Hamsadhvani

Hamsadhwani
ThaatBilaval
TypeAudava
Time of dayEarly night, 9–12[1]
ArohanaS R G P N Ṡ[1]
AvarohanaṠ N P G R S[1]
PakadG P N - Ṡ N P G
VadiP
SamavadiR
SimilarShankara

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

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Hamsadhvani scale with shadjam (tonic) at C

Hamsadhvani does not contain madhyamam or dhaivatham. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam[3][5] in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

Hamsadhwani

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

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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.[3] There are many kritis (compositions) in praise of Lord Ganesha set in this musical scale.

Film songs

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In Tamil language

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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

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Song Movie Year Composer Singer
"Sree vinayakam" Bharatham 1991 Raveendran K. J. Yesudas
"Aa ragam madhumayamam" Kshanakkathu 1989 Sharreth K. J. Yesudas
"Maayamanjalil" Ottayal Pattalam 1991 Sharreth G. Venugopal
"sumahorthama swasthi"(ragamalika) Kamaladalam 1992 Raveendran K. J. Yesudas
"Sree Padam vidarnu" Etho Oru Swapnam 1978 Salil Chowdhury K. J. Yesudas
"Nadangalay nee varu" Ninnishtam Ennishtam 1986 Kannur Rajan P. Jayachandran, K. S. Chitra
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Graha bhedham

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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

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  • 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.
Rāgam Śruti
Tonic
C D E F G A B C
Hamsadhvani C S R2 G3 P N3 S'
Amritavarshini C S G3 M2 P N3 S'
Gambhiranata C S G3 M1 P N3 S'
  • 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

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Vadi and samavadi

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Vadi: Sa

Samavadi: Pa

Pakad or chalan

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ga pa ni Sa ga re ni pa Sa The Pakad is the one where one can identify to which raga does the composition belongs.

Organization and relationships

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Thaat: Bilaval.

Time

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Late Evening [6]

Important recordings

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Notes

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  1. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S R G P N 
    • Western: C D E G B C
  2. ^ Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:  N P G R S
    • Western: C B G E D C

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Bor, Joep; Rao, Suvarnalata (1999). The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindusthani Ragas. Nimbus Records with Rotterdam Conservatory of Music. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-9543976-0-9.
  2. ^ O'Brien, J.P. (1977). Non-western Music and the Western Listener. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. p. 37. ISBN 978-0-8403-1755-1.
  3. ^ a b c Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
  4. ^ 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]
  5. ^ Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  6. ^ w.w.w.wikipedia

Literature

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  • 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.
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