Desh or Des is a

Hindustani classical music Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, sit ...

raga A ''raga'' or ''raag'' (; also ''raaga'' or ''ragam''; ) is a melodic framework for improvisation in Indian classical music akin to a melodic mode. The ''rāga'' is a unique and central feature of the classical Indian music tradition, and as a ...

which belongs to the

Khamaj Khamaj () is a Hindustani classical Music raga within the Khamaj thaat which is named after it. Many ghazals and thumris are based on Khamaj. It utilises the shuddha (pure) form of Ni on the ascent, and the komala (flat) form of Ni on the des ...

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 scale because t ...

. This raga is very similar to raga

Technical description

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

arohana Arohana, Arohanam 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 as we g ...

(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 musical scale with five notes per octave, in contrast to the heptatonic scale, which has seven notes per octave (such as the major scale and minor scale). Pentatonic scales were developed independently by many anci ...

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 In Hindustani music, meend (Hindi: मीण्ड, ur, ) refers to a glide from one note to another. It is an essential performance practice, and is used often in vocal and instrumental music. On the veena, sitar, sarangi and other plucked st ...

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 Mataram'' (Sanskrit: वन्दे मातरम् IAST: , also spelt ''Bande Mataram''; বন্দে মাতরম্, ''Bônde Mātôrôm''; ) is a poem written in sanskritised Bengali by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the ...

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

Doordarshan Doordarshan (abbreviated as DD; Hindi: , ) is an Indian public service broadcaster founded by the Government of India, owned by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of Prasar Bharati's two divisions. One of India's largest b ...

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

Rabindrasangeet based on the raga

The polymath and Nobel laureate,

Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Tagore (; bn, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter. He resh ...

, had very often used

Hindustani Classical Music Hindustani classical music is the classical music of northern regions of the Indian subcontinent. It may also be called North Indian classical music or, in Hindustani, ''shastriya sangeet'' (). It is played in instruments like the violin, sit ...

and

Carnatic Classical Music Carnatic music, known as or in the South Indian languages, is a system of music commonly associated with South India, including the modern Indian states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and Sri Lanka. 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

''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. E ...

Vithala Salaho Swami by

Purandara Dasa Purandara Dasa ( IAST: Purandara dāsa) ( 1470 – 1565) was a Haridasa philosopher and a follower of Madhwacharya 's Dwaitha philosophy -saint from present-day Karnataka, India. He was a composer, singer and one of the chief founding ...

Film Songs

Language:
Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, nati ...

References

External links

Raaga details from Sounds of India

Film songs in Desh

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desh (Raga) Hindustani ragas