Hamsadhvani Explained
| Hamsadhwani |
| Thaat: | Bilaval |
| Type: | Audava |
| Time: | Early night, 9–12 |
| Arohana: | S R G P N Ṡ |
| Avarohana: | Ṡ N P G R S |
| Vadi: | P |
| Samavadi: | R |
| Pakad: | G P N - Ṡ N P G |
| Similar: | Shankara |
Hamsadhvani (meaning "the cry of the swan"[1]), is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of Carnatic tradition of Indian classical music). It is an audava rāgam (or owdava rāga, meaning pentatonic scale).[2] It is a janya rāga of the Melakartha raga, Sankarabharanam (29th) but according to Hamsadhvani's prayoga or the way it is sung it is said to be the janya of Kalyani (65th).
Hamsadhvani is also extensively used in Hindustani music and is borrowed into it from Carnatic music.[3] It was created by the Carnatic composer Ramaswami Dikshitar (1735–1817),[4] father of Muthuswami Dikshitar (one of the musical trinity of Carnatic music), and brought into Hindustani music by Aman Ali Khan of the Bhendibazaar gharana. It has become popular due to Amir Khan.
Structure and lakshana
Hamsadhvani does not contain madhyamam or dhaivatham. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam[5] in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chatushruti rishabham, antara gandharam, panchamam and kakali nishadam. In Hindustani music, it is associated with Bilaval thaat (equivalent of Shankarabharanam).
Compositions
Hamsadhvani rāgam lends itself for elaboration and exploration and has many compositions in both classical music and film music. It is usually sung at the beginning of a performance. There are many kritis (compositions) in praise of Lord Ganesha set in this musical scale.
Film songs
In Tamil language
| Song | Movie | Year | Composer | Singer |
|---|
| Vaadaatha Pushpame.... Vanithaa Maniye | Adutha Veettu Penn | 1960 | Adi Narayana Rao | P. B. Sreenivas |
| Mazhalai Kaalamum | Savithiri | 1980 | M. S. Viswanathan | P. Jayachandran, Vani Jairam |
| Malargale Nadhaswarangal | Kizhakke Pogum Rail | 1978 | Ilaiyaraaja | Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki |
| Mayile Mayile | Kadavul Amaitha Medai | 1979 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Jency Anthony |
| Sevvaname Ponmegame | Nallathoru Kudumbam | P. Jayachandran, Kalyani Menon, Jency,Sasirekha |
| Therkondu Sendravan | Enakkul Oruvan | 1984 | P. Susheela |
| Kalam Maralam(Ragamalika: Hamsadhvani, Vasanthi) | Vaazhkai | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam |
| Va Va Va Kanna Va | Velaikkaran | 1987 | Mano, K. S. Chithra |
| Poomudithu | En Purushanthaan Enakku Mattumthaan | 1989 | P. Jayachandran,Sunandha |
| Nillavu Vandhadu(Ragamalika: Hamsadhvani, Vasanthi) | Endrum Anbudan | 1992 | Mano, S. Janaki |
| Sriranga Ranganathanin(Ragamalika: Hamsadhvani, Mohanam) | Mahanadhi | 1994 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Uma Ramanan, Shobana |
| Maalai En Vethanai | Sethu | 1999 | Unni Krishnan, Arunmozhi, S.N.Surendar |
| Diana Diana | Kaadhal Kavithai | 1998 | Hariharan |
| Nandri Solla | Chithirayil Nilachoru | 2013 | Karthik, Priyadarshini |
| Iru vizhiyin | Siva | 1989 | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra |
| Yaaro Athu Yaaro | Ungal Anbu Thangachi | 1994 | Chandrabose |
| Vasandhamum Neeye | Kanneer Pookkal | 1981 | Shankar–Ganesh | S. Janaki |
| Isaiyin Mazhaiyile | Kadaikan Parvai | 1986 | V. Narasimhan | K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam |
| Naan Enna Pade | Ullathil Nalla Ullam | 1988 | Gangai Amaran | S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki |
| Vellai Pookal | Kannathil Muthamittal | 2002 | A. R. Rahman | A. R. Rahman |
| Manmadha Maasam (Ragamalika: Vasanthi) | Paarthale Paravasam | 2001 | Shankar Mahadevan, Nithyasree Mahadevan |
| Dating | Boys | 2003 | Blaaze, Vasundhara Das |
| Theekuruvi | Kangalal Kaidhu Sei | 2004 | Johnson, Harini & Mukesh |
| Poovukkul | Jeans | 1998 | P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan |
