Yakshagana raga
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| Indian Music | |
|---|---|
| Indian classical music | |
| Carnatic music | |
| Hindustani music | |
| Core Concepts | |
| Śruti · Swara · Rāga · Tala |
Yakshagana Rāga (Kannada:ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ ರಾಗ, pronounced as yaksha-gaana raaga)refers to melodic modes used in Yakshagana. It is based on pre-classical melodic forms that comprise of a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is founded. Yakshagana Ragas have indigenous ragas and others derived from other forms of music. Ragas in Yakshagana are closely associated with a set of melodic forms called as Mattu. Yakshagana Ragas have their own Gamaka. Although Yakshagana Ragas shares names with other systems of music Ragas are different though names are same with a few exceptions. More than 80 ragas have been identified to have survived the onslought of popular and elite musical systems[1]. In Yakshagana tradition, rāgas are associated with different times of the night throughout which Yakshagana is performed.
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[edit] Nature of Yakshagana rāga
Rāga describes a generalised form of melodic practice. It also prescribes a set of rules for building the melody. Yakshagana Raga is based not only on rules but also certain melodic structures called Mattu. It specifies the rules for movements up (aaroha [आरोह]) and down (avroha [अवरोह]) the scale, which Swara (notes) should figure more and which notes should be used more sparingly, which notes may be sung with gamaka, phrases to be used, phrases to be avoided, and so on. The result is a framework that can be used to compose or improvise melodies, allowing for endless variation within the set of notes. What makes Yakshagana singing different are, among other things, 'Yaksha Gamaka'. Yaksha Gamaka are distinct way of approaching a note or rendering a note to form a particular "Mattu".
More than adhering to stricter scale Yakshagana Raga follows the metre of Yakshagana Poetry called the Yakshagana Chandhas. The melody is formed from a deep voice formed by controling muscles as low as pelvic and abdominal muscles. Yakshagana poetry of the past century is also influenced by drama and Hindustani music. As a result some Hindustani Ragas modified to suite Yakshagana performance can also be seen (e.g. Bhimpalas). Yakshagana has influenced theatre art in Maharastra as well[2].
[edit] Yakshagana Rāga and Time
Unlike in other classical forms Yakshagana performance starts with Raga Bhairavi.
[edit] Indigenous Yakshagana ragas
- Shatpadi (Note that this is different from Kannada prosody by the same name)
- Sangatya
- Kannada (This is different from Kaanada)
- Hoovu
- Koore (This is different from Kore Tala)
- Nepali
- Gopanithe
- Navarasa
- Vrundhavana
- Mechaali
- Koravi
- Divaali
- Mechchu
- Ghantaarava
[edit] References
- ^ Dr. Shivarama Karantha, Yakshagana Bayalaata, Harsha Publications, 1963, Puttur, South Canara.
- ^ Prof.Sridhar Uppura, Yakshagana and Nataka, Diganta publications, 1998
- Uppura, Prof. Sridhara (1998), Yakshagana and Nataka, Mangalore: Diganta Sahitya Publications.
[edit] See also
- Melody type
- Maqam
- makam
- echos
- muqam
- Nava rasas
- List of rāgas
- Rāga, a documentary about the life and music of Ravi Shankar
- Rāga-Rupanjali. Ratna Publications: Varanasi. 2007.
