Madhukali

'Madhukali' is a Hindustani classical raga.

Theory

Writing about the musical theory of Indian classical music is fraught with difficulties stemming from the lack of set or formal methods of written notation. Indian music is an oral tradition taught seena-ba-seena (person-to-person), hence written notations were not an essential part of attaining talim (knowledge). However modern scholars have used different ways to express the nuances in a Raga with accuracy. Notations of Raga Madhukali have been given in Raga-Rang section of website Omenad.

Arohana and Avarohana

Arohana Ascending Notes
Sa komalGa teevraMa Pa Ni Sa
Avarohana Descending Notes
S2 Ni komal Dha Pa, teevra Ma Pa komal Dha komal Ni komal Dha Pa, teevraMa komal Ga Re Sa

Vadi and Samavadi

Sa Sonant

Pa Consonant

Pakad or Chalan

This Raga is Pentatonic while ascending and Heptatonic in descending.

Organization & Relationships

Madhukali is a Raga created by Dr. Lalmani Misra, who played Vichitra Veena, on basis of classical principles of consonance (The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas, 1999). It blends Madhuvanti, Multani and Ramkali (Raga Rupanjali, 2007 p. 304).

Thaat: It belongs to the category of Raga-s that can be classified under any thaat.

Behavior

This Raga makes use of all seven notes. However, while ascending, the second and the sixth notes are skipped. It comprises third and sixth flat with sharp fourth. The seventh note is both, natural and flat. A special use of this seventh is indicative of Ramkali.

Samay (Time)

Evening.

Seasonality

Madhukali has no seasonal associations.

Rasa

Karun (Pathos)

Historical Information

Created in late sixties.

Important Recordings

Sitar recordings by Dr. Gopal Shankar Misra, Dr. Ragini Trivedi in personal collection.

Madhukali on Vichitra Veena by Dr. Lalmani Misra. YouTube

Madhukali on Sitar. Performance at Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal by Dr. Ragini Trivedi -- Alap Drut Gat

Madhukali on Vichitra Veena by B G Beenkar, disciple of Gopal Shankar Misra

References

Bor, Joep (ed). Rao, Suvarnalata; der Meer, Wim van; Harvey, Jane (co-authors) The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas. Zenith Media, London: 1999.

Basu, Pushpa. Raga- Rupanjali. Ratna Publications, Varanasi: 2007.

External links

• SRA on Samay and Ragas
• SRA on Ragas and Thaats
• More about Madhukali
• Madhukali Organization
• Omescribe: Writing Indian Classical Music
• Madhukali by Ragaswar