Rag Desh Section B (all 3 works)

Mhara (voice) | Anoushka Shankar | Wertheimer & Gorn

Structure:

• Two main sections - alap and bhajan

• Alap starts with a short introduction on the sarangi

• Three main sections - Alap, Gat 1 and Gat 2

• 3 movements - Alap, Gat 1 and Gat 2

Mhara (voice) | Anoushka Shankar | Wertheimer & Gorn

Melody:

• Based on the notes of Rag Desh

• The Melody is ornamented with much melisma and meend

• Sitar explores the notes of the rag in the Alap section

• Some decoration, as well as flourishes and ornaments

• Bansuri explores the notes of the rag in fragments

• In Gat 1 the Bansuri has a lyrical, unaccompanied melody to start

Mhara (voice) Anoushka Shankar Wertheimer & Gorn

Rhythm, Metre and Tempo:

• Alap section is slow and unmetred

• Alap section has free, improvised rhythms

• Alap section is slow and unmetred

• During the Gat sections the tabla provides a steady rhythmic accompaniment

• Alap section is slow and unmetred with free, improvised rhythms

• The Bansuri and tabla rhythms are often syncopated

Mhara (voice) Anoushka Shankar Wertheimer & Gorn

Dynamics:

• There is a crescendo as the instruments and vocals enter

• Dynamics increase when the tabla and other percussion enter for the bhajan

• Dynamic range is fairly constant throughout the piece

• A crescendo from mf to f

• The Alap section is quiet throughout

• Alap section has subtle shades of Crescendo and Diminuendo

Mhara (voice) Anoushka Shankar Wertheimer & Gorn

Instrumentation:

• Voice, Sarangi, Sarod, Pakhawj, Cymbals and Tabla

• Soloist and percussion instruments

• Only sitar and tabla are used

• Sitar provides the melody, drone and improvisation and table provides the rhythm

• Bansuri is the melody instrument

• Tabla is the rhythmic instrument only used in the Gat sections

Mhara (voice) Anoushka Shankar Wertheimer & Gorn

Harmony and Tonality:

• The Piece has no key or harmony

• Tonality is established by the raga

• The piece has no key or harmony but drone notes are used on the sitar to aid tuning

• Tonality is established by the raga

• The Piece has no key or harmony

• Tonality is established by the raga

Mhara (voice) Anoushka Shankar Wertheimer & Gorn

Texture:

• Texture is thin at the beginning

• As more instruments join the texture thickens

• Piece starts with an unaccompanied sitar

• Texture thickens with the entry of the tabla

• Fairly thin throughout