The word Sohini means enchantress. This raga’s lively and sweet melody is no less enchanting and that is why its persona reminds of springtime-ragas like Basant, Paraj and Hindole. According to many, this raga is not as old as its lookalike sister-ragas Maarwa and Puriya.
Thhaat (parent scale)
Marwa
Jaati:
Shaadav-Shaadav (6-notes in both ascnt and descent, hexatonic)
Vaadi:
Dhaivat (D)
Samvaadi:
Gandhaar (G)
Swaras:
Deviously touches Komal Rishabh (r )in the ascent while descending order displays it directly, employs Teevra Madhyam (m), omits Pancham in both ascent and descent, rest shuddh swaras
Aaroh (ascent):
S G m D N S’ (Western Notes: C E F# A B C)
Avaroh (descent)
S’r’S’,S’N D, N D G, m G r S (Western Notes: C C# C, C B A, B A E, F# E C# C)
Key phrases:
S’N D N D, G m D N S’, S’r’N S’, D N, G m D, G m G, r S N.S, G G m G, m D N S’, D N S’, G’m’G’r’S’, S’N D, m D N, D m G, m G r S
Time:
Post-Midnight
The famous triplet –Maarwa, Puriya and Sohini share the same notes. Among them (contemporary) Maarwa and Puriya choose to remain in the lower and middle saptaks (octaves) but with well-defined territories of their own. Sohini is a Puriya-lookalike; so much so that many call Sohini as Puriya of the morning. But with its uptilted face towards the uttaraanga (upper tetrachord) and lightweight movements within limited scope, Sohini exudes its joyful nature. Its center of gravity lies between the Gandhaar (G) of Madhya Saptak (middle octave) to Gandhaar (G’) of Taar Saptak (upper octave). Unlike Puriya and Maarwa, Sohini is best suited for exposition in medium or fast tempo because slow tempo does not suit the character of the Raga. These factors set it apart. Evidently, Sohini evokes Shringaar rasa (sensual mood).
Bibliography
1. Bhatkhande V.N. (1919-1937) ‘Kramik Pustak Malika Vol 1-6’
2. The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India
3. The Raga-ness of the Ragas by Deepak Raja
Links
1. Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (vocal)
2. Ustad Vilayat Khan (sitar)
3. Ustad Sharafat Hussain Khan (vocal)
4. Pandit Shivkumar Sharma (santoor)
5. Ustad Rashid Khan (vocal)
6. Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar (vocal)
Roopa Panesar (sitar) performs Raag Sohini, accompanied by Shahbaz Hussain (tabla) at Darbar Festival 2021.
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