There are thousands of ragas, and they are all connected…
“There are thousands of ragas, and they are all connected with different times of the day, like sunrise or night or sunset. It is all based on 72 of what we call 'mela' or scales. And we have principally nine moods, ranging from peacefulness to praying, or the feeling of emptiness you get by sitting by the ocean.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The quote explains that Indian classical music uses 72 parent scales (melas) and nine emotional moods, each linked to times of day and natural phenomena.
In simple terms: Indian music ties scales and moods to daily cycles.
Explore music's connection to time and feeling.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- concert programming
- meditation practices
- film scoring
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do specific ragas affect mood?
- Can modern music adopt these structures?
Complexity may overwhelm beginners.