Shuddh sarang

Shuddh sarang is a common rag, popular with both vocalists and instrumentalists.

As the name suggests, it is regarded as a rag of the Sarang family.

Tone material: S R m M P D N

The ascent uses only sharp Ma, whereas the descent also includes natural Ma in a distinctive manner. It can occur in conjunction with Re as  m \R,  which is a characteristic glide common torag-s of the Sarang family. Natural Ma can also be used in any phrase provided it is immediately followed by Re, as in N S R m R. Even in descending phrases where natural Ma occurs after Pa, it is followed by Re.  Sharp Ma and natural Ma are generally not be intoned in immediate succession without the occurrence of Re or Pa in between. However, many musicians do take liberty with this norm, as also seen in the recording here.

Re and Pa are important notes while Ni, particularly the lower Ni, is an important note for ending the descending phrases. Besides, it could also be the starting note for the ascent.

Dha is included only in the descent and also obliquely in phrases such as M P D M P and N D S N.

Some characteristic phrases:

m \R N S N
N D /S N R S
R M P D M P
M P R m \R

Although there is a variety of this rag using flat Ni in addition to the above notes, it is not common today (Shah [Sarang ke prakar] 1986: 114).

The absence of Ga in Shuddh sarang keeps it distinct from rag Shyam kalyan (vide), whereas the inclusion of Dha and sharp Ma keeps it distinct from the other rag-s of the Sarang group.

Time: early afternoon (Bhatkhande [KPM IV] 1978:173)

[ Notation:

     The full tone material is:

S r R g G m M P d D n N S

Komal is lowercase, shuddh is uppercase.

 In the case of ma lowercase is shuddh, uppercase is tivr. There are no lower or upper octave markers.

 Grace notes are not indicated except for / (slide upward), \ (slide downward), ~ (slow oscillation, andolan).

 Durations have been indicated at three levels: short (no space), normal (space), prolonged (with hyphen – ): S R G (normal); SRG (fast); S – R – G – (each note long).

It must be stressed that one should listen to and look at the graphs,  short notes are only meant to point out some passages that are salient.