The most majestic of all ragas, Hamsadhwani is an adaptation from the Carnatic musical system. Typically rendered in the evening, this joyous raga is associated with gaieties and has a celebratory appeal. Belonging to the family or the thaat of Bilawal, the raga is often characterised by a brisk flight of notes,a quick tarana rather than a meandering flow of notes. The quality that lends interesting appeal to the raga is the skipping of notes. Being a five note raga, the frequent jump from one note to another gives the raga a visual imagery of hopping 'swaras' almost as if they dance with joy as they are played or sung! This evergreen raga is presented in this album by the greatest legends of Hindustani music, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, Begum Parween Sultana, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and Ustad Rashid Khan |