plays raag Bhoopali on
rudra veena Karhade (2011) explains that raga Bhopali consists of just 5 notes - सा रे ग प ध (sa, re, ga, pa and dha). It does not use Ma (also called Madhyam) and Ni (also called Nishadh). The Introduction consists of two parts –
Aaroh आरोह (where the notes are simply recited on an ascending scale) and
Avaroha (where the notes are simply recited on a descending order) Thereafter, with these same five notes, different combinations are made by the singer, similar to short phrases, also called "chalan".
Aroha and avaroha The scale of
Bhopali uses only
Shuddh swaras. •
Aroha (ascent): Sa Re Ga Pa Dha Sa' •
Avaroha (descent): Sa'! Dha Pa Ga Re Sa
Vadi and samavadi •
Vadi Gandhar – ga •
Samavadi Dhaivat – Dha
Alap • S, D1 D1...S, R - - S...D1 S..., D1 - - - P1, S - - - D1 S - - D1 P1, P1 D1, D1 D1 S
Pakad and chalan The Pakad (catchphrase that often helps in identifying a raga) is: S R G R S D1 S R G or: S R G R S D1 S R G P G D P G R S or: G R P G G R S R D1 S or: G R S D1 S R G R P G D P G R S or: G R P G S R D1 S Some chalans (elaborations of the pakad) are: • S R G R S D1 S R G • S R G R S D1 P1 • P1 D1 S R G R G • S R P G • G R S R G P • G P D P D D S’ • P G P D P D S’ R’ G’ R’ G’ • G’ R’ S’ D P G R S Note: Normally written swaras (individual notes) indicate the middle octave. A swara immediately followed by
1 indicates the
mandra saptak (lower octave) and ''' ' '
indicates the taar saptak'' (higher octave). A few movements in Bhopali are important to note. There is typically a slide when descending between Sa and Dha, as well as between Pa and Ga. These slides parallel each other and can be used to create a symmetry about how the Swaras are developed. Also, many performers will bring out the
Kalyan flavor of Bhopali by using '''' of the notes Ni and Ma. That is to say, these notes are only vaguely suggested in passing ornaments, not actually sung for long enough for the Swara to become a clear part of the Raga. Some examples would be: (N1)D1 S P(m)P(m) D P where the notes in parentheses are connected by slides or sung as
meend.
Bandish This
bandish is bound with
Teentaal (16 beats). 1 2 3 4 | 5 6 7 8 | 9 10 11 12 | 13 14 15 16 |
Asthayi: D S D2 P | G2 R2 S R2 | G2 _ G2 P | G2 R2 S _ | S R2 G2 P | R2 G2 P D2 | G2 P D2 P | G2 R2 S _ |
Antara: G2 _ G2 G2 |P _ D2 P | S' _ S' S' |D3 R3 S' _| G3 G3 R3 S'|R3 R3 S' D3| S' _ D2 P |G2 R2 S _| The Asthayi starts with the 9th beat. == Organisation and relationships ==