Abhogi Scale

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 been borrowed from Carnatic music into Hindustani music and is also quite popular in the latter. In Hindustani music the raga has been classified under the Kafi thaat.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

Theory

The Carnatic raga Abhogi is a symmetric pentatonic scale that does not contain ''panchamam'' and ''nishadam''. It is called an ''audava-audava'' raga, as it has 5 notes in both ascending and descending scales. Its ' structure is as follows:

* :
* :

The notes used are ''shadjam, chathusruti rishabham, sadharana gandharam, shuddha madhyamam and chathusruthi dhaivatham''. ''Ābhōgi'' is considered a ''janya'' raga of ''Kharaharapriya'', the 22nd ''Melakarta'' raga, though it can be derived from ''Gourimanohari'' too, by dropping both ''panchamam'' and ''nishadam''.

''Graha bhedam''

Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the ''shadjam'' to another note in the rāgam. Abhogi's notes, when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields another pentatonic rāgam, '' Valaji''. For more details and illustration of this concept refer '' Graha bhedam on Ābhōgi''.

According to P.Moutal, the raga Kalavati is a transposition of Abhogi.

Scale similarities

* ''Sriranjani'' is a rāgam which has ''kaishiki nishadam'' in both ascending and descending scales in addition to the notes in ''Ābhōgi''. Its ' structure is :
*''Jayamanohari'' is a rāgam which is like Abhogi in ascending scale and like Sriranjani is descending scale. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R₂ G₂ M₁ D₂ Ṡ: Ṡ N₂ D₂ M₁ G₂ R₂ S

Notable compositions

Abhogi is a raga used for compositions in a medium to fast tempo. It has been used by many composers in classical music and film music. Notable traditional compositions in Abhogi include:

* ''Nannu Brova Nee Kinta Tāmasamā'' and ''Manasu Nilpa'' in Adi tala and ''Neelakantha Niranjana'' in ''Rupaka'' tala by Thyagaraja
* ''Anugalavu Chinte'', ''Maneyolagaado'' By Purandara Dasa
* ''Śri Lakṣhmi varāham'' by Muthuswami Dikshitar
* ''Sabhāpatikku veru daivam'', in Rupaka tala by Gopalakrishna Bharati
* ''Neekepudu'' in Khanḍa Tripuṭa tala by Mysore Sadashiva Rao
* ''Evvari bodhana'', a popular ''varnam'' by Patnam Subramania Iyer
* ''Nekkurugi unnai'' by Papanasam Sivan
* ''Sri Mahaganapathe'' by N S Ramachandran
* ''Manujudai Putti'' by Annamacharya
*''Guru Padaravinda'' and ''Mahasaya Hrudaya'' by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi

In Hindustani music

The Carnatic raga was incorporated relatively recently into Hindustani classical music where it is known as Abhogi Kanada () or simply, Abhogi. The ''Kanada'' indicates its origin as a member of the Kanada group. Abhogi Kanada is assigned to the Kafi thaat.

The Carnatic and Hindustani Abhogis have almost identical arohanas and avarohanas. However, one major differences is that the Carnatic raga uses the Kanada vakra (out of sequence) phrase in a straight manner.

Theory

Pa and Ni are omitted. Also Re is often omitted in ascent. Flat Ga is often approached from Ma in ascent and has a slight oscillation to show the typical Kanada. In descent often the typical Kanada phrase is used.

* Arohana (order of ascending notes in the scale):
* Avarohana (order of descending notes in the scale): or
* Vadi:
* Samavadi:
* Jeeva Swaras: and
* Pakad or Chalan: GMDS SDRSDMD_ D_SRGRS D_RSDM GMMDDSDRSD_M GMD_MGGRR_ GRSd Rd_S
* Samay (Time): Night, approximately 9PM-12AM.
* Thaat: Kafi

Related ragas: Bageshree. However, Bageshree also includes flat Ni and a limited use of Pa, which gives a different flavour.

Compositions

Hindustani compositions of note in Abhogi Kanada include:

* ''Par gaya chahai sab koi'' in Ektal by Raidas
* ''Jayati siri radhike'' in Jhaptal by Gadadhar Bhatt
* ''Ek barajori kare saiyya'' in Jhumratal

Important recordings

* Amir Khan, Ragas Bilaskhani Todi and Abhogi, His Master's Voice/AIR LP (long-playing record), EMI-ECLP2765

Film songs

In Tamil language

Language :

Hindi

Language :

Telugu

Language :

Malayalam

See also

* List of Film Songs based on Ragas

Notes

References

Sources

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External links

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{{Janya

Hindustani ragas
Janya ragas (kharaharapriya)
Janya ragas
Carnatic ragas