Megh is a
Hindustani classical 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 ...
. The meaning of ''megh'' in Sanskrit is 'cloud'. Hence this raga is mostly sung or played in the monsoon season. Another raga which describes rain is raga
Malhar. These two ragas were merged and a new raga developed, raga
Megh Malhar. The
Carnatic music equivalent of this raga is
Madhyamavati.
Theory
Arohana & Avarohana
Arohana:
Avarohana:
Pakad
Vadi & Samavadi
In this raga vadi is Sa and samavadi is Pa – Re is used a lot but always sliding down from M, n always slides from P
Organization & Relationships
Related ragas: Ragas of
Malhar family, namely
Megh Malhar,
Miyan ki Malhar,
Gaud Malhar, Ramdasi Malhar, Dhuliya Malhar, etc. as well as
Madhmad Sarang.
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 ...
:
Kafi.
Mixture
The meaning of Megh in Sanskrit is 'Cloud'. This raga is usually sung or played in the Monsoon season. Another raga which describes rain is raga
Malhar. Merging these two gives a new raga:
Megh Malhar, which has elements of both these ragas.
Behaviour
Samay (Time)
Late night.
Seasonality
Raga Megh is associated with the monsoon.
Rasa
Gambhir rasa
Historical Information
Origins
This is one of the very old ragas found in
Indian classical music
Indian classical music is the art music, classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It is generally described using terms like ''Shastriya Sangeet'' and ''Marg Sangeet''. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as ...
.
This raga is connected to
Lord Krishna, when he lifted
Govardhan Parvat (mountain) on his little finger during the Govardhan leela.
Legend
There is legend stating that
Tansen's physical agony after singing Raga
Deepak (Poorvi Thaat) was pacified with listening to Raga Megh Malhar rendered by two sisters,
Tana and Riri.
Film songs
Language:
Hindi
Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...
Language: Tamil
A few songs are composed in Raga
Madhyamavathi, the Carnatic equivalent of Megh.
Important recordings
*
Amir Khan, Ragas Megh and Lalit,
His Master's Voice
His Master's Voice is an entertainment trademark featuring a dog named Nipper, curiously peering into the horn of a wind-up gramophone. Painted by Francis Barraud in 1898, the image has since become a global symbol used across consumer elect ...
LP (long-playing record), EMI-EASD1331
* Pt
Ajoy Chakraborty -Raag Megh (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg6LDWgv4Tc)
References
''
The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas''. Zenith Media, London: 1999.
''
Ramashreya Jha explains the difference between Sarang and Megh http://www.parrikar.org/hindustani/sarang/
External links
SRA on Samay and RagasRajan Parrikar on Ragas
{{Authority control
Megh