Raga Basanti Kedar is a beautiful and popular raga in Hindustani classical music. This raga is a combination of two ragas – Basant and Kedar. Basant is a morning raga that is sung during the spring season, while Kedar is a late-night raga that is sung during the monsoon season. The fusion of these two ragas creates a unique sound that is both uplifting and soothing.
Raga Basanti Kedar
Raga Basanti Kedar is typically sung in the evening, during the first part of the night. It is a pentatonic raga, meaning it has five notes in its scale. The notes used in this raga are Sa, Ga, Ma, Dha, and Ni. The raga has a slow tempo, with a moderate to fast pace.
The mood of Raga Basanti Kedar is devotional and romantic. It is believed that the raga has the power to invoke feelings of love and devotion in the listener. The melody of the raga is characterized by smooth glides and intricate embellishments, which are typical of Hindustani classical music.
One of the unique features of Raga Basanti Kedar is the use of the Madhyam note. The Madhyam note is the fourth note in the scale and is typically used in many ragas. In Raga Basanti Kedar, the Madhyam note is used sparingly, and instead, the Pancham note is emphasized. This gives the raga a distinct and recognizable sound.
The structure of Raga Basanti Kedar follows the traditional pattern of Hindustani classical music. It instrumental music the raga begins with an alap, which is a slow and free-flowing introduction to the raga. The alap is followed by the jor, which is a rhythmic section that introduces a pulse to the music. The jor is then followed by the jhala, which is a fast and energetic section that showcases the virtuosity of the performer. Finally, the raga concludes with the gat, which is a composed piece that features intricate melodies and rhythmic patterns.
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