According to many musicians this beautiful raga belongs to the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. There used to be a raga named Sorathi (15 -16th century) but one is not sure whether the present version of Sorath is the same as Sorathi.
Thhaat (parent scale)
Khamaj
Jaati:
Audav Sampoorna (five notes in ascent, seven notes in descent)
Vaadi:
Rishabh (R)
Samvaadi:
Dhaivat (D)
Swaras:
Employs Komal Nishad (n) in descent only, rest Shuddh Swaras
Aaroh (ascent):
S R M P N S’ (Western notation: A D F G B C )
Avaroh (descent)
S’R’ n D, M P D, M R, R N. S (Western notation: C D A# A, F G A, F D, D B C)
Key phrases:
S R M P, n D P, D M R, R P M R, R P, M P D M R, n D M R, R M P N S’, R’ n D P M R, R N. S
Time:
Late Evening
This raga is an almost identical twin of raga Desh. Both Desh and Sorath share the same ascent and almost same descent except for the totally absent Gandhar (G) in Sorath. Gandhar is weak in Desh as well but in Sorath it is even weaker in the gliding applications from Madhyam to Rishabh (M-R). Its lighter gait makes it more popular in light classical genres of Hindustani music.
Bibliography
1. Bhatkhande V.N. (1919-1937) ‘Kramik Pustak Malika Vol 1-6’
2. The Oxford Encyclopaedia of the Music of India
Links
1. Pandit Jasraj (vocal)
2. Pandit Kumar Gandharva (vocal)
3. Amritpal Singh (taus)
4. Bhai Gurmeet Singh Shant (vocal)
5. Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan (vocal)
Bhai Anantvir Singh performs a devotional shabad in Raag Sorath.
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