History & Origins
Raga Shree is one of the oldest and most venerated ragas in the Indian tradition, its name meaning "auspicious" or "divine splendour." It is found in both Hindustani and Carnatic traditions. The raga belongs to the Poorvi thaat and is associated with the twilight hours. Its complex grammar (with flat Re, flat Ni in upper octave descent, natural Ni in ascent) makes it one of the more challenging ragas to perform with complete authenticity.
The Notes of Raga Shree
Raga Shree is a Shadava-Sampurna raga, meaning it uses shadava-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 Shree, the pakad is:
Performance
Shree is traditionally performed in the hour before and after sunset. Its majestic quality requires the musician to sustain a particular gravitas throughout the performance. The flat Re in the lower register creates a dark foundation; the sharp Ma in the middle gives it an unusual lift; the flat Ni in the upper octave descent adds a quality of approaching darkness. These elements combine to evoke the specific experience of watching the last light leave the sky.
Spiritual Significance
Shree's rasa is a combination of the sublime and the solemn. It approaches bhayanaka (awe) not through terror but through grandeur: the awesome scale of something vast and ancient. It is associated in some traditions with the aspect of the divine that overwhelms rather than comforts: not Shiva the beloved but Shiva the infinite.
Notable Performers
- Pandit Kumar Gandharva
- Ustad Amir Khan
- Pandit Jasraj
- Mallikarjun Mansur
Famous Compositions
- Compositions of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
- Dhrupad compositions in the Dagar tradition