Chitrambari (pronounced ''chitrāmbari'') is a

raga A raga ( ; , ; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a musical mode, melodic mode. It is central to classical Indian music. Each raga consists of an array of melodic structures with musical motifs; and, fro ...

m in

Carnatic music Carnatic music (known as or in the Dravidian languages) is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and southern Odisha. It is o ...

(musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 66th ''

Melakarta Mēḷakartā is a collection of fundamental musical scales ( ragas) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). ''Mēḷakartā'' ragas are parent ragas (hence known as ''janaka'' ragas) from which other ragas may be derived. A ''melaka ...

'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Chaturangini''Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar Keertanaigal'' by Vidwan A Sundaram Iyer, Pub. 1989, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai''Raganidhi'' by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras in

Muthuswami Dikshitar Muthuswami Dikshitar (Mudduswamy Dikshitar) (, 24 March 1776 – 21 October 1835), mononymously Dikshitar, was a South Indian poet, singer, veena player, and a prolific composer of Indian classical music. He was the youngest member of what is re ...

school of Carnatic music. It is the ''prati madhyamam'' equivalent of '' Naganandini'', which is the 30th ''melakarta''.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications

Structure and Lakshana

It is the 6th rāgam in the 11th ''chakra Rudra''. The mnemonic name for this rāgam is ''Rudra-Sha''. The mnemonic phrase is ''sa ra gu mi pa dhu nu''. Its structure (ascending and descending scale) is (see '' swaras in Carnatic music'' for details on below notation and terms): * : * : (the notes in this scale are ''chathushruti rishabham, antara gandharam, prati madhyamam, shatshruti dhaivatam, kakali nishadam'') Since it is a ''melakarta'' rāgam, by definition it is a ''sampoorna'' rāgam (it has all 7 notes in ascending and descending scale).

''Janya'' rāgams

''Chitrambari'' has a few ''

janya ''Janya'' is a term meaning "derive". In Carnatic (South Indian) music a ''janya raga'' is one derived from one of the 72 '' melakarta'' ragas (fundamental melodic structures). ''Janya'' ragas are classified into various types based on a vari ...

'' rāgams (derived scales) associated with it, of which Amritavarshini is very popular. '' List of janya rāgams'' contains the full list of rāgams associated with ''Chitrambari'' and other ''melakartas''.

Compositions

A few compositions set to ''Chitrambari'' are: *''Sri rama nelami'' by Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna *''Samaganalola'' by

Koteeswara Iyer Koteeswara Iyer (1869 - 1938), was a pioneer composer of Indian classical music Carnatic music. He was a grandson of Kavi Kunjara Bharati(1810–1896) attributing to a strong lineage of accomplished musicians. He was born in Nandhanur to Nagarat ...

Related rāgams

The theoretical and scientific aspect of Chitrambari are described below. ''Chitrambari's'' notes when shifted using ''

Graha bhedam ''Graha Bhedam'' in Carnatic music is the process (or result of the process) of shifting the Tonic (music), Tonic note (''Śruti (music), śruti'') to another note in the rāgam and arriving at a different rāgam. Its equivalent in Hindustani cl ...

'', yields 3 other ''melakarta'' rāgams, namely, ''

Shanmukhapriya Shanmukhapriya is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 56th ''melakarta'' rāgam (parent scale) in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is called Chāmaram in Muthuswami Diksh ...

'', ''

Shoolini Shulini (pronounced shūlini) is a ragam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is the 35th ''melakarta'' rāgam in the 72 ''melakarta'' rāgam system of Carnatic music. It is also spelled as ''Sulini'', ''Shoolin ...

'' and ''

Dhenuka In Hindu mythology, Dhenuka, also known as Dhenukasura, is an asura (demon) killed by Balarama, the elder brother of Krishna. The '' Harivamsa'' states that Dhenuka, with his host of attendant demons, all in the form of donkeys, as ruled over a f ...

''. ''Graha bhedam'' is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the ''shadjam'' (Sa) to the next note in the rāgam. For further details and an illustration refer '' Graha bhedam on Shanmukhapriya''.

Notes

References

{{Janya, state=collapsed Melakarta ragas