| En Manathai | Kalloori Vaasal | 1996 | Deva | Hariharan, Anuradha Sriram |
| Oru Mani Adithal | Kaalamellam Kadhal Vaazhga | 1997 | Hariharan |
| Gadothkaja | Pammal K. Sambandam | 2002 | Srinivas, Mahalakshmi Iyer |
| Vinodhamanavale | Lovely | 2001 | Hariharan, Sujatha Mohan |
| Aayiram Thirnaal | Pudhu Vasantham | 1990 | S. A. Rajkumar | K. S. Chithra,Kalyan |
| Udaiyatha Vennila | Priyam | 1996 | Vidyasagar | Hariharan,K. S. Chithra |
| Nee Pesum Poova | Golmaal | 1998 | Bala Bharathi |
| Imaikkatha Vizhigal | Kadhal Dot Com | 2004 | Bharadwaj | Srinivas, Srimathumitha |
| Unnodu Vaazhatha | Amarkalam | 1999 | K. S. Chithra |
| Siragillai | Vaaname Ellai | 1992 | M. M. Keeravani |
| Vanthal Puguntha | Amman Kovil Vaasalile | 1996 | Sirpy | K. S. Chithra,Swarnalatha |
| Nenjodu Kalanthidu | Kaadhal Kondein | 2003 | Yuvan Shankar Raja | P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan |
| Manja Kaattu Maina | Manadhai Thirudivittai | 2001 | Karthik, Sadhana Sargam |
| Azhagana Chinna Devathai | Samudhiram | Sabesh–Murali | Shankar Mahadevan, Harini |
| Suppose Unnai | Sukran | 2005 | Vijay Antony | Ranjith,Vinaya |
| Aval Appadi Onrum | Angadi Theru | 2010 | Vineeth Sreenivasan, Ranjith,Janaki Iyer |
| Natta Nadu Rathiri | A Aa E Ee | 2009 | Karthik, Sangeetha Rajeshwaran,Christopher |
| Molachu Moonu | Velayudham | 2011 | Prasanna, Supriya Joshi |
| Poovin Manam Poovil Ellai | Narthagi | G. V. Prakash Kumar | Tippu,Harini |
| Ingivalai | Ninaithu Ninaithu Parthen | 2007 | Joshua Sridhar | Goutham, Harini Sudhakar |
| Koba Kanalgal Theeradha | Unarvugal Thodarkathai | | Amin Mirza | Gowtham Bhardwaj |
| Kadhale Kadhale | Konjam Koffee Konjam Kaadhal | 2012 | Phani Kalyan | Prasanna, Neha Nair | |
In Malayalam language
Related rāgas
Graha bhedham
Hamsadhvani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields another pentatonic rāgam, Nagasvaravali. 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 more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Hamsadhvani.
Scale similarities
- Amritavarshini is a rāgam which has Prati Madhyamam in place of the rishabham. Structures are shown in below table.
- Gambhiranata is a rāgam which has shuddha madhyamam in place of the rishabham. Structures are shown in below table.
- Mohanam is a rāgam which has chatushruti dhaivatam in place of the nishadam. Structures are shown in below table.
- Niroshta is a rāgam which has chatushruti dhaivatam in place of the panchamam. Structures are shown in below table.
| Rāgam | Śruti
Tonic | C | | D | | E | F | | G | | A | | B | C |
|---|
| Hamsadhvani | C | S | | R2 | | G3 | | | P | | - | | N3 | S' |
| Mohanam | C | S | | R2 | | G3 | | | P | | D2 | | - | S' |
| Niroshta | C | S | | R2 | | G3 | | | - | | D2 | | N3 | S' | |
In Hindustani music
Vadi and samavadi
Vadi
Sa
Samavadi
Pa
Pakad or chalan
ga pa ni Sa ga re ni paSaThe Pakad is the one where one can identify to which raga does the composition belongs.
Organization and relationships
Thaat
Bilaval.
Time
Late Evening[6]
Important recordings
Literature
- Bor, Joep (ed). Rao, Suvarnalata; der Meer, Wim van; Harvey, Jane (co-authors) The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas. Zenith Media, London: 1999.
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Bor . Joep . Rao . Suvarnalata . The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindusthani Ragas . 1999 . Nimbus Records with Rotterdam Conservatory of Music . 978-0-9543976-0-9 . 80 . en.
- Book: O'Brien, J.P. . Non-western Music and the Western Listener . Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company . 1977 . 978-0-8403-1755-1 . 37.
- Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
- There is no much reference about how the kriti Gajavadana Beduve by Purandaradasa was composed between 1484 - 1564 in the same tune.http://www.carnatica.net/special/rdiksitar.htm P.P.Narayanaswami on www.carnatica.net
- Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
- w.w.w.wikipedia
