Abhogi

Abhogi (Ābhōgi) is a raga in Carnatic music and has been adapted to Hindustani music.[2] It is a pentatonic scale, an audava raga. It is a derived scale (janya raga), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes). Ābhōgi has been borrowed from Carnatic music into Hindustani music and is also quite popular in the latter.[3][4]

Abhogi
Mela22nd, Kharaharapriya[1]
TypeAudava–Audava[1]
ArohanamS R₂ G₂ M₁ D₂ [1]
Avarohanam D₂ M₁ G₂ R₂ S[1]
Jeeva svarasG₂[1]
Chhaya svarasD₂[1]
EquivalentAbhogi Kanada

Theory

Ābhōgi scale with shadjam at C

The Carnatic raga Abhogi is a symmetric pentatonic scale that does not contain panchamam and nishadam. It is called an audava-audava raga,[3][4] as it has 5 notes in both ascending and descending scales. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows:

The notes used are shadjam, chathusruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam and chathusruthi dhaivatham. Ābhōgi is considered a janya raga of Kharaharapriya, the 22nd Melakarta raga, though it can be derived from Gourimanohari too, by dropping both panchamam and nishadam.

Graha bhedam

Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. Abhogi's notes, when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields another pentatonic rāgam, Valaji. For more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Ābhōgi.

According to P.Moutal, the raga Kalavati is a transposition of Abhogi.[5]

Scale similarities

  • Sriranjani is a rāgam which has kaishiki nishadam in both ascending and descending scales in addition to the notes in Ābhōgi. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R₂ G₂ M₁ D₂ N₂  :  N₂ D₂ M₁ G₂ R₂ S
  • Shuddha Saveri is a rāgam which has the panchamam in place of the gandharam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R₂ M₁ P D₂  :  D₂ P M₁ R₂ S

Notable compositions

Abhogi is a raga used for compositions in a medium to fast tempo. It has been used by many composers in classical music and film music. Notable traditional compositions in Abhogi include:

In Hindustani music

Abhogi Kanada
ThaatKafi[2]
TypeAudava–Audava
Time of dayEarly night, 9–12[2]
ArohanaS R  M D [7]
Avarohana
  •  D M  M R S
  •  D M  R S
SynonymAbhogi
SimilarBageshri[2]

The Carnatic raga was incorporated relatively recently into Hindustani classical music where it is known as Abhogi Kanada (IAST: Abhogi Kānaḍā) or simply, Abhogi. The Kanada indicates its origin as a member of the Kanada group. Abhogi Kanada is assigned to the Kafi thaat.[2][7]

The Carnatic and Hindustani Abhogis have almost identical arohanas and avarohanas. However, one major differences is that the Carnatic raga uses the Kanada vakra (out of sequence) phrase G₂ M₁ R₂ S[lower-alpha 3] in a straight manner.[1]

Theory

Pa and Ni are omitted. Also Re is often omitted in ascent. Flat Ga is often approached from Ma in ascent and has a slight oscillation to show the typical Kanada. In descent often the typical Kanada phrase   R S is used.

Related ragas: Bageshree. However, Bageshree also includes flat Ni and a limited use of Pa, which gives a different flavour.[2]

Compositions

Hindustani compositions of note in Abhogi Kanada include:[7]

  • Par gaya chahai sab koi in Ektal by Raidas
  • Jayati siri radhike in Jhaptal by Gadadhar Bhatt
  • Ek barajori kare saiyya in Jhumratal

Important Recordings

Film Songs

Language:Tamil

Song Movie Composer Singer
Thangaratham Vanthathu Kalai Kovil Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy M. Balamuralikrishna, P. Susheela
Naan Indri Yaar Vaaruvaar(Ragamalika:Abhogi,Valaji) Maalaiyitta Mangai T. R. Mahalingam, A. P. Komala
Kangalin Vaarthaigal Kalathur Kannamma R. Sudarsanam A. M. Rajah, P. Susheela
Vanakkam Palamurai Sonnen Avan Oru Sarithiram M. S. Viswanathan T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Mangayaril Maharani Avalukendru Oru Manam S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Inraiku Yen Indha Vaidehi Kathirunthal Ilaiyaraaja P. Jayachandran, Vani Jairam
Kalai Nera Amman Kovil Kizhakale S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Kuk Kuk Koo Ena Kaalaiyum Neeye Maalaiyum Neeye Devendran
Konjam Neram Chandramukhi Vidyasagar Madhu Balakrishnan, Asha Bhonsle
Vaa Sagi Vaa Sagi Arasiyal Harish Raghavendra, Uma Ramanan

See also

  • List of Film Songs based on Ragas

Notes

  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S R  M D 
    • Western: C D E F A C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:  D M  R S
    • Western: C A F E D C
  3. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani:  M R S
    • Western: E F D C
  4. Alternate notations:
    • Carnatic: S R₂ G₂ M₁ D₂ 
    • Western: C D E F A C
  5. Alternate notations:
    • Carnatic:  D₂ M₁ G₂ R₂ S
    • Western: C A F E D C
  6. Alternate notations:
    • Carnatic:  D₂ M₁ G₂ R₂ S
    • Western: C A F E D C

References

  1. OEMI:A.
  2. Bor & Rao 1999.
  3. Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  4. Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
  5. P.Moutal, p. 462
  6. Carnatic music compositions: an index. CBH Publications. 1994. p. 129.
  7. OEMI:AK.

Sources

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