History & Origins
Bhairavi-Bhairav is one of a family of compound ragas that combine Bhairav elements with Bhairavi's all-komal character. While Bhairavi alone is the great "farewell" raga (traditionally the last raga of any concert) Bhairavi-Bhairav sits at the intersection of the two great morning ragas, combining their gravity with a quality of completion. It is performed at the transition between night and full day.
The Notes of Raga Bhairavi-Bhairav
Raga Bhairavi-Bhairav is a Sampurna raga, meaning it uses sampurna notes. The ascending and descending movements of the raga are defined below. In Indian classical notation, lowercase letters indicate flattened (komal) notes, and t superscript indicates a sharpened (tivra) note.
The Characteristic Phrase (Pakad)
The pakad is the signature melodic gesture of a raga: the phrase that immediately identifies it to an experienced listener. For Raga Bhairavi-Bhairav, the pakad is:
Performance
A performance of Bhairavi-Bhairav typically comes at the conclusion of a long night's music-making: it is the raga of endings, of the moment when what has been experienced must be released. Its combination of Bhairav's flat Re and Dha with Bhairavi's flat notes throughout creates an unusual richness. The musician must hold the qualities of both ragas in balance, letting neither dominate completely.
Spiritual Significance
The combined farewell of two great morning ragas: the shanta of Bhairav and the karuna of Bhairavi together create a specific emotional state: the peace of completion, the gentle grief of something beautiful ending. This is the rasa of the concert's conclusion, the walk home in the early morning light, the awareness that something extraordinary has just been experienced and cannot be recalled.
Notable Performers
- Ustad Amir Khan
- Gangubai Hangal
- Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
- Kishori Amonkar
Famous Compositions
- Final compositions (bidai) of long night concerts
- Morning devotional pieces in the combined tradition