Hamsadhvani (meaning "the cry of the swan"[1]), is a rāga in Carnatic music (musical scale of Carnatic tradition of Indian classical music). It is an audava rāgam (or owdava rāga, meaning pentatonic scale).[2] It is a janya rāga of the Melakartha raga, Sankarabharanam (29th) but according to Hamsadhvani's prayoga or the way it is sung it is said to be the janya of Kalyani (65th).
Hamsadhvani does not contain madhyamam or dhaivatham. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragam[3][5] in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its ārohaṇa-avarohaṇa structure (ascending and descending scale) is as follows (see swaras in Carnatic music for details on below notation and terms):
The notes used in this scale are shadjam, chatushruti rishabham, antara gandharam, panchamam and kakali nishadam. In Hindustani music, it is associated with Bilavalthaat (equivalent of Shankarabharanam).
Compositions
Hamsadhvani rāgam lends itself for elaboration and exploration and has many compositions in both classical music and film music. It is usually sung at the beginning of a performance.[3] There are many kritis (compositions) in praise of Lord Ganesha set in this musical scale.
Hamsadhvani's notes when shifted using Graha bhedam, yields another pentatonic rāgam, Nagasvaravali. Graha bhedam is the step taken in keeping the relative note frequencies same, while shifting the shadjam to the next note in the rāgam. For more details and illustration of this concept refer Graha bhedam on Hamsadhvani.
Scale similarities
Amritavarshini is a rāgam which has Prati Madhyamam in place of the rishabham. Structures are shown in below table.
Gambhiranata is a rāgam which has shuddha madhyamam in place of the rishabham. Structures are shown in below table.
^ abcRaganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
^ There is no much reference about how the kriti Gajavadana Beduve by Purandaradasa was composed between 1484 - 1564 in the same tune.
http://www.carnatica.net/special/rdiksitar.htm P.P.Narayanaswami on www.carnatica.net]
^Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
Bor, Joep (ed). Rao, Suvarnalata; der Meer, Wim van; Harvey, Jane (co-authors)The Raga Guide: A Survey of 74 Hindustani Ragas. Zenith Media, London: 1999.
