Vasantha (raga)

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

For the Tamil film, see Vasantha Raagam.

Vasantha
ArohanamS M₁ G₃ M₁ D₂ N₃ Ṡ
AvarohanamṠ N₃ D₂ M₁ G₃ R₁ S
Carnatic music
Tanjavur-style Tambura
Concepts
Compositions
Instruments
Melody
Sarasvati Vīṇā
Veṇu
Nādasvaraṃ
Goṭṭuvādyaṃ (Citra Vīṇā)
Violin
Percussion
Mr̥daṅgaṃ
Ghaṭaṃ
Morsing
Kanjira
Thavil
Drone
Tambura
Shruti box

Vasantha is suitable to be sung in evening and is considered an auspicious raga.[1]

Structure

Vasantha is an asymmetric scale that does not contain panchamam. It is called a vakra audava-shadava raga,malathiga[1] 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.

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.

Film Songs

Language:Tamil
Song Movie Composer Singer
Vasantha Ruthu Sivakavi Papanasam Sivan M. K. Thyagaraja Bhagavathar
Azhagiya Thirumugam Brammacharigal M. S. Viswanathan S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Andhimazhai pozhigirathu Raja Parvai Illayaraja S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Maan Kanden Raja Rishi K.J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Nil Nil Nil pathil sol Paattu Padava Illayaraja, Uma Ramanan
Iravil Irandu Paravaigal(With raga Bhagyashree touches) Soundaryame Varuga Varuga Vijaya Bhaskar S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Minsara Poove Padayappa A. R. Rahman Srinivas, Nithyashree Mahadevan & Palakkad Sreeram
Idhayam Kochadaiiyaan Srinivas, Chinmayi
Vandanam Vandanam Vazhvey Maayam Gangai Amaran S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Kanden Kanden Pirivom Santhippom Vidyasagar Karthik, Shweta Mohan
En Anbae En Anbae Mounam Pesiyadhe Yuvan Shankar Raja Shankar Mahadevan

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

Scale similarities
  • Lalitha is a popular raga that sounds very similar to Vasantha.[1][2] Lalitha uses chatusruti rishabham in ārohaṇa also,[2] while the dvisruti dhaivatam is used in it, compared to trisruti dhaivatam in Vasantha.[1]

Notes
  1. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: S M G M D N Ṡ
    • Western: C F E F A B C
  2. Alternate notations:
    • Hindustani: Ṡ N D M G Ṟ S
    • Western: C B A F E D♭ C

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