Bageshri


Bageshri 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 Mian Tansen, the celebrated court singer of the Emperor Akbar in the sixteenth century.
In the twentieth century, Bageshri raga found widespread popularity in Carnatic Music. The popular Hindi music director C.Ramchandra favoured composing songs in Bageshri, as he found it simple. In a 1978 interview at BBC studios with Mahendra Kaul, he explained this, while playing songs like that were set to Bageshri.

Theory

The theoretical aspects of Bageshri are as follows:

Scale

Vadi & Samavadi

[Pakad] or Chalan">Raga">Chalan

D n s, m, m P D, m g R S

Organization & Relationships

[Samay] (Time)

The time for this raaga is madhya raatri.

Carnatic music

In the twentieth century, Bageshri raga found widespread popularity in Carnatic Music, in which it is said to be derived from the equivalent Melakarta of Kafi thaat, the 22nd Melakarta called Kharaharapriya. This raga is a janya raga as it does not have all the seven notes in the ascending scale.

Structure and Lakshana

Bageshri is an asymmetric scale that does not contain panchamam or rishabam in the ascending scale. It is called a audava-sampurna rāgam, in Carnatic music classification. Its structure is as follows :
This scale uses the notes shadjam, chathusruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadam.

Popular compositions

Bageshri has become a popular raga in Carnatic music. It is pleasing but the Carnatic version of the scale does not give much scope for elaboration. This scale has been used in a few krithis. In addition, many devaranamas, ashtapadis, thiruppugazhs, and other lyrics have been set to tune in this raga. It is typically sung in concerts after the main piece, in viruttams, padams, bhajans and ragamalika.
Here are some popular compositions in Bageshri.

Language:Tamil">Tamil language">Tamil