadi (Note that this is different from Kannada prosody by the same name)
- Sangatya
- Kannada (This is different from Kaanada of Hindusthani)
- Hoovu
- Koore (This is different from Kore Tala)
- Nepali
- Gopanithe
- Navarasa
- Vrundhavana
- Mechaali
- Koravi
- Divaali
- Mechchu
- Ghantaarava
Some well known Ragas
These ragas share names of the ragas of Karnataka Sangeetha but structurally different from them with very few exceptions.- Naati ---- Vaaranaa vadana/Mudadinda Ninnaaa
- Sangatya ---- Kururaaaya idanella kandu
- Regupti ---- Kelu
- Kambhodhi ---- Shatrugna senegala sUtravanu sharisutta (Cognate of Hinsuthani raga)
- Bhairavi ---- Elavo sanjayane kelu, any starting song of a prasanga
- Madhyamavathi ----
- Kalyani
- Kaaphi
- Nilaambari
- Paraju
- Desi (Desh?)
- Navaroju
- Savaay
- Saurashtra
- Saranga
- Saveri
- Suruti
- Todi
- Begadi
- Mukhari
- Panturavali
- Kedaragaula ---- Taye kel sri krishna rayana bari salu
- Madhumadhavi
- Mohana ---- Maranayyana Maata, ranganayaka rageeva lochana
- Janjooti
See also
- Melody typeMelody typeIn ethnomusicology and musicology, a melody type is a set of melodic formulas, figures, and patterns which are used in the composition of an enormous variety of music, especially non-Western and early Western music. Such music is generally composed by a process of centonization, either freely In...
- MaqamMaqam- Musical structures :* Arabic maqam, melodic modes* Mugam genre of Azeri-speaking cultures* Maqam al-iraqi genre of Iraq* Weekly Maqam prayer services of Sephardic Jewish culture* Makam, melody types of Turkey* Muqam, melody type of Uyghur culture...
- makamMakamMakam In Turkish classical music, a system of melody types called makam provides a complex set of rules for composing and performance...
- echosEchosEchos is the name in Byzantine music theory for a mode within the eight mode system , each of them ruling several melody types, and it is used in the melodic and rhythmic composition of Byzantine chant , differentiated according to the chant genre and according to the performance style...
- muqamMuqamA muqam is the melody type used in Uyghur music, that is, a musical mode and set of melodic formulas used to guide improvisation and composition....
- Nava rasas
- RāgaRaga (film)Raga is a documentary about the life and music of sitarist Ravi Shankar. It is directed by Howard Worth....
, a documentary about the life and music of Ravi ShankarRavi ShankarRavi Shankar , often referred to by the title Pandit, is an Indian musician and composer who plays the plucked string instrument sitar. He has been described as the best known contemporary Indian musician by Hans Neuhoff in Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart.Shankar was born in Varanasi and spent...