Sorath
Encyclopedia
Sorath is an India musical raga
(musical mode
) that appears in the Sikh
tradition from northern India
and is part of the Sikh holy scripture called Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS.) Every raga has a strict set of rules which govern the number of notes that can be used; which notes can be used; and their interplay that has to be adhered to for the composition of a tune.
In the Guru Granth Sahib
, the Sikh holy Granth (book) there are a total of 31 raga compositions and this raga is the ninth raga to appear in the series. The composition in this raga appear on a total of 65 pages from page numbers 595 to 660.
Raga Sorath appears in the Ragmala
as a ragini of Raga Megha; today it belongs to the Khamaj
thaat
. Besides Guru Nanak, Sorath was used by Guru Amar Das
, Guru Ram Das
, Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadar for a total of 150 hymns plus numerous sloka
s. Sorath belongs to the cold season and is performed in the first quarter of night. The mood is light and cheerful, with a pleasing sound resembling Raga Desh
. The texts composed to this raga show how the words of the Guru can enlighten the mind. All fears vanish and one is filled with bliss.
The following represents the order of notes that can be used on the ascending and descending phase of the composition and the primary and secondary notes:
The melodies are characterized by sweeping phrases with glides connecting all leaps, even the shorter ones. Movement is moderately fast.
Raga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
(musical mode
Musical mode
In the theory of Western music since the ninth century, mode generally refers to a type of scale. This usage, still the most common in recent years, reflects a tradition dating to the middle ages, itself inspired by the theory of ancient Greek music.The word encompasses several additional...
) that appears in the Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
tradition from northern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and is part of the Sikh holy scripture called Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS.) Every raga has a strict set of rules which govern the number of notes that can be used; which notes can be used; and their interplay that has to be adhered to for the composition of a tune.
In the Guru Granth Sahib
Guru Granth Sahib
Sri Guru Granth Sahib , or Adi Granth, is the religious text of Sikhism. It is the final and eternal guru of the Sikhs. It is a voluminous text of 1430 angs, compiled and composed during the period of Sikh gurus, from 1469 to 1708...
, the Sikh holy Granth (book) there are a total of 31 raga compositions and this raga is the ninth raga to appear in the series. The composition in this raga appear on a total of 65 pages from page numbers 595 to 660.
Raga Sorath appears in the Ragmala
Ragmala
Ragmala or Ragamala , literally means a 'garland of Ragas, or musical melodies'. "Mala" means "garland", while "Raga" is a "musical composition or mode", which has also given rise to the series of Ragamala paintings. This list differs according to the author and the music school it is based upon...
as a ragini of Raga Megha; today it belongs to the Khamaj
Khamaj
Khamaj is one of the ten Thaats of Hindustani music. It is also a specific raga in Khamaj thaat.-Khamaj Thaat:The parent-scale Khamaj Thaat, notated in sargam notation, has the following structure:S R G m P D n S'.n is komal here....
thaat
Thaat
A thāt is a mode in northern Indian or Hindustani music. Thāts always have seven different pitches and are a basis for the organization and classification of ragas in North Indian classical music.- System :...
. Besides Guru Nanak, Sorath was used by Guru Amar Das
Guru Amar Das
Guru Amar Das was the third of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and was given the title of Sikh Guru on 26 March 1552.-His life:...
, Guru Ram Das
Guru Ram Das
Guru Ram Das was the fourth of the Ten Gurus of Sikhism and was given the title of Sikh Guru on 30 August 1574.-Early life:Ram Das was born in Lahore, Punjab on 24 September 1534[1] to a Sodhi family of the Khatri clan. His father was Hari Das and his mother Anup Devi. His wife was Bibi Bhani,...
, Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadar for a total of 150 hymns plus numerous sloka
Sloka
Sloka may refer to:* Sloka, Latvia, a neighbourhood of Jūrmala, Latvia* Sloka meter, a Sanskrit meter* Śloka, a Hindu prayer* Sloka Gora, a small settlement in central Slovenia* Sloka...
s. Sorath belongs to the cold season and is performed in the first quarter of night. The mood is light and cheerful, with a pleasing sound resembling Raga Desh
Desh (raga)
Desh is a Hindustani classical raga.-Technical description:The raga is of Audav-sampurna nature, i.e., in its arohana only five notes are used, whereas the avarohana uses all the seven notes....
. The texts composed to this raga show how the words of the Guru can enlighten the mind. All fears vanish and one is filled with bliss.
The following represents the order of notes that can be used on the ascending and descending phase of the composition and the primary and secondary notes:
- ArohArohanaArohana, Arohanam or Arohan, in the context of North Indian Classical Music and South Indian Classical Music, is the ascending scale of notes in a raga...
: Sa Re Ma Pa Ni Sa - AvrohAvarohanaAn Avarohana, Avarohanam or Avarohan in Indian classical music terminology is the descending scale of any raga. Each raga has an avarohana and arohana. The notes descend in pitch from the octave tonic down to the lower tonic...
: Sa Re Ni Dha, Ma Pa Dha Ma Ga Re Ni Sa - Vadi: Re
- Samvadi: Dha
The melodies are characterized by sweeping phrases with glides connecting all leaps, even the shorter ones. Movement is moderately fast.