What is a flavour?

It exists different styles for Hindustani and Carnatic music: Given a rāga, different gharānās may play it differently while keeping the main characteristics of the rāga. The style may change by instrument family: strings, woodwind, voice, …

Also, they may use different shruti variations for the swaras of a rāga. We decided to call it flavour.

Definitions:

  • Shruti : any musical note taken from the 👆 Indian 22 shrutis system, which constitutes a solid base to build all rāgas.
  • Swara : a note selected for a rāga
  • Rãga : creation of a musical design made by playing swaras (selected shrutis) according to traditional methods of rendering these notes.
  • Flavour : a set of swaras, used to play a rāga. It’s a part of a musical style.

Work in progress

Be indulgent if a raga flavour doesn’t perfectly align with your style. Feel free to report any mismatches via our contact form. Your feedback helps us enhance the experience for everyone!

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Flavours of the rāga Bhupali

This rāga uses notes Sa Re Ga Pa Dha.

In the 👆 Indian 22 shrutis system, Re, Ga and Dha have two variant:

  • lower (R1, G1, D1)
  • and higher (R2, G2, D2)
  • there is a difference of approximately 22 cents between lower and higher variants.

For this rāga, traditions are selecting either lower, or higher variant, thus creating different flavours of Bhupali:

  • with swaras S R2 G2 P D2, it will be the Tantu Vadya flavour as played by tradition
  • with swaras S R2 G1 P D1, it will be the Vocal flavour or the Bansuri flavour as sung or played by tradition
  • with swaras S R1 G1 P D1, it will be the Theory of 22 shrutis flavour, as described by Dr Vidyadhar Oke

Flavours provided in iTabla Pandit Studio

For all rāgas listed in iTabla Pandit Studio, we pre-defined several flavours based on our experience and dialog with musicians.

  • Vocal flavour : Following the tradition of Patiala gharana, one of the vocal gharanas of Hindustani classical music, renowned for its ghazal, thumri, and khayal styles of singing. This flavour has one remarkable characteristic: only 12 shrutis are used! This make possible for artists to be accompanied by a well tuned harmonium. However, in some rāgas, other shrutis may be approached with ‟andolan” or ‟oscillation”.
  • Bansuri flavour : Following the tradition of Hindustani music with bansuri since the XX century, and commonly used by renowned bansuri artists. (Work in progress)
  • Tantu Vadya flavour : Following the tradition of Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Sarod) and Shri Vasudeo Rao Ashtewale. ‟Tantu Vadya” is a Sanskrit term used to describe stringed instruments in Indian classical music, which includes the sitar and sarod. We created this flavour following our interpretation of musical exchanges with renowed sitar players. (Work in progress…)
  • Theory of 22 shrutis flavour : According to the theory developed by Dr. Vidyadhar Oke. See more details on https://22shruti.com/

Note:

  • The hindustani bansuri, by tradition, is tuned as: S R2 G1 m1 P D1 N1 S’ (m1 played all holes opened)

Several flavours for the same rāga?

There is no opposition between the flavours of a rāga, as they both use swaras taken from the same 22 shrutis. The differences will be that in a rāga, for example, the base flavour will use Shuddh Re 2, but in the 22 shrutis theory, we will use Shuddh Re 1.

See also 👆 Indian 22 shrutis system

For every rāga having several flavours, we enable you to select the flavour you prefer based on what you learnt from your gurus.

It also happens that two or three flavours are identical for a rāga. For example in rāga Pilu, the flavours Vocal and Bansuri are similar.

Musical realities beyond the names of flavours

We had to give each flavour a name that is easy to remember and quite precise in its meaning to target a specific musical practice.

However, you should know that the reality is more complex. For example, many bansuri players follow to the Bansuri flavour tradition, others may play according to the Vocal flavour tradition.

We can say:

  • Vocal flavour :
    • Suits: Vocal, Harmonium, Violin, …
    • Sometimes: Sitar, Sarod, Bansuri, …
  • Bansuri flavour :
    • Suits: Bansuri
    • Sometimes: Violin, …
  • Tantu Vadya flavour :
    • Suits: Sitar, Sarod, …
    • Sometimes:

Flavour examples in real concerts

To explained the realities explained in the previous paragraph, see our table of recordings, with their associated flavour:

👆 Rāga flavours examples in concert

You would prefer another flavour not listed here?

If you find that none of our proposed flavours correspond to your musical practice in your gharānā, you may create it is a simple Excel or Google Spreadsheet: 👆 Manage my rāgas

Also, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us, so we can study the subject together and consider adding or modifying a flavour.

If you think there is an error in our definitions of rāga or flavours, you can also contact us.

Flavours and tanpura

Mostly, tanpura is not used while playing Sitar. In Tantu Vadya flavour, due to the combinations of shrutis involving G2, M2, D2 or N2 in rāgas, the madhyam tanpura tuning will not be indicated as adapted in the tanpura tuning list. You can select it manually anyway, but it will sound awful if your sitar is tuned according to the Tantu Vadya flavour.

Other tanpura and tabla software

Our older software iTabla Pandit and iTabla Desktop are using the shrutis as of Vocal flavour.

After studying the tuning of other phone applications, we found that they use different sets of shrutis, sometimes the same as in flavour Vocal flavour, but not for all.

In any case, it’s often only one tuning which is available. The main problem is that they don’t explain what they provide in terms of tuning, leading to difficulties for the musicians, who may have to play or to practice in a musical and harmonic atmosphere which is not suited for their music.