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Rag Shree

by David Courtney working tools

Description

If you are looking for a “feel good” rag, this is not for you. Shree rag evokes very powerful emotions of a dark introspection.

A survey of the literature shows that rag Shree has been around for a very long time. It has a presence in the Guru Granth Sahib of the Sikhs, and appears in a number of shabads. In Hindu mythology, it is sometimes said that Shree rag emanated directly from the face of Paravati, the consort of Shiva.

In spite of frequent references in literature and mythology. It is hard to assess how this rag has changed over the centuries. Even as late as 1960s, references are found to multiple versions of Shree (Rao, B.S. 1985). Furthermore, the Shree of the Carnatic tradition is very different from the Shree found in today’s Hindustani Sangeet.

Discussing the vadi and samvadi for Shree is very difficult. Tradition ascribes the vadi to komal Re and the samvadi to Pa. But this is clearly impossible, because the interval between the two is an augmented 4th. Such an interval is not permissible for a vadi/samvadi relationship.

Here, we will discuss the common North Indian approach.



Arohana

Ascending structure for Rag Shree

(general discussion of arohana)(general discussion of notation)


Avarohana

Descending structure of Rag Shree

(general discussion of avarohana)


Jati

Audav – Sampurna – (general discussion of jati)


Vadi

Disputed – (general discussion of vadi)


Samvadi

Disputed – (general discussion of samvadi)


Time

Sunset – (general discussion of time and rag)


That

Purvi That – (general discussion of that)


Drone

Sa – Pa – (general discussion of drone)


Popular Songs

Film songs in Rag Shree



Selected Video