Keeravani

Keeravani (pronounced IAST|keeravāṇi, _sa. कीरवाणि, _ta. கீரவாணி) is a rāgam (musical scale) in Carnatic music (South Indian classical music). It is the 21^st Melakarta rāgam in the 72 melakarta rāgam system of Carnatic music.

This rāgam is a popular scale in western music as well. The Western equivalent is the Harmonic minor scale."Ragas in Carnatic music" by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications] "Raganidhi" by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras] . It is said to be borrowed into Hindustani music from Carnatic music.

tructure and Lakshana

It is the 3^rd rāgam in the 4^th chakra "Veda". The mnemonic name is "Veda-Go". The mnemonic phrase is "sa ri gi ma pa dha nu" .

Its IAST|ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see "swaras in Carnatic music" for details on below notation and terms):
*IAST|ārohaṇa: S R2 G2 M1 P D1 N3 S
*IAST|avarohaṇa: S N3 D1 P M1 G2 R2 S(Chathusruthi Rishabham, Sadharana Gandharam, Suddha Madhyamam,Suddha Dhaivatham, Kakali Nishadham)

As it is a melakarta rāgam, by definition it is a sampoorna rāgam (has all seven notes in ascending and descending scale).

Janya Rāgams

Keeravani has many janya rāgams (derived scales) associated with it. "Kalyana vasantham" is a popular janya of Keeravani. See "List of Janya Rāgams" for full list of rāgams associated with Keeravani.

Compositions

Various composers have composed songs in Keeravani. A few of them are listed here.

*"Kalikiyunde" by Thyagaraja
*"Ambavani nannu" by Muthiah Bhagavatar
*"Devi neeye thunai" by Papanasam Sivan

Related rāgams

This section covers the theoretical and scientific aspect of this rāgam.

Keeravani's notes when shifted using Graha bedham, yields 3 other major Melakarta rāgams, namely, "Hemavati", "Vakulabharanam" and "Kosalam". Graha bedham is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the Shadjam to the next note in the rāgam.

References