Valaji: Difference between revisions

Valaji
Arohanam	S G₃ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ
Avarohanam	Ṡ N₂ D₂ P G₃ S

Latest revision as of 20:57, 25 June 2022

Valaji or Valachi is a rāgam in Carnatic music (musical scale of South Indian classical music). It is a pentatonic scale (audava or owdava rāgam, which means "of 5"). It is a janya rāgam (derived scale), as it does not have all the seven swaras (musical notes). The equivalent of Valaji in Hindustani music is Kalāvati.^[1]^[2]

Structure and Lakshana[edit]

Valaji scale with shadjam at C

Valaji is a symmetric rāgam that does not contain rishabham or madhyamam. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava rāgam^[1]^[2] in Carnatic music classification). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):

ārohaṇa : S G₃ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ^{[lower-alpha 1]}
avarohaṇa : Ṡ N₂ D₂ P G₃ S^{[lower-alpha 2]}

(the notes used in this scale are shadjam, antara gandharam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadham)

Valaji is considered a janya rāgam of Chakravakam, the 16th Melakarta rāgam, though it can be derived from other melakarta rāgams, Harikambhoji, Vagadheeswari, Ramapriya, Vachaspati or Nasikabhooshani, by dropping both rishabham and madhyamam. Since Chakravakam is lowest in ordinal number among these 6 melakarta scales, Valaji is associated with it.

Popular compositions[edit]

Valaji is a pleasing scale, but has only a few compositions in classical music. It has been used to score film music as well. Here are some popular kritis composed in Valaji.

Jalandhara supithasthe japa kusuma bhasure by Muthiah Bhagavatar
Santatam Ninne by G. N. Balasubramaniam
Sri Gayatri, by Saint Gnanananda Tirtha (Sri Ogirala Veera Raghava Sarma)
Tândava Priyâ by Kalyani Varadarajan
Dari Yavudayya, Nachike Padabeda by Purandara dasa
Padhame thunai by Papanasham Shivan

Related rāgams[edit]

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Graha bhedam[edit]

Valaji's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields another pentatonic rāgam Abhogi. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Abhogi.

Scale similarities[edit]

Malayamarutam is a rāgam which has shuddha rishabham in both ascending and descending scales in addition to the notes in Valaji. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R₁ G₃ P D₂ N₂ Ṡ: Ṡ N₂ D₂ P G₃ R₁ S
Nagasvaravali is a rāgam which has the shuddha madhyamam in place of the nishadam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S G₃ M₁ P D₂ Ṡ: Ṡ D₂ P M₁ G₃ S
Mohanam is a rāgam which has the chathusruti rishabham in place of the nishadam. Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure is S R₂ G₃ P D₂ Ṡ: Ṡ D₂ P G₃ R₂ S

Film Songs[edit]

Language:Tamil[edit]

Song	Movie	Year	Composer	Singer
Pongum Kadalosai	Meenava Nanban	1977	M. S. Viswanathan	Vani Jayaram
Thatti Sellum	Thanga Pathakkam	1974		Vani Jayaram, Sai Baba
Pottu Vaitha Mugamo	Sumathi En Sundari	1971		S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, B. Vasantha
Unnai Yenni Yennai	Ragasiya Police 115	1968		P. Suseela
Devi Sridevi	Kavyamela		V. Dakshinamoorthy	P Leela
Naan Indri Yaar Vaaruvaar(Ragamalika: Abhogi, Valaji)	Maalaiyitta Mangai	1958	Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy	T. R. Mahalingam, A. P. Komala
Yeriyile Oru Kashmir Roja (Ragamalika: Kedar/Hamirkalyani, Valaji)	Madhanamaaligai		M. B. Sreenivasan	P. Suseela, K. J. Yesudas
Vasantha Kaalam Varumo	Marakka Mudiyumaa?	1966	T. K. Ramamoorthy	P. Suseela, K. J. Yesudas
Oru Paarvai Nooru Kavithai(unreleased) (Ragamalika:Valaji,Sahana,Kalyana Vasantham,Bhairavi )	Manoranjitham		V. Kumar	T. M. Soundararajan, Vani Jayaram
Naan Irukka Bayam Edarkku	Neethiyin Marupakkam	1985	Ilaiyaraaja	S. Janaki
Govardhanan Vanthan	Raga Bandhangal		Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan	Vani Jairam
Kudumbathin Thalaivi Kulavilakku	Olimayamaana Ethirkaalam		Vijaya Bhaskar	Vani Jairam
Azhagana Sandhangal	Adhu Antha Kaalam	1988	Chandrabose	K.J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Parvai Theril	Hemavin Kadhalargal	1985	Raveendran	S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Thirukona Moolam	Desam	2004	A. R. Rahman	S.P. Balasubrahmanyam, Master Vignesh, Baby Pooja
Kanchi Kamatchi	Killadi Mappillai	1994	Deva	Mano
Yedhukkaga Enna	Rummy	2014	D. Imman	Santhosh Hariharan, A. V. Pooja

Notes[edit]

↑
Alternate notations:
- Hindustani: S G P D Ṉ Ṡ
- Western: C E G A B♭ C
↑
Alternate notations:
- Hindustani: Ṡ Ṉ D P G S
- Western: C B♭ A G E C

References[edit]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

[3] Alternate notations:
Hindustani: S G P D Ṉ Ṡ
Western: C E G A B♭ C

[2] Hindustani: S G P D Ṉ Ṡ

[3] Western: C E G A B♭ C

[4] Alternate notations:
Hindustani: Ṡ Ṉ D P G S
Western: C B♭ A G E C

[5] Hindustani: Ṡ Ṉ D P G S

[6] Western: C B♭ A G E C

[ragas-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications

[raganidhi-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras

[1]

