Valaji or Valachi 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 ...

m 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). It is a pentatonic scale (''audava'' or ''owdava'' rāgam, which means "of 5"). 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 ...

'' rāgam (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). The equivalent of ''Valaji'' in

Hindustani 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, sit ...

is ''Kalāvati''.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

Structure and Lakshana

''Valaji'' is a symmetric rāgam that does not contain ''rishabham'' or ''madhyamam''. It is a pentatonic scale (''audava-audava'' rāgam in Carnatic music classification). Its ' structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see ''swaras'' in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms): * : * : (the notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, antara gandharam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham'') ''Valaji'' is considered a ''janya'' rāgam of '' Chakravakam'', the 16th ''

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 other melakarta rāgams, ''

Harikambhoji Harikambhoji (pronounced harikāmbhōji) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 28th ''Melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system. One of the first scales employed b ...

'', ''

Vagadheeswari Vagadheeswari (pronounced vāgadheeśwari) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 34th ''melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Bhog ...

'', ''

Ramapriya Ramapriya (pronounced rāmapriya) is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 52nd ''melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' scale system of Carnatic music. It is called Ramāmanōhari ...

'', '' Vachaspati'' or '' Nasikabhooshani'', by dropping both ''rishabham'' and ''madhyamam''. Since ''Chakravakam'' is lowest in ordinal number among these 6 ''melakarta'' scales, ''Valaji'' is associated with it.

Popular compositions

''Valaji'' is a pleasing scale, but has only a few compositions in classical music. It has been used to score film music as well. Here are some popular ''

kritis ''Kriti'' (Sanskrit: कृति, ''kṛti'') is a format of musical composition typical to Carnatic music. ''Kritis'' form the mental backbone of any typical Carnatic music concert and is the longer format of Carnatic song. "Kriti" also means C ...

'' composed in ''Valaji''. *''Jalandhara supithasthe japa kusuma bhasure'' by

Muthiah Bhagavatar Harikesanallur Muthiah Bhagavatar (15 November 1877 – 30 June 1945), commonly known as Muthiah Bhagavatar, is one of Carnatic classical music's famous twentieth-century composers. He also created about 20 '' ragas''. Early life Muthiah was bo ...

*''Santatam Ninne'' by G. N. Balasubramaniam *''Sri Gayatri'', by Saint Gnanananda Tirtha (Sri Ogirala Veera Raghava Sarma) *''Tândava Priyâ'' by

Kalyani Varadarajan Kalyani Varadarajan (8 October 1923 – 28 October 2003), commonly known as Kalyani, was one of Carnatic music's famous twentieth-century composers. She created carnatic compositions in all 72 melakarta ragas, besides scores of janya ragas. Ear ...

*''Dari Yavudayya'', ''Nachike Padabeda'' by Purandara dasa *''Padhame thunai'' by Papanasham Shivan

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

''Graha bhedam''

''Valaji'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 ''

Abhogi Abhogi () is a raga in Carnatic music and has been adapted to Hindustani music. It is a pentatonic scale, an ''audava'' raga. It is a derived scale (''janya'' raga), as it does not have all the seven ''swaras'' (musical notes). ''Ābhōgi'' has ...

''. ''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 Abhogi''.

Scale similarities

*''

Malayamarutam Malayamarutam is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a ''janya'' rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven ''swaras'' (musical notes). This scale is used in Hindustani music in recent ...

'' is a rāgam which has ''shuddha rishabham'' in both ascending and descending scales in addition to the notes in ''Valaji''. Its ' structure is : *'' Nagasvaravali'' is a rāgam which has the ''shuddha madhyamam'' in place of the ''nishadam''. Its ' structure is : *''

Mohanam Mohanam is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is an ''audava'' rāga (or ''owdava'' rāga, meaning pentatonic scale). It is usually described as a ''janya'' rāga of Harikamboji (28th Melakartha Raga). ...

'' is a rāgam which has the ''chathusruti rishabham'' in place of the ''nishadam''. Its ' structure is :

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 ...

Notes

References

{{Janya Janya ragas