Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Sarang .. Summer Delight

Raag Sarang is a relative "unsung" raag among vocal performers in recent times. It was well in vogue 50-60 years back among veteran vocalists. The one classical Sarang we all often remember is by Ut Bismillah Khan on Shehnai , typically played during afternoon feasts for marriages and other festive occasions.
I myself too had almost forgotten this beautiful raag for some time. This raag typically misses morning concerts due to Bilawals & Todis and the evening concerts due to Bhimpalas, Dhani & Multaanis !  Also , the advent of air-conditioned auditoriums and cooled concert halls might not be inspiring and motivating the modern vocalists to sing Sarang during concerts !
One reason that made me revisit Sarang was a beautiful bandish that I happened to hear in AC room on a hot summer afternoon "Aalap" program of Akashwani Pune at 2.30pm !

विलंबित : 
तपन लागी चाहू ओर, सूरज तेज,सूखी नदिया ....

मध्यलय / द्रुत :
आवो रे आवो रे कारे बदरा, बिनती करत तोसे जल बरसाओ
तरपत फुल मुरझाए , सब बन में पशु पंछी , अकुलन तरसाए

What a perfect description of Summer in Raag Sarang , inviting Megh ! 
This is the blissful experience of Khyaal gayaki ..  A thought describing the "maahol" of a hot summer afternoon in precise manner !  It is also amazing that both the Raags, Sarang and Megh have same notes but different chalans , giving an experience of totally opposite side of "Nature's" spectrum !
Such is the power of Hindustani Classical Music !