[2]

[lower-alpha 1]

[lower-alpha 2]

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 [[File:Valaji scale.svg|thumb|right|300px|''Valaji'' scale with ''shadjam'' at C]]
-''Valaji'' is a symmetric rāgam that does not contain ''rishabham'' or ''madhyamam''. It is a pentatonic scale (''audava-audava'' rāgam<ref name="ragas" /><ref name="raganidhi" /> in Carnatic music classification). Its ''{{IAST|ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa}}'' structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see [[Swara#Swaras in Carnatic music|''swaras'' in Carnatic music]] for details on below notation and terms):
+''Valaji'' is a symmetric rāgam that does not contain ''rishabham'' or ''madhyamam''. It is a pentatonic scale (''audava-audava'' rāgam<ref name="ragas" /><ref name="raganidhi" /> in Carnatic music classification). Its ''{{IAST|ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa}}'' structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see [[Swara#Svaras in Carnatic music|''swaras'' in Carnatic music]] for details on below notation and terms):
 *[[Arohana|{{IAST|ārohaṇa}}]] : {{svaraC|S|G3|P|D2|N2|S'|foot=yes}}
 *[[Avarohana|{{IAST|avarohaṇa}}]] : {{svaraC|S'|N2|D2|P|G3|S|foot=yes}}
-(the notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, antara gandharam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and kaisiki nishadam'')
+(the notes used in this scale are ''shadjam, antara gandharam, panchamam, chathusruthi dhaivatham and [[kaisiki nishadham]]'')
 ''Valaji'' is considered a ''janya'' rāgam of ''[[Chakravakam (raga)|Chakravakam]]'', the 16th ''[[Melakarta]]'' rāgam, though it can be derived from other melakarta rāgams, ''[[Harikambhoji]]'', ''[[Vagadheeswari]]'', ''[[Ramapriya]]'', ''[[Vachaspati (ragam)|Vachaspati]]'' or ''[[Nasikabhooshani]]'', by dropping both ''rishabham'' and ''madhyamam''. Since ''Chakravakam'' is lowest in ordinal number among these 6 ''melakarta'' scales, ''Valaji'' is associated with it.
 == Popular compositions ==
-''Valaji'' is a pleasing scale, but has only a few compositions in classical music. It has been used to score film music as well. Here are some popular ''[[kriti]]s'' composed in ''Valaji''.
+''Valaji'' is a pleasing scale, but has only a few compositions in classical music. It has been used to score film music as well. Here are some popular ''[[Kriti (music)|kritis]]'' composed in ''Valaji''.
 *''Jalandhara supithasthe japa kusuma bhasure'' by [[Muthiah Bhagavatar]]
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 *''Sri Gayatri'', by Saint Gnanananda Tirtha (Sri Ogirala Veera Raghava Sarma)
 *''Tândava Priyâ'' by [[Kalyani Varadarajan]]
-*''Nachike Padabeda'' by Purandara dasa
+*''Dari Yavudayya'', ''Nachike Padabeda'' by Purandara dasa
+*''Padhame thunai'' by Papanasham Shivan
 == Related rāgams ==
@@ Line 81: / Line 82: @@
 |[[Ragasiya Police 115]]
 |1968
-|rowspan=2|[[P. Suseela]]
+|[[P. Suseela]]
 |-
 |Devi Sridevi
-|Devi
+|Kavyamela
 |
 |[[V. Dakshinamoorthy]]
+|[[P Leela]]
 |-
 |Naan Indri Yaar Vaaruvaar(Ragamalika: Abhogi, Valaji)
@@ Line 104: / Line 106: @@
 |1966
 |[[T. K. Ramamoorthy]]
+|-
+|Oru Paarvai Nooru Kavithai(unreleased)
+(Ragamalika:Valaji,Sahana,Kalyana Vasantham,Bhairavi )
+|Manoranjitham
+|
+|[[V. Kumar]]
+|[[T. M. Soundararajan]], [[Vani Jayaram]]
 |-
 |Naan Irukka Bayam Edarkku

v t e Janya ragas
A-B	Abheri Abhogi Ahiri Amritavarshini Anandabhairavi Andolika Arabhi Asaveri Atana Bageshri Bahudari Bhairavi Bhupalam Bilahari Bowli
D-J	Darbar Darbari Kanada Devagandhari Dhanyasi Gambhiranata Garudadhvani Gaula Hamsadhvani Hamsanadam Hamsanandi Hindolam Jana Ranjani Jaunpuri
K-L	Kalyanavasantam Kambhoji Kāpi Karnataka Shuddha Saveri Kedaragaula Kedaram Khamas Lavangi
M	Madhuvanti Madhyamavati Malahari Malayamarutam Mohanakalyani Mohanam Mukhari
N-R	Nagasvaravali Nata Nattakurinji Navarasa kannada Niroshta Patmanjiri Pharaju Poornachandrika Punnagavarali Ranjani Reethigowla Revagupti Revati
S	Sahana Salaga Bhairavi Saramati Saveri Shivaranjani Shree ragam Shree ranjani Shuddha Saveri Sindhu Bhairavi Sunadavinodini
T-V	Tilang Udayaravichandrika (Shuddha Dhanyasi) Valaji Varali Vasantha Yadukulakamboji Yamunakalyani
Carnatic music Swaras Melakarta ragas Asampurna Melakarta ragas List of Janya ragas