Spring is the time for renewal. The time between the icy cold winds in winter, and the blazing hot summer. During this time, the temperature is neither too hot, not too cold. And there is usually a lovely breeze that carries the fragrance of nature. The landscape is covered in lush greenery, and flowers such as roses, marigolds, and jasmine start to bloom, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. This is a time for music, for dance, for courtship and romance.
My first introduction to the marvels of the Ragas of Spring was this piece by Pt Bhimsen Joshi – Koyali Bole in raga Hindol. The power of the Raga cleanses and springs. Driving away the darkness of winter. In films, I discovered Raga Basant Kuhu Kuho Bole Koyaliya primarily on Vivid Bharati, and radio.
The Gods of Love
It is said that the God of Love, Kamdev, usually releases his arrows of passion that pierce your heart, and make you fall madly in love. Lord Krishna’s Raas Leela is performed around Brindavan, during Basant. In both stories the festival of colours, Holi, plays a very pivotal plant. As, you can see the season is rather special. And, what better way to express love, joy, passion, renewal, and creation, than through a set of Ragas. One composition that brings together the themes of love, passion, colours, a promise of renewal In Raga Basant is Piya Sangh Kheloon Holi by Trina Chatterjee.
The 6 Seasons …
… of Hindustani Classical Music are a cycle of life/ Basant or Vasant (Spring) Makes way for the blazing hot summer (Grishma). The summer is washed away by the monsoons (Varsha), that makes way for the moody Autumn (Sharad. Then follows the pre-Winter (Hemant) and the frozen, desolate seasons of winter (Shishir). Each of these seasons has a set of Ragas associated with it.
This rendition by Bhimsen Joshi – Kaliyan sangh karta rang raliyan – brings out the romance of spring, for example – he flirts amongst the buds, go the lyrics, is based on the spring raga Bahar
The Ragas of Spring
The Ragas that are associated with Spring include – Basant, Bahar, Hindol, Sohani, Kafi, and variants like Basant Bahar, and Hindol Basant. All are used extensively in music in folk, film, and classical forms. You will find flavours of this Thumri by Malini Rajurkar in Raga Sohini– Rang na Dalo Shyamji in many Film compositions. Of these Hindol is interesting because it plays with just 4 notes of the musical scale.
A style of semi classical composition called the Hori is often associated with the ragas.
This is Girija Devi singing a Hori in Raga Kafi – Kaisi yeh Dhoom Machayi. Often Horis appear in a blend of ragas, each adding to the beauty and mystique of the composition, like this one by Kaushiki Chakraborty – which is a lovely blend of ragas. This is usually called a Ragamalika – a garland of Ragas. There are threads of Sohini, Lalit, and Basant Bahar that can be heard clearly. Rang Pichkari Mat Maro Kanhai
Instrumental Music
The music of spring is vigorous, flirtatious, and light. It is a popular raga across instruments – Sitar, Violin, Santoor, Shehnai. This piece by Kala Ramnath on the violin,in Raga Basant is evocative of being amidst pastoral beauty, with the vibrancy of the spring season, creating a soothing and refreshing musical experience. This vigorous Teental by Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, on the sarod, in Raga Hindol Hem (a variant of Hindol he composed) brings out the romance in the raga.
Vocal Renditions
Hindustani Classical has a very strong tradition in two very distinct forms of music. One is the bhakti rasa – sung to the Creator. The other is the music of the sabha – sung to an audience. As such the Basant Ragas are used more in the latter tradition. This rendition by the Dagar Brothers in the traditional Dhrupad style is an example of the bhakti style; as is this composition by While this Tarana by Rashid Khan is more in the sabha style. The Tarana is a form of Hindustani classical music that is lively & vigorous in its rhythmic structure. It mainly focuses on using syllables and sounds instead of words. It is typically performed as a standalone piece or as part of a larger performance, such as a khayal or thumri. This is a lovely tarana in Raga Basant by Manjari Asnare
Finale
Traditional Qawalli as practised in the northern parts of undivided India, was also firmly rooted in classical ragas. As such, Basant and Basant Panchami are celebrated with vigor on the other side of the border, even today. This rendition by Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is based on Raga Bahar.
And to end this edition, a lovely bandish by major new Drupad talent Pelva Naik, in Raga Hindol Basant. A bandish is a musical gem in Hindustani classical music! It’s a fixed composition with lyrics and melody, set to a specific raga and taal, allowing musicians to improvise and showcase their creativity.
Playlist
- Raga Hindol – Pt Bhimsen Joshi – Koyali Bole –
- Raga Basant Bahar – Lata Mangeshkar & Mohd Rafi – Kuhu Kuho Bole Koyaliya
- Raga Basant is Piya Sangh Kheloon Holi by Trina Chatterjee
- Raga Kafi – Pandita Girija Devi – Kaisi Yeh Dhoom Machayi – Hori
- Ragamalika – Pandita Kaushiki Chakraborty – Rang Pichkari Mat Maro – Hori
- Raga Basant – Pandita Kala Ramnath – Violin
- Raga Bahar – Bhimsen Joshi – Thumri Kaliyan Sangh karta Rang Raliyaan
- Raga Sohini – Pandita Malini Rajurkar – Rang Na Dalo Shyamji
- Raga Hindol – Ali Akbar Khan – Sarod
- Raga Hindol – Dagar Brothers – Dhrupad
- Raga Sohini – Rashid Khan – Tarana
- Raga Basant – Pandita Manjari Ansare – Tarana
- Raga Bahar – Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Hazrat Khwaja Sangh Kheliye Dhamar
- Raga Hindol Basant – Pandita Pelva Naik – Dhrupad