Raga Kedar is a popular raga in the Hindustani classical music tradition. It is known for its serene, devotional, and contemplative mood. Raga Kedar is often associated with the sentiment of deep devotion and spiritual longing.
Characteristics of Raga Kedar:
Note that in Raga Kedar, all the notes are shuddha (natural), except for the Ni (Nishad) which is occasionally rendered as komal (flat) in some variations.
Raga Kedar is known for its serene and contemplative character. It is a favorite among musicians and listeners alike for its devotional and spiritual mood.
Characteristics of Raga Kedar:
- Thaat: Kedar belongs to the Kalyan Thaat, which is one of the ten basic thaats or parent scales in Hindustani music.
- Scale: The scale of Raga Kedar is as follows:
- Arohana (ascending scale): Sa Ma Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa
- Avarohana (descending scale): Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Ma Re Sa
Note that in Raga Kedar, all the notes are shuddha (natural), except for the Ni (Nishad) which is occasionally rendered as komal (flat) in some variations.
- Time: Raga Kedar is typically performed in the late evening.
- Mood: The raga is known for evoking a mood of deep devotion, serenity, and contemplation. It is often associated with the sentiment of spiritual longing and connection with the divine.
- Characteristic Phrases: Kedar has several characteristic melodic phrases that distinguish it from other ragas. The frequent use of the Ma (Madhyam) note, often rendered as a sustained or elongated note, is an essential feature of Kedar. The phrase "Ma Re Ga Ma" is also a distinctive feature of this raga.
- Popular compositions: Raga Kedar has been used in numerous classical compositions, including khayals, bhajans, and instrumental pieces. It has also been used in semi-classical genres and film music.
Raga Kedar is known for its serene and contemplative character. It is a favorite among musicians and listeners alike for its devotional and spiritual mood.