Abruptly rescheduled travel plans caused by thick fog, the hesitant drive to work on a barely visible road, shorter days-longer nights, tiny pearls of dew on the flora while we nurse chapped lips and parched skin and clinging on to that cup of coffee to keep our palms warm, occasionally rubbing it against a cheek - winter,the third of the major seasons; the mood, contemplative.
This period brings in a feeling of apprehension of what the future holds and one seeks strength to cope with it. The requirement for warmth, security and comfort is not merely physical. The strength of the mind is the hearth...
Raga Shree, a raga with the reflection of a rather meditative, serious mood brings out the experiences of the mind. ‘Shree’ is, by principle, rendered between 4.00 p.m. and 6.00 p.m., the time of dusk and creates the most appropriate mood for the season of winter, as well.The use of the komal rishab (flat second note), the teevr madhyam (sharp middle note) and the pancham (the fifth note), bring out the ‘gambhir’ rasa that the raga conveys. The raga requires an expert rendition of the ‘meend’ (sliding of the note-phrases), and is considered a difficult raga to render. This is also a raga that is considered to be the vocalist’s forte!
Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhatkande, who is considered as the ‘Father’ of Hindustani Classical music for his contribution of theories for the nomenclature of Ragas (into ‘Thaats’) and the system of notations to present compositions, coined the beautiful phrase ‘Sandhi Prakash’ Ragas – ragas that are sung at the time when day and night merge (dusk and dawn). Raga Shree is one such Raga.
Pt. D.V. Paluskar,immortalised this raga with the rendition of Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhatkande’s composition (under the pseudonym 'Hararang'), which I would like to share with you :
‘Hari ke charan kamala nisadina sumira re,
bhaava dhara sudha bheetara bhaava jaladhi tara re;
joie joie dharata dhyaana paavata samadhaana,
‘Hararang’ kahe gyaana abahu chita dhara re….’
- he who places his faith in ME finds comfort
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4 comments:
I had never associated this Raga with the season of winter! You have done a fine job of drawing the relationship between specific ragas and the seasons.
Interesting perspective! And I thought that the Ragas had to do only with time-rasa.
By far, your best post. The first paragraph, truly, sets the setting perfectly. The choice of the Raga is just right. Excellent!!
As an artist, I am thoroughly impressed with your passion for music. God bless.
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