Gambhiranata is a
rāga
A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradition, and as ...
in
Carnatic music
Carnatic music, known as or in the Dravidian languages, South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, an ...
(musical scale of South Indian classical music) and
Yakshagana
Yakshagaana is a traditional theatre, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, ...
where it is called Naati. It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a ''
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 ...
'' rāga (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven ''
swara
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'' (musical notes). ''Gambhiranata'' is also known as ''Shuddha Nata''.
[''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras]
Structure and Lakshana
''Gambhiranata'' is a symmetric rāga that does not contain ''rishabham'' or ''dhaivatam''. It is a pentatonic scale (''audava-audava'' ragam
[''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications] in Carnatic music classification – ''audava'' meaning 'of 5'). Its ascending and descending scale structure (') is as follows:
*
:
*
:
The notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, antara gandharam, shuddha madhyamam, panchamam'' and ''kakali nishadam'' (see
''swaras'' in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms). ''Gambhiranata'' is considered a ''janya'' rāgam of ''
Chalanata
Chalanata (pronounced chalanāta) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 36th '' Melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is one of the few rāgams referred ...
'', the 36th ''
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 ...
'' rāgam, though it can be derived from 8 other melakarta rāgams, by dropping both ''rishabham'' and ''dhaivatam''.
Popular compositions
''Gambhiranata'' rāgam lends itself for elaboration due to the pentatonic nature and symmetricity of the scale. The mallari tune played in ''
Nadhaswaram
The Nagaswaram (nādḥasvaram) is a double reed wind instrument from South India. It is used as a traditional classical instrument in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala.
This instrument is "among the world's loude ...
'' at temple processions are set to this musical scale.
Here are some compositions set to this scale.
*''Mudadinda Ninna kondaduvenu'': ancient traditional invocation song in Yakshagana.
*''Sri jalandharam'' composed by
Jayachamaraja Wodeyar
Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar (18 July 1919 – 23 September 1974) was the 25th Maharaja of Mysore from 1940 to 1950, who later served as the governor of Mysore and Madras states.
Early life
Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar was born on 18 July 1919 at ...
*''Jayadevaki kishora'' by
Swati Tirunal
( ml, സ്വാതി തിരുനാള് രാമവർമ്മ) (16 April 1813 – 26 December 1846) was the Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore. He is also considered as a brilliant music composer and is credited with over 40 ...
*''Tiru Tiru Javarale'' By
Annamacharya
Tallapaka Annamacharya (Telugu : తాళ్ళపాక అన్నమాచార్య) ( IAST: taḷḷapāka annamācārya; 22 May 1408 – 4 April 1503), also popularly known as Annamayya, was a 15th-century Hindu saint and the ea ...
*''Sharanambe vani'' by
Purandaradasa
Purandara Dasa ( IAST: Purandara dāsa) ( 1470 – 1565) was a Haridasa philosopher and a follower of Madhwacharya 's Dwaitha philosophy -saint from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a composer, singer and one of the chief founding-pro ...
*''Enu Sadhana Madi'' By
Bannanje Govindacharya
Bannanje Govindacharya (3 August 1936 – 13 December 2020) was an Indian philosopher and Sanskrit scholar versed in Veda Bhashya, Upanishad Bhashya, Mahabharata, Puranas and Ramayana. He wrote Bhashyas (commentaries) on Veda Suktas, Upanishads, S ...
*''Ini aedu kavalai'' by
Periyasaamy Thooran
M. P. Periyasaamy Thooran (Tamil: பெரியசாமி தூரன்) (26 September 1908 – 20 January 1987) was a patriot, Tamil poet, teacher, and composer of Carnatic music.
Early life
Periyasamy was born to K. A. Palanivelapp ...
*'' Varnam – Amma Anandadayini'' by
M. Balamuralikrishna
Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna (6 July 1930 – 22 November 2016) was an Indian Carnatic vocalist, musician, multi-instrumentalist, playback singer, composer, and character actor. He was awarded the Madras Music Academy's Sangeetha Kalanidhi in ...
*''Girijaramana'' by
Mysore Vasudevachar
Mysore Vasudevacharya (28 May 1865 – 17 May 1961) was an Indian musician and composer of Carnatic music compositions who belonged to the direct line of Thyagaraja's disciples. Vasudevachar's compositions (numbering over 200) were mostly in Telu ...
*Kalinga Narthana Thillana and Sri Vighna rajam bhaje-
Othukkadu venkata kavi
Film Songs
Language:
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
* Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils
**Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia
* Tamil language, nativ ...
Related rāgams
Graha bhedam
''Gambhiranata's'' notes when shifted using ''
Graha bhedam
''Graha Bhedam'' in Carnatic music is the process (or result of the process) of shifting the Tonic note (''śruti'') to another note in the rāgam and arriving at a different rāgam. Its equivalent in Hindustani classical music is called a ''mur ...
'', yields another pentatonic rāgam, ''
Bhupalam
Bhupalam (pronounced ''bhūpalam'') is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a pentatonic scale (''audava'' rāgam or ''owdava'' rāgam). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have ...
''. ''Graha bhedam'' is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the ''shadjam'' to the next note in the rāgam. For more details and illustration of this concept refer ''
Graha bhedam on Gambhiranata''.
*''
Amritavarshini
Amr̥tavarṣiṇi is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music), created in the early nineteenth century by Muthuswami Dikshitar. It is an ''audava'' rāgam (meaning pentatonic scale) in which only five of the ...
'' is a rāgam which has ''prati madhyamam'' in place of the ''shuddha madhyamam''. See below table for more details.
*''
Hamsadhvani
Hamsadhvani (meaning "the cry of the swan"), is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of Carnatic tradition of Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāgam (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is a ''janya'' rāga of the ...
'' is a rāgam which has ''chathusruthi rishabham'' in place of the ''shuddha madhyamam''. See below table for more details.
Grahabedam
Scale similarities
*''
Nata
Nata could refer to:
__NOTOC__ Places
* Nata, Botswana, a village in Central District of Botswana
* Nata, Cyprus, a small village near Paphos, Cyprus
* Natá, Coclé, a town and corregimiento in Natá District, Coclé Province, Panama
* Natá Dist ...
'' is a rāgam which has scale of ''
Chalanata
Chalanata (pronounced chalanāta) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 36th '' Melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is one of the few rāgams referred ...
'', the 36th ''
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 ...
'' rāgam, in the ascending scale, while retaining the descending scale similar to ''Gambhiranata''. Its ' structure is S R3 G3 M1 P D3 N3 S : S N3 P M1 G3 S
Notes
References
{{Janya
Janya ragas