Deep within all of us are precious emotions that are tied up with a special string. The first notes of the sound of the Sarod of Shri Vasant Rai pulls that string, and allows the flow of that divine connection within, that will make us keep coming back for more and more.

There are many great Sarod players, but here with Vasant Rai, there is something very unique and incomparable. Shared for the world for the first time, this gives us a glimpse of why he was one of the most cherished disciples of Ustad Allaudin Khan. Like Nikhil Banerjee was to the Sitar, Vasant Rai's sincerity to the sarod and his Master has resulted in that which can only be qualified in the word 'genius'.

Raga Gavati

Although the swaras of this raga nominally line up with the Khamaj that, they do not carry the burden of the Khamaj raganga. The following chalan captures Gavati’s essence:

G M P (S”)n S” (P)D, P, D M P G M R n’ S
S M, M P G M P n, S”, P n S” (P)D, P

Gavati is also known as Bheem. Some distinguish the two by adding to the latter a vivadi komal gandhar in the tar saptaka.

The beauty of Gavati is best expressed in the words of Sarod player Rahul Bhattacharya :
As Thomas Gray wrote:
“Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathom’d caves of ocean bear”
Gawoti is a “learned” raga by which I mean that unlike many major ragas, it leaves the listener with a pleasant, fulfilled feeling, but it’s appeal isn’t very obvious. It’s like enjoying a perfume without actually knowing why it’s so nice. The secret lies in the peculiar gait of the this raga – its particular combination of notes which gives it this flavour and emotion.
The particular appeal of Gaoti to me is that it has a “happy” disposition, but there is a plaintive element to it as well. It’s almost like meeting a friend, having a great conversation but as you go to leave, your friend exhorts you to stay in a pleading manner… (the upper notes of the raga played in a particular fashion can evoke this feeling)..

Technical

Gavati’s signature is S M P N S (upper) D. This signature heralds the arrival of Gaoti, and sets it apart from other ragas.

However, there are some issues. It is not practical to keep avoiding the Ga, so many a Gaoti chalan sounds like:

G M P N S D as well.

It’s up to each person to interpret it as they choose, but the G must not be overused too much.
Deep within all of us are precious emotions that are tied up with a special string. The first notes of the sound of the Sarod of Shri Vasant Rai pulls that string, and allows the flow of that divine connection within, that will make us keep coming back for more and more.

There are many great Sarod players, but here with Vasant Rai, there is something very unique and incomparable. Shared for the world for the first time, this gives us a glimpse of why he was one of the most cherished disciples of Ustad Allaudin Khan. Like Nikhil Banerjee was to the Sitar, Vasant Rai's sincerity to the sarod and his Master has resulted in that which can only be qualified in the word 'genius'.