Desh or Des is a

Hindustani classical music Hindustani classical music is the Indian classical music, classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' ...

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 ...

which belongs to the Khamaj

thaat A ''thaat'' () is a "parent scale" in North Indian or Hindustani music. It is the Hindustani equivalent of the term '' Melakartha raga'' of Carnatic music. The concept of the ''thaat'' is not exactly equivalent to the western musical scal ...

. This raga is very similar to raga Khamaj.

Technical description

The raga is of audava-sampurna nature, i.e., in its

arohana Arohana, Arohanam, Aroh or Aroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the ascending scale of notes in a raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The pitch increases a ...

(ascent) only five notes are used, whereas the

avarohana An Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avaroha, in the context of Indian classical music, is the descending scale of any raga.''Ragas in Carnatic music'' by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, ''Glossary'' pages, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications The notes descend in pitch ...

(descent) uses all the seven notes. Shuddha Ni is used in the arohana, while Komal Ni (represented as ni below) is used in avarohana. All other swaras are shuddha. * Arohana: Ni Sa Re, Ma Pa Ni, Sa. * Avarohana: Sa ni Dha, Pa Dha Ma Ga Re, Pa Ma Ga, Re Ga Ni Sa. *

Pakad In Hindustani music, a ''pakad'' (Hindi: पकड़) is a generally accepted musical phrase (or set of phrases) thought to encapsulate the essence of a particular raga. The pakad contains the melodic theme of the raga, on listening to the paka ...

: Re, Ma Pa Ni, Sa Re ni Dha Pa, ma Ga Re * The vadi swara is Re The ascent in this raga is a step by step

pentatonic A pentatonic scale is a Scale (music), musical scale with five Musical note, notes per octave, in contrast to heptatonic scales, which have seven notes per octave (such as the major scale and minor scale). Pentatonic scales were developed inde ...

movement which goes like this: Sa, Re, Ma Pa, Ni Sa’. Samayam (Time): The raga is to be sung during the second quarter of the night (9PM to 12AM). Re is very prominent, quite a few times the singer rests on Re, making it a centre to the melody. The Meend from Ma to Re via Ga is one of the most vital features of the raga. The arohana via shuddha Ni, and the transition from Re to komal Ni in the avarohana form an important part of the melodies in this raga. Further, Desh is quite close to neighboring ragas like Tilak Kamod, and hence requires skillful rendition to separate itself.

Prominent Songs

Desh has been used in a few patriotic compositions.

Vande Mataram Vande Mātaram (Bengali language, Original Bengali: বন্দে মাতরম্‌ ''Bônde Mātôrôm'' Devanagari script: वंदे मातरम्; , Transcreation: I Bow to Thee, Mother) is a poem that was adopted as the nati ...

, the national song of India, is the most well-known. The popular old

Doordarshan Doordarshan (), abbreviated as DD, is India's State-owned enterprise, state-owned public broadcasting, public television broadcaster. Established by the Government of India on 15 September 1959, it is owned by the Ministry of Information and B ...

video ''Baje Sargam'', that featured many respected Indian classical singers, is also based on Desh.

Rabindrasangeet based on the raga Desh

The polymath and Nobel laureate,

Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Thakur (; anglicised as Rabindranath Tagore ; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengalis, Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer, and painter of the Bengal Renai ...

, had very often used

Hindustani Classical Music Hindustani classical music is the Indian classical music, classical music of the Indian subcontinent's northern regions. It may also be called North Indian classical music or ''Uttar Bhartiya shastriya sangeet''. The term ''shastriya sangeet'' ...

and

Carnatic Classical 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 ...

in his songs ( Rabindrasangeet). The songs based on this raga Des are listed below: * Aachhe Tomar Bidye Sadhhi * Aaj Taaler Boner Karotaali * Aaji Mor Dware Kahar * Aamader Sokhire Ke Niye * Aamar E Ghore Aaponar * Aamar Je Sob Dite Hobe * Aamar Satya Mithya Sakoli * Aami Jene Shune Bish * Aar Rekho Na Aandhare * Anek Diner Aamar Je Gaan * Anek Kotha Bolechilem * Animesh Aankhi Sei Ke De * Dekhaye De Kotha Aachhe * Dhoroni Dure Cheye Keno * Dnaarao Maatha Khaao * Duare Dao More Rakhia * E Bharote Raakho Nityo * Ebaar Bujhi Bholar Bela * Ebaar To Jouboner Kachhe * Ebaar Ujaar Kore Lowo He * Ei Lobhinu Songo Tabo * Ei Shrabon Bela Badol Jhora * Emon Dine Taare Bola Jaay * Eso Aamar Ghore * Eso Shyamalosundaro *Gagoner Thale Robi Chandra * Gahonraate Shrabondhara * Garob Mamo Horechho Prob * Haay Ke Dibe Aar Santona * Hey Bidesi Eso Eso * Jaag Jaag Re Jaag Sangeet * Je Din Sakol Mukul * Jeyo Na Jeyo Na Phire * Jhore Jaay Ure Jaay Go * Jodi Holo Jaabar Kshon * Keno Raaja Daakis Keno * Knaadale Tumi More * Knaapiche Deholota * Kotha Hote Baaje Prembedona * Kothaay Aalo Kothaay Ore * Kshomite Parilam Na Je * Naa Naa Kaaj Nai Jeyo Naa * Ogo Sundar Ekada Ki Jaani * Probhu Khelechhi Aanek * Puruser Bidya Korechinu * Se Aase Dhire * Shrabano Borisano Paar * Shrabonmegher Aadhek * Sokhi Lo Sokhi Lo * Taai Tomar Ananda Aamar * Taare Dekhate Paari Ne * Tomari Tore Maa Sopinu * Toper Taper Baadhon Katu * Tumi Chhere Chhile Bhule * Utol Dhara Badol Jhore

Carnatic Compositions

*''Nanda Nandana'' by Lalita Dasar (pen name of T. G. Krishna Iyer) *''Vikasita Pankaja'' by

Kalyani Varadarajan Kalyani Varadarajan (8 October 1923 – 28 October 2003), commonly known as Kalyani, was one of Carnatic music's famous twentieth-century composers. She created carnatic compositions in all 72 melakarta ragas, besides scores of janya ragas. Ear ...

*''Vithala Salaho Swami'' by

Purandara Dasa Purandara Dasa (IAST: Purandara Dāsa; (1470 – 1564) was a composer, singer and a Haridasa philosopher from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a follower of Madhwacharya, Madhvacharya's Dwaitha, Dvaita philosophy. He was one of the chi ...

*''Thunbam Nergayil'' by Bharathidasan *''

Thillana A Tillana or thillana is a rhythmic piece in South Indian Carnatic music that is generally performed at the end of a concert and widely used in classical indian dance performances. It was popularised by Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, M Balamuralikrish ...

'' by Dr.

Lalgudi Jayaraman Lalgudi Gopala Iyer Jayaraman (17 September 1930 – 22 April 2013) was an Indian Carnatic violinist, vocalist and composer. He is commonly grouped with M.S. Gopalakrishnan and T.N.Krishnan as part of the violin trinity of Carnatic mu ...

Film Songs

Language:
Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

Other languages

References

External links

Raaga details from Sounds of India

Film songs in Desh

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desh (Raga) Hindustani ragas