Well, this is a million dollar question ! where to start a bhajan; but the answer is simple:
it merely depends on your voice. Gents voice is normally 1 or 1.5 tone higher than ladies. But when we are singing a song together, we have to follow the same pitch. I have listed couple of very famous Sahaja Yoga Bhajans here, where to start them and where it normally has been sang by Sahaj artists, which will come in the following posts. I will start from very easy bhajans and will go to more complex ones later.
But for now, lets start from "Swagata agata" or "Hindi 10" :
Best place I have found is "E|minor", but Dr.Arun Apte's argued that it should be started from "F|minor". In case it starts from "E|minor", it will follow by "D|major", "C|major" and "B7".
If you know about the Indian notation; then in the first option "Sa" will be "B", while it will be "C" in the second alternative. Put the tanpura tune as "Pa|Sa|Pa|Sa". Tabla rythem is "Keherwa| 8 beats".
Normally no instrumental will be played in between.
Second bhajan that I wanted to share with you is "Bolo Shiva Shiva Shambu", which is beatuful "Shiva" song. Well, you can start it from "D|major", but Australian supplement suggests "F|major", which will be followed by "D|minor" and optionally "C|major". For the instrumental, the stayee (chorus part) can be played and fits very well. If you are not satisfied, listen to album "Music of Joy" and/or "JAI SHANKARAM (Shiv Puja 2007)"; there you can find amazing instrumentals played by Australian Sahaj artists. It is kind of pop song, so I do not recommend to mix it with Indian classical music, anyhow; tabla or most preferably dholak rhythm has to be "Keherewa| 8 beats".
it merely depends on your voice. Gents voice is normally 1 or 1.5 tone higher than ladies. But when we are singing a song together, we have to follow the same pitch. I have listed couple of very famous Sahaja Yoga Bhajans here, where to start them and where it normally has been sang by Sahaj artists, which will come in the following posts. I will start from very easy bhajans and will go to more complex ones later.
But for now, lets start from "Swagata agata" or "Hindi 10" :
Best place I have found is "E|minor", but Dr.Arun Apte's argued that it should be started from "F|minor". In case it starts from "E|minor", it will follow by "D|major", "C|major" and "B7".
If you know about the Indian notation; then in the first option "Sa" will be "B", while it will be "C" in the second alternative. Put the tanpura tune as "Pa|Sa|Pa|Sa". Tabla rythem is "Keherwa| 8 beats".
Normally no instrumental will be played in between.
Second bhajan that I wanted to share with you is "Bolo Shiva Shiva Shambu", which is beatuful "Shiva" song. Well, you can start it from "D|major", but Australian supplement suggests "F|major", which will be followed by "D|minor" and optionally "C|major". For the instrumental, the stayee (chorus part) can be played and fits very well. If you are not satisfied, listen to album "Music of Joy" and/or "JAI SHANKARAM (Shiv Puja 2007)"; there you can find amazing instrumentals played by Australian Sahaj artists. It is kind of pop song, so I do not recommend to mix it with Indian classical music, anyhow; tabla or most preferably dholak rhythm has to be "Keherewa| 8 beats".
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ReplyDeleteyour kind explanation, sharing...what a great relief!recently, I've been trying to figure out the best possible notification for various bhajans and the question raised, was one of my puzzles
I have to confess, I am not quite confident with the AMHI Bi Ghadalo 'Australian suppl' Marathi2...first starting musical sentence. What do you think?
Recently , worked on Vande Mataram on my fiddle, written down the notification: I opted for
B minor: B C♯ EF♯EF♯, E F♯ A♯BA♯B....what would u suggest?
thank U. all the blessings
nmirel
sorry for my mistake>> i meant B major for Vande Mataram!
ReplyDeleteP/S: the partition of Bolo Shiva Shiva Shambu at yogamusique.fr (E major?):
http://www.yogamusique.fr/resources/Bolo+Shiv+Shambhu$2Bpar.pdf
best regards
nmirel
Thanks alot nmirel for sharing your ideas here, ahh, I 'll check your chords, and will send a post on it(about "amhi bi ghadalo" and "Vande mataram").
ReplyDeletebut about "Bolo shiva sviva shambu": well, you are free to choose from D|major, E|major or F|major, just depends on your voice, for me and most of ladies, D|major is proper and higher than that doesn't work. One more thing I wanna share is, if you want to have it more Indian style, try D#|major or specially E#|major, it will be more nice, but little far from Australian supplement. ;)
all the best.
i really appreciate your kind comment and guidance. Indeed I had the feeling that I am 'disreprecting' the Australian suppl.but I can't help it... I'm trying to adopt the carnatic style, don't wanna loose the melodic moods which make this music so devotional!playing by ear and figuring out by myself makes me feel so good though!!
ReplyDeletethanks a lot in advance for the upcoming bhajans.your support truly appreciated.
Moteshakkeram!
nilufer
your true guidance, support deeply appreciated. my pure wish not to loose the core ragaam moods of the bhajans as much as I can. further guidance for other bhajans dhune always treasured
ReplyDeletethank you a lot
kind regars
nilufer