Kafi () 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 ...

'' in

Hindustani classical music Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, sita ...

. It corresponds to

Kharaharapriya Kharaharapriya is a rāga in Carnatic music. It is the 22nd ''melakarta'' rāga (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāga system. It is possible that the name of the ragam was originally ''Harapriya'' but it was changed to conform to the K ...

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 ...

and Dorian mode in Western music

Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande (10 August 1860 – 19 September 1936) was an Indian musicologist who wrote the first modern treatise on Hindustani classical music, an art which had been propagated for centuries mostly through oral traditions. ...

classified most ''ragas'' into ten '' Thaats''. Kafi ''Thaat'' is one of them. The ''raga'' Kafi is the principal ''raga'' of its ''Thaat''. According to Bhatkhande, its name first appears in the Raga Tarangini of Lochana Pandit, who lived in the Mithila district around the 15th century CE. Kafi has a direct lineage with the folk music of India. Folk music in Tappa, Hori,

Dadra Dadra is associated with the Hindustani classical music of the Indian subcontinent. Dadra tala This is a Hindustani classical '' tala'' (rhythmic cycle), consisting of six beats in two equal divisions of three. The most commonly accepted theka ...

Kirtan Kirtana ( sa, कीर्तन; ), also rendered as Kirtan, is a Sanskrit word that means "narrating, reciting, telling, describing" of an idea or story, specifically in Indian religions. It also refers to a genre of religious performance arts ...

and

Bhajan Bhajan refers to any devotional song with a religious theme or spiritual ideas, specifically among Indian religions, in any language. The term bhajanam (Sanskrit: भजनम्) means ''reverence'' and originates from the root word ''bhaj'' ...

s from different parts of

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

have been composed in this ''raga''. Many variations of Kafi exist. Contamination with ''vivadi swaras'' is common. This mixing has given rise to Mishra Kafi. Hence, a pure form of Kafi is seldom heard.

Description

Varna

Kafi is a '' sampoorna-sampoorna'' or heptatonic ''raga'', with ''komal'' (half a note down) ''Gandhar'' (ga) and ''Nishad'' (ni). This is also referred to as the Bhairavi of night. Both Shuddha Nishad & Gandhar are occasionally used. The atmosphere created is most suitable for both types of Shringar (Separation & Union) and hence many Thumri & Hori compositions are sung in this Raag.

Aroha

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Ṡa (Ga and Ni are ''komal swaras''). Dot above signifies the high octave, dot below signifies the low octave.

Avarohana

Ṡa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa (Ga and Ni are ''komal swaras).''

Vadi and Samavadi

''Pancham'' (Pa) is the '' vadi swara'' and ''Shadaj'' (Sa) is the '' samavadi swara''.

Pakad

A typical improvisation of Kafi starts as M P D P M g R, g R S, n. D. S The phrases below and termination in R are characteristic. S R g M P D n S, R g M P, M P D (M) g

Chalan

The typical chalan can be illustrated as: S S R R g g M M P - - D M P g R R n D n P D M P S n D P M G R S. M P D D n S - S R g R S N D S - S R S n D n D P M P D P g - R - R n D n P D M P S n D P M g R S

Variants

* Shuddha Kafi * Sindhura Kafi * Zilaf Kafi * Kafi Kanada

Organization and relationships

Various ''ragas'', such as Bhimpalasi, Bageshree, Kafi Kanada, Bahar, and

Brindabani Sarang Brindavani Sarang or Brindabani Sarang, also known as raga Sarang, is a Hindustani classical raga. It is also called Vridavani Sarang. This raga falls under the category of Sarang ragas. Theory Brindabani Sarang is a Kafi thaat raga. It ...

are associated with this ''raga''. Important tributaries of this ''raga'' include Sindhura, Barwa, Deshi, Neelambari and Pilu. In Western Classical Music, Kafi corresponds to the modern Dorian Mode.

Behavior

''Samay'' (Time)

Raat ka dvitiya prahar or evening 9-12

Seasonality

The ''raga'' is performed during any season.

Rasa

The principal ''rasa'' for this ''raga'' is '' sringara''.

Important recordings

* '' Ulhas Kashalkar'', ''Raga Kafi (Concert)'', 2001; * '' Shobha Gurtu'', ''Thumri, Raga Kafi'', 1987; * '' Siddheshwari Devi'', ''Thumri, Raga Kafi'', 1983; * ''

Debashish Bhattacharya Debashish Bhattacharya ( bn, দেবাশীষ ভট্টাচার্য, hi, देवाशीष भट्टाचार्य, Devāśiṣ Bhaṭṭācārya, born 12 January 1963) is an Indian classical musician, singer, composer ...

'', ''Raga Mishra Kafi'', 1996; * ''

Ustad Bahadur Khan Ustad Bahadur Khan (born Bahadur Hossain Khan; 19 January 1931 – 3 October 1989) was an Indian sarod player and film score composer. Early life and family Ustad Bahadur Khan, a Bengali, was born on 19 January 1931 in Shibpur, Brahmanbaria, B ...

'', ''Raga Kafi'', 1987;

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, nati ...

Note that the following songs are composed in

, the equivalent of raga Kafi in

References

* ''Hindustani Sangeet Paddhati and his concise commentary, A Comparative Study of Some of the Leading Music Systems of the 15th, 16, 17th, & 18th Centuries'' by

. * http://www.tanarang.com/english/kafi_eng.htm