Bilaval or Bilawal () is a

raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradit ...

and the basis for the eponymous '' thaat'' ( musical mode) in Hindustani classical music. Raga Bilaval is named after Veraval, Gujarat. Bilaval has been the standard for North Indian music since the early 19th century. Its tonal relationships are comparable to the Western music

C major C major (or the key of C) is a major scale based on C, consisting of the pitches C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. C major is one of the most common keys used in music. Its key signature has no flats or sharps. Its relative minor is A minor and ...

scale. Bilaval appears in the '' Ragamala'' as a ragini of Bhairav but today it is the head of the Bilaval thaat. The Ragamala names Bilaval as a Putra (son) of Bhairav but no relationship between these two ragas are made today. Bilaval is a morning raga that is intended to be sung with a feeling of deep devotion and repose and is often performed during the hot months. The Bilaval is equivalent to the Carnatic raga

melakarta Mēḷakartā is a collection of fundamental musical scales ( ragas) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). ''Mēḷakartā'' ragas are parent ragas (hence known as ''janaka'' ragas) from which other ragas may be generated. A ''melak ...

Sankarabharanam Sankarabharanam may refer to: * ''Sankarabharanam'' (1980 film), an Indian Telugu-language musical drama film * ''Sankarabharanam'' (2015 film), an Indian Telugu-language crime comedy film * Sankarabharanam (raga) Dhīraśankarābharaṇaṃ, c ...

, as well as the Western Ionian mode (major scale), and contains the notes S R G M P D N S'. The pitches of Bilaval thaat are all ' (natural). Flat () or sharp () pitches always occur regarding the interval pattern in Bilaval thaat. Bilaval raga is in the

Sikh Sikhs ( or ; pa, ਸਿੱਖ, ' ) are people who adhere to Sikhism, Sikhism (Sikhi), a Monotheism, monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Gu ...

tradition of northern India and is part of the Sikh holy scripture '' Granth'', the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Every raga has a set of strict rules that govern the number of notes that can be used, which notes can be used, and their interplay that must be adhered to for the composition of a tune. Bilaval is the thirty-fourth raga to appear in the series of sixty compositions in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib. The composition in this raga appears on 64 pages from page numbers 795 to 859. The Indian National Anthem Jana Gana Mana is sung in the raga

Gaud Sarang Gaud Sarang is a raga in Hindustani classical music that combines characteristics of Sarang and the now extinct raga named Gaud. Unlike most other members of the Sarang family of ragas, Gaud Sarang is assigned to the Kalyan thaat rather than ...

. It is believed that the National Anthem of India is sung in raga Alhaiya Bilaval but this is not the case. There is a

svara Svara or swara (Devanagari: स्वर, generally pronounced as ''swar'') is a Sanskrit word that connotes simultaneously a breath, a vowel, the sound of a musical note corresponding to its name, and the successive steps of the octave or '' ...

that changes the raga of Jana Gana Mana. In the national anthem, the tivra Madhyam svara is used. Raga Alhaiya Bilaval does not employ the tivra Madhyama svara; raga Alhaiya Bilaval is the raga of all ''Shuddha

Svara Svara or swara (Devanagari: स्वर, generally pronounced as ''swar'') is a Sanskrit word that connotes simultaneously a breath, a vowel, the sound of a musical note corresponding to its name, and the successive steps of the octave or '' ...

s'' and no other types of svaras. Raga

has the tivra Madhyama svara.

Aroha and avaroha

Arohana/Arohi: Sa, Re, Ga, ma, Pa, Dha, Ni, Sa'

Avrohana 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 pitc ...

/Avarahi: Sa' Ni Dha, Pa, ma Ga, Ma, Re Sa

Vadi and samavadi

Vadi: Dha Samavadi: Ga

Pakad or chalan

#Ga Re, Ga Ma Dha Pa, Ma Ga, Ma Re Sa #Ga Pa Ni Dha Ni Sa #Ga Re Ga Pa, Ni Dha Ni Sa #Sa Ni Dha Pa Ga Ma Re Sa

Samay (time)

Morning: ''First pahar of the day (6-9 AM)''

Film songs in Tamil

Notes

References

* Bor, Joep ''(ed).'' Rao, Suvarnalata; der Meer, Wim van; Harvey, Jane ''(co-authors)'' ''The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas''. Zenith Media, London: 1999.

External links

SRA on Samay and Ragas
{{Rāgas as per Performance Time Gujarati music Hindustani ragas Ragas in the Guru Granth Sahib