This raga runs parallel to Bhoopali as both employ the same swaras but treated differently.
Thhaat (parent scale)
Bilawal
Jaati:
Audav (Pentatonic)
Vaadi:
Dhaivat (D)
Samvaadi:
Gandhar (G)
Swaras:
Omits Madhyam and Nishad (M and N). All shuddh swaras
Aaroh (ascent):
S R G P D S’ (Western notation: C D E G A C )
Avaroh (descent)
S’ D P, G P D P, G R S (Western notation: C A G, E G A G, E D C )
Key phrases:
S D.D.S, S R G P D P, D P G P G R S, D D P, G P D P, P G P D, D S’D P, D R’S’D P, G P D S’, S’D S’, S’S’D P, G’R’S’S’ D P, G P D P G R S
Time:
Morning
Unlike Bhoopali, Deshkar has a very different gait. It opens up in the upper reaches and is an Uttarang pradhan raga. Bhoopali belongs to Kalyan Thhaat while Deshkar belongs to Bilawal. Bhoopali belongs to the evening time zone while Deshkar is a morning raga.
Bibliography
1. Bhatkhande V.N. (1919-1937) ‘Kramik Pustak Malika Vol 1-6’
2. The Raganess of Ragas by Deepak Raja
3. The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Music of India
Links
Pt. Venkatesh Kumar performs the rarely heard Raag Deshkar with Bharat Kamat on tabla and Ajay Joglekar on harmonium
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