Music is the elegant expression of enigmatic human feelings and moods. When speech form can easily be asserted as the pioneer in the history of direct human communication, music is its absolute realization. Imitation of various environmental sounds heard should have resulted in speech. Assiduous refinement of such imitations with the application of appealing emotions gives music. Music universalizes the progress attained by human civilizations and epitomizes the great human efforts towards progress.
Indian music comprises of assorted traditions in both structured classical music and the democratic folklore, representing the diverse cultures spread across the country. Indian classical music is inclusively represented by the Hindustani and Carnatic forms. These formats are rooted in the political history and practiced in divided geographical locations of the country. Hindustani music practiced in northern part of India has a strong influence of Persian music owing to the political dominance of Islamic rulers over centuries in North India. Carnatic music belongs to the Dravidian southern India.
A common trait to both these music formats is the Raagas - or the unmetered melodies. A raaga can be defined as a pattern of notes having characteristic intervals, rhythms, and embellishments in Indian music. Each raaga is associated with a mood or fervor.
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Two raagas are close to my heart. One is the "Desh" - a Hindustani Raaga and the other is "Udhayaravichandrika" - a Carnatic Raaga. Both these Raagas have been exercised in exemplary musical creations. Various soulful songs have been composed out of these patterns. Few are close to my heart.
Raaga Desh, (as the name exactly means country in Hindi-the national language of India) has given birth to many patriotic songs. Vande Mataram the national song of India is rendered in this Raaga. This song originally was written by the famous Bengali author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya in his acclaimed novel Anandamath. The first two words of the song - "Vande Mataram" - meaning "I bow to thee, mother" invigorated the spirits of the freedom movement in India against the British rule. It was used as a slogan by the Indian patriots.
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Indian music comprises of assorted traditions in both structured classical music and the democratic folklore, representing the diverse cultures spread across the country. Indian classical music is inclusively represented by the Hindustani and Carnatic forms. These formats are rooted in the political history and practiced in divided geographical locations of the country. Hindustani music practiced in northern part of India has a strong influence of Persian music owing to the political dominance of Islamic rulers over centuries in North India. Carnatic music belongs to the Dravidian southern India.
A common trait to both these music formats is the Raagas - or the unmetered melodies. A raaga can be defined as a pattern of notes having characteristic intervals, rhythms, and embellishments in Indian music. Each raaga is associated with a mood or fervor.
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(1)
Two raagas are close to my heart. One is the "Desh" - a Hindustani Raaga and the other is "Udhayaravichandrika" - a Carnatic Raaga. Both these Raagas have been exercised in exemplary musical creations. Various soulful songs have been composed out of these patterns. Few are close to my heart.
Raaga Desh, (as the name exactly means country in Hindi-the national language of India) has given birth to many patriotic songs. Vande Mataram the national song of India is rendered in this Raaga. This song originally was written by the famous Bengali author Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya in his acclaimed novel Anandamath. The first two words of the song - "Vande Mataram" - meaning "I bow to thee, mother" invigorated the spirits of the freedom movement in India against the British rule. It was used as a slogan by the Indian patriots.
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| Mother India |
I refer to Shri Aurobindo Ghose's translation of this wonderful composition.
Mother, I salute thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Any Indian's soul would arouse on hearing this song. The oldest rendition of this song composed for All India Radio by the famous musician Ravi Shankar can be found here. The more popular version of the song to the younger generations is of A.R.Rahman composed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Indian Independence and it can be found here.
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Another song based in this Raaga is close to my heart. The song is "Thunbam Nergaiyil" in Tamil, penned by the famous poet Bharathidasan. This song was originally part of musical album for the movie Or Iravu - One Night. The movie was a thriller written in 1951 by C.N.Annadurai, the Dravidian movement stalwart & playwright who later went on to become the chief minister of the southern state TamilNadu. Music was composed by M.M.Dhandapani Desikar.
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| Yaazh |
The theme of the song is to exhibit the sweetness and soothing nature of Tamil language. The poet whose love for the Tamil language is profound, heaps praise on the Tamil literature. The first few lines can be translated as follows:
When sorrow moments occur, O Dear
Why don't you rejoice me on Yaazh
Would you not reduce the pain of the loveless heart
With soothing Tamil words
True to the words of the song, I heard the soulful rendition of the song in Veena(Yaazh is the ancestor of Veena) by Rajesh Vaidya. Desh Raaga with its soothing charm took over my heart. The original rendition of the movie album was sung by M.S.Rajeswari. The musical value of the song and strength of the lyrics gave it an entry to the otherwise narrow doors of Carnatic music performances. A wonderful treatise on the song was done by Nithyshree Mahadevan. Watch it here for the clarity and diction.
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Yet another song, which is not so famous but not less significant is "Bharatha Desa Hitaya". This is a composition of Shri Dayananda Saraswati in Sanskrit. They are words of inspiration to service to the young Indian. I find them closely resembling to the famous work of Mahakavi Bharathi - in which the great poet dreamt of a energetic India.
The Sanskrit verses can be translated roughly as follows:
For the good of this country
Served by the wisdom of great souls commencing from Bharatha
For the protection of humanity residing from Himalayas to Sethu
Do your service! Do your service!
For improving in health, For upholding justice
For eradicating poverty, For bringing prosperity
For upliftment of the destute
Do your service! Do your service!
This song was written as anthem for the All India movement for Service. Beautiful rendition of this song by UnniKrishnan can be found here.
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Desh Raaga which is the soul for all these songs is a derived or Janya raaga. The parent of this Raaga is another wonderful Hindustani Classical Raaga the Khamas. Not only is the parent Raaga wonderful. It is also the source for a master piece. The song "Vaishnava Janato" which was close to the heart of the Father of our nation - Mahatma Gandhi is on Raaga Khamas.
The famed Gujarati song was written in 15th century by Narsingh Mehta. The song delves on the qualities of a good Samaritan. This was the prayer song for Mahatma Gandhi's meetings.
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| Illustrious son of Mother India |
The first verse of the song can be translated as follows:
One who is a true devotee of God (Vaishnava)
Feels the pain of others
They help those who are in misery
But never lets ego or pride enter their mind
A saccharine rendition of this beautiful song by Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar here
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The Raaga Desh and its parent Khamas have very beautiful soul in them. And the songs that followed these patterns were also magnificent compositions. I would call it illustrious offspring to an illustrious parent.
- Will End in Next Part
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