An Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avaroha, in the context of
Indian classical music, is the descending scale of any
raga.
[''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications] The notes descend in pitch from the upper tonic (taar shadja or Sa) down to the lower tonic, possibly in a crooked (vakra) manner.
Examples
In raga
Darbari
Darbari Kanada, or simply Raga Darbari, (pronounced darbāri kānada), is a raga in the Kanada family, which is thought to have originated in Carnatic music and brought into Hindustani classical music by Miyan Tansen, the legendary 16th-c ...
, an
Asavari
Raga Asavari () is a Hindustani classical raga. It belongs to the Asavari thaat and is performed in the morning hours.
In pre- Bhatkhande days this Asavari used the Komal Rishab instead of Shuddh Rishab. When Bhatkhandeji created the thaat pr ...
-
thaat
A Thaat () is a "Parent scale" in North Indian or Hindustani music. It is the Hindustani equivalent of the term ''Melakartha raga'' of Carnatic Music. The concept of the ''thaat'' is not exactly equivalent to the western musical scale because t ...
raga with
vadi-
samvadi
The Samavadi is the second-most prominent (though not necessarily second-most played) note of a raga in Indian classical music. The primary note of the raga is the ''Vadi (Hindustani classical music), vadi''; the vadi and samvadi are in most cases ...
R-P, the avroha is R' n S' d~ n P, m P g~ m R S, with
andolan on the dhaivat and gandhar.
In
Malahari
Malahari is a Carnatic raga. This raaga is a ''janya'' of the 15th ''Melakarta'' raga Mayamalavagowla. This raga is known to be a morning raga which brings out a sense of calmness.''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of ...
, which is ''
janya
''Janya'' is a term meaning "derive". In Carnatic (South Indian) music a ''janya raga'' is one derived from one of the 72 ''melakarta'' ragas (fundamental melodic structures). ''Janya'' ragas are classified into various types based on a varie ...
'' raga of 15th ''
melakarta''
Mayamalavagowla
Mayamalavagowla (pronounced ) is a raga of Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is classified as 15th '' melakarta'' raga under Venkatamakhin's '' melakarta'' system. Originally known as ''malavagowla'', "maya" was ...
, the avarohana is ''S D1 P M1 G2 R1 S''.
See
swaras in Carnatic music for description of this notation.
In
Sahana, a ''janya'' raga of 28th ''melakarta''
Harikambhoji, the Avarohana is ''S N2 D2 P M1 G3 M1 R2 G3 R2 S''.
This raga in its avarohana has the notes jumping from one to another (a bit like Dattu). This changes the whole feel of the raga, making Sahana a beautiful raga to listen to.
References
{{reflist
Carnatic music terminology
Hindustani music terminology
Ragas