Raga Patdeep - Alapana and Pallavi

Posted on 07 May, 2020 • 3 min read

In this session, I present Raga Patdeep on Chandraveena. Even though as a scale, Raga Patdeep is similar to Melakarta Gaurimanohari, I present the Raga as a Vikrit or an altered Raga belonging to the Kharaharapriya or Palasi family of Ragas. The altered note is Nishad. Here, I explore the Raga in Alap, Jod and Jhala, and conclude with a Pallavi in Chautala. I am privileged to be accompanied by Pandit Sanjay Agle for the Pallavi session.

Sanjay Agle is a master Pakhawaj player coming from a family and tradition of Pakhawaj players. His grandfather Ambadas Agle was a legendary pakhawaj player. Sanjay Agle learnt from his father Kalidas Agle, and another renowned pakhawaj player Swami Pagaldas. His sister Chitrangana is also a very well known Pakhawaj player.

Program Notes

Raga Alapana in Patdeep

Raga Alapana is an improvisation and a systematic presentation of a Raga. This part has no rhythmic accompaniment. It has three parts - Alap, Jod and Jhala. This format is also known as Ragam and Tanam.

Here are some notes about the Raga.

Raga - Patdeep

Scale - Sa Re ga ma Pa Dha Ni

Family - A Vikrit Raga belonging to the family of Palasi (Sa Re ga ma Pa ni). The altered note is Nishad (from ni to Ni). It also has an additional note of Dhaivat (Dha).

Melakarta - Bhashanga Raga of Raga Kharaharapriya (Sa Re ga ma Pa Dha ni)

Prahar - 4th prahar (equivalent to 3 PM - 6 PM)

Reading the scale

In Indian Classical Music, the seven notes in an octave are called Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni and then Sa comes again. Notes with a capitalised first letter are called Tivra (or sharp) notes. E.g., Dha and Ni above. Notes written fully in lower case are called Komal (or flat) notes. E.g., ga and ma above. Sa and Pa are always written with a capitalized first letter.

Vikrit Raga

A Vikrit Raga is a Raga in which one of the notes is altered from the original family scale. In this case, Palasi family uses ni whereas, Patdeep uses Ni, even though it resembles Palasi family, structurally.

Bhashanga Raga

A Janya (or derivative) Raga of a Melakarta which uses a note outside of the Melakarta notes. In this raga, Ni is outside of Kharaharapriya (Sa Re ga ma Pa Dha ni).

Prahar

In Indian Classical Music, Ragas are classified into Prahars (time periods of a day or night) which are said to represent the most appropriate time to perform the Raga.

About the Tala

Chautala has 12 beats split as 4 + 4 + 2 + 2 denoted by solfas or syllables representing various rhythmic patterns. The basic solfas of Chautala are given below.

Tala - Chautala

Beats - 12 (4+4+2+2)

Solfas - Dha Dha Dhin Ta | ThiTa Dha Dhin Ta | ThiTa KatTa | GaDhi GaNa |