Hamsadhvani (meaning "the cry of the swan"), 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). 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 is also extensively used in Hindustani music and is borrowed into it from Carnatic music.Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras It was created by the Carnatic composer Ramaswami Dikshitar (1735–1817),There is no much reference about how the kriti Gajavadana Beduve by Purandaradasa was composed between 1484 - 1564 in the same tune. P.P.Narayanaswami on www.carnatica.net father of Muthuswami Dikshitar (one of the musical trinity of Carnatic music), and brought into Hindustani music by Aman Ali Khan of the Bhendibazaar gharana. It has become popular due to Amir Khan.
Structure and lakshana
Hamsadhvani does not contain madhyamam or dhaivatham. It is a pentatonic scale (audava-audava ragamRagas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications in Carnatic music classification – audava meaning 'of 5'). Its 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 Bilaval thaat (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.
Notes
References
Literature 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.
External links SRA on Samay and Ragas SRA on Ragas and Thaats Rajan Parrikar on Ragas