1. Lesson 2: Rag Desh Version 1: Anoushka Shankar
AOS:4 Indian Music
Lesson 2: Rag Desh
Version 1: Anoushka Shankar

2. Learning objectives Grade E (working towards) All Pupils :
Understand that a raga is structured into four different parts
Identify the instruments used in each part of a raga
Grade C (working at) Most Pupils :
Know the correct musical vocabulary to describe the four structural elements which make up a raga
Identify rhythmic and melodic features used in each part of a raga
Grade A (working beyond/GAT) Some Pupils :
Identify and recognise the different musical features specific to the four different structural elements which make up a raga
Correctly discriminate and distinguish between the different sections of a raga giving musical reasons for their choices
Learning objectives
Learn how an Indian raga is structured into four different sections and use the correct Indian terms to describe the different sections of a raga
Learn about the musical characteristics in each section of a raga
Attempt a GCSE-style listening question

3. Analysis of Rag Desh This rag is traditionally played at night.
Rag Desh (which translates as ‘country’) is also known as a rainy season or monsoon raga.
The primary moods (rasa) expressed are devotion, romance and longing, with origins in courtly love songs called thumri.

4. What is the Structure of a raga performance
Section 1-
Section 2-
Section 3-
Section 4-
Slow - Free time (no pulse or rhythm
Exploring the notes of the rag asc & desc
Improvised Ornamentation
SITAR & TAMBURA
Alap
Improvised music becomes more rhythmic
Music becomes more elaborate
Tempo increases - sense of pulse
SITAR & TAMBURA
Jhor
High point in piece - Gradually gets faster and faster
Virtuoso display using advanced playing techniques
SITAR & TAMBURA
Jhalla
Gat
Fixed composition - Moderate to fast
Tabla enters, introduces the rhythmic cycle- tala
SITAR,TAMBURA & TABLA
Bandish if it’s a Song

5. Notes used in Rag desh
The notes used in rag desh are based on the Indian system known as sargam in which the notes are named:
Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa
The tonic note is C (Sa) and this forms the principal drone note.
The notes in Rag Desh are:
C D F G B C Bb A G F E D C
Sa Re Ma Pa Ni Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa

6. Listening and Understanding Version 1: Anoushka Shankar (sitar)
Watch the video and annotate your score or listen to the CD and annotate

7. Version 1: Anoushka Shankar (sitar)
Instruments: sitar and tabla Structure: 3 movements- Alap, Gat 1 and Gat 2
Time
Section
Features
0.00 – 0.55
Alap
Slow and unmetered.
Sitar is unaccompanied and explores notes of the rag.
Rhythms are fluid and free and sound improvisatory because there is no regular pulse.
Some decoration to the notes of the melody line
0.55 – 9.27
Gat 1
Sitar plays the fixed composition.
Decoration is added to this composition.
Tempo- medium speed (madhyalaya)
Tabla enters at 0.58 seconds and plays the 10 beat jhaptal tala.
Jhaptal (10 beats): ( )
clap clap wave clap

8. Version 1: Anoushka Shankar (sitar)
Gat 1 continued
Time
Section
Features
0.55 – 9.27
Gat 1
Tabla player adds decoration to this basic pattern.
Flourishes and ornaments occur in the sitar part.
Sitar part- complex patterns of scalic passages including the dialoguing with the tabla in short melodic and rhythmic improvisations.
A tihai is heard to indicate the end of these improvisations.
Tihai – short phrase played three times, across the beat, before finishing on the first beat of the cycle (sam).
Examples of these section endings can be heard in many places, eg. At 3.40 – 3.50
3.55
Sitar starts to improvise in triplets (called chand)
5.02
Improvisations with four notes per beat. There are passages for sitar followed by tabla in alternation. The tihai is used to mark out the end of solo sections.

9. Version 1: Anoushka Shankar (sitar)
Gat 2
Time
Section
Features
9.27
Gat 2
This is faster than the first gat and uses the common teental (tintal) 16-beat tala.
Four, four-beat units.
10.10
In this final part of the rag, drone strings are used on the sitar in strumming fashion providing a striking rhythmic effect called jhalla. The piece concludes with a tihai.

10. Demonstrate your learning
Listen to the piece which will be played 2x and answer the exam style questions on the sheet.

11. Consolidate
Discuss
Evaluate your learning

12. Answers 1a (i)Sitar; (ii) 5; (iii) Pentatonic; (iv) Alap;
(v) any two of – unmetred/free rhythm, no beat or pulse, slow and meditative tempo, soft dynamics, sitar explores the notes of the raga improvising slowly; sitar provides its own accompaniment; 1b
(i) Tabla;
(ii) Gat;
(iii) faster tempo than previous extract; very fast tempo characteristic of Gat section, exciting mood building to a climax, dynamics getting louder, complex two-part polyphonic texture provided by sitar and tabla virtuosic performances

13. PLENARY – SELF ASSESSMENT
KEY WORDS – Raga, Sitar, Tambura, Harmonium, Tabla, Tala, Alap, Jor, Gat, Jhalla, Improvisation, Glissando, Ornamentation, Texture, Drone
I know that an Indian raga is structured in four different sections and can name them in the correct order
I can identify different musical features within and distinguish between each of the four different sections of an Indian raga when listening
I can identify the different Indian musical
Instruments in Rag Desh
I can talk about the musical features of Anoushka’s Rag Desh
I can attempt a GCSE-style listening question based on Indian Music which will help me with my set work