Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Shankarabharanam

This is the 29th Melakartha and one of the main ragas in Carnatic Music. It is also a very important janaka raga (that is a lot of ragas are derived from it). It is usually sung either as a varnam or a main krithi with elaborate raga alapana. The placement of swaras in Shankarabharanam make it very conducive for alapana and numerous swaraprastharas (using swaras during a krithi to bring out the raga). Shankarabharanam literally means "jewel of Lord Shiva" and is considered to be favorite raga of the deity. It's scale is
Arohana: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S'
Avarohana: S' N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S

The placement of it swaras makes it resemble the C major scale very closely.

Some Carnatic compositions in this raga are Swara raga sudha, Saroja dhala nethri. Here's a link to a thillana in Shankarabharanam
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/p/x/rUp2f7tONS.As1NMvHdW/
Here's a pseudo western piece but played Carnatic style in Shankarabharanam.
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/p/x/bUI09vl5wd.As1NMvHdW/

Movie Songs in Shankarabharanam



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