Let’s Learn…

Malkauns

On this page, Bansuri Bliss Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger teaches Malkauns, one of the most popular ragas from India.

Malkauns is one of the oldest known melodies, dating back about 4,000 years. Malkauns has a pentatonic (5-note) scale, with several komal notes, making it a difficult raga for beginner bansuri players. However, it does not have that many rules, and thus once you have the fingering under control, it is actually not that difficult to play.

Bansuri Bliss Brings You…

VIDEO: Malkauns Alap & Ornaments

In this video, Bansuri Bliss Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger teaches alap in Malkauns, an ancient night time raga from India. Dr. Kriger prepared this brief alap (up to High Sa) for his presentation at the 2021 World Flute Society Virtual Convention. Practice it…and then improvise your own alap.

Watch the entire video and you will have a much deeper grasp of ornaments, the structure of alap, Malkauns, usage of