Vasantha (raga)

For the Tamil film, see Vasantha Raagam.

Vasantha (pronounced vasantā) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a janya rāgam of Suryakantam, the 17th Melakarta rāgam.[1] According to P Subba Rao, majority opinion is that the rāgam is derived from Mayamalavagowla, the 15th Melakarta rāgam.[2]

Vasantha is suitable to be sung in evening and is considered an auspicious rāgam.[1] It has been in use for more than 1000 years.[1]

Structure and Lakshana

Vasantha is an asymmetric scale that does not contain panchamam. It is called a vakra audava-shadava rāgam,[1] in Carnatic music classification (as it has 5 notes with zig-zag notes in ascending scale and 6 notes in descending scale). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

This scale uses the notes shadjam, shuddha rishabham, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kakali nishadam.

Arohanam and avarohanam for Vasantha with tambura

Popular compositions

Vasantha has ample scope for alapana. This scale has been used by many composers for compositions in classical music. Here are some popular compositions in Vasantha.

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Scale similarities

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  2. 1 2 3 Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
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