Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia

The album consists of performances of the ragas Shankara and Jogiya (also called Jogia); Jogiya is performed in raga mala form.{{cite AV media notes |title=Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia |others=Ram Narayan |year=1990 |first=Joep |last=Bor |type=CD booklet |publisher=Nimbus Records |id=NI 5245 |location=England }}

Shankara is considered a solemn and dignified raga that is difficult to master.{{cite book |title=The Raga Guide |last=Bor |first=Joep |author2=Rao, Suvarnalata |author3=Van der Meer, Wim |author4=Harvey, Jane |year=1999 |publisher=Nimbus Records |isbn=0-9543976-0-6 | page=144|title-link=The Raga Guide }} It has been described by Vamanrao Deshpande as representing the "heroic mood".{{cite book |title=Between two tanpuras |last=Deshapande |first=Vamanrao H. |author-link=Vamanrao Deshpande |year=1989 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=0-86132-226-6 |page=132}} Luiz Martinez José argued that the raga was named for a gentle and guarding incarnation of the Hindu deity Shiva.{{cite book |title=Semiosis in Hindustani music |last=Martinez |first=José Luiz |year=2001 |origyear=1997 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd. |location=Delhi |isbn=81-208-1801-6 |page=283}} Shankara is performed in the late night and distinguished by an emphasis on the third (Ga) and seventh (Ni) notes, the upper tetrachord, and several characteristic phrases and slow glides in descend. It has similarities to the South Indian raga Hansadhvani.

Jogiya is considered an introspective raga named for the yogi practice, and is often performed in devotional music and the light classical genre thumri.Bor 1999, p. 92 Peter Manuel described it as the most important raga of the Bhairav that (raga class based on the Bhairav scale type).{{cite book |title=Ṭhumrī in historical and stylistic perspectives |last=Manuel |first=Peter |year=1989 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd. |location=Delhi |isbn=81-208-0673-5 |page=205}} Jogiya is performed at daybreak and emphasizes the tonic (Sa) and the fifth (Pa). It has several characteristic phrases and, like Shankara, is suited for the upper tetrachord. Joep Bor argued that the raga appears to be related to raga Asavari. Jogiya is one of Narayan's favorite ragas.

A raga mala ("garland of ragas") allows for the introduction of other ragas, which can be from any time of the day.Bor 1999, p. 181{{cite book |title=Indian Music in Performance: a practical introduction |last=Sorrell |first=Neil |author2=Narayan, Ram |year=1980 | publisher=Manchester University Press | isbn=0-7190-0756-9 |pages=100, 114}} The change from Jogiya into another raga and back must be smooth as there is no break in the music, making a raga mala difficult to perform.

{{Listen |filename = Ram Narayan - Shankara excerpt.ogg |title = "Rāg Shankara" | pos = left |description = The tabla join the sarangi for the composition.}}

Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia was recorded on 15 and 16 November 1989 in Wyastone Leys near Monmouth, Wales. Narayan begins the performances by playing a long alap (non-metrical introduction) and jor (performance with pulse). The tabla player then joins Narayan in performing a composition, repeating the rhythmic cycle on which the composition is based and playing occasional improvisations.

The album cover features a painting made ca. 1760 in Murshidabad in the provincial Mughal style of Bengal.{{cite web|title=Gujari Ragini|publisher=Victoria and Albert Museum|url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O17467/gujari-ragini-painting-unknown/|access-date=30 January 2015}} It depicts a young woman sitting next to a lake, playing on a rudra veena to a parakeet, which symbolizes her absent lover. A picture of Narayan with his sarangi, taken by Joseph Stieger, is on the back of the album.

{{Music ratings

| rev1 =Allmusic

| rev1score ={{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |first=Ken |last=Hunt |title= Ræg Shankara/Ræg Mala in Jogia|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r98534|pure_url=yes}} |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=20 March 2010}}

| rev2 =New Straits Times

| rev2score =(favorable){{cite news|last=Murthi|first=R. S.|title=Rhythm of the universe|publisher=New Straits Times|date=7 June 1992|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ILoTAAAAIBAJ&pg=4875,2944507 |page=11}}

}}

Allmusic critic Ken Hunt described Narayan's performance of "Rag Shankara" as "ideal for the night hours" and R. S. Murthi of the New Straits Times argued that the album showcased the "delicate tone" of the sarangi and its capacity for "seductive lyricism".

1. "Rāg Shankara" – 39:11
2. "Rāg Mala in Jogia" – 31:50

• Ram Narayan – sarangi
• Anindo Chatterjee – tabla
• Uma Mehta – tambura
• Uma Phalke – tambura

{{reflist}}

• {{cite web|title=Rag Shankara, Rag Mala in Jogia|publisher=Nimbus Records|url=http://www.wyastone.co.uk/rag-shankara-and-rag-mala-in-jogia.html}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:1990 albums

Category:Ram Narayan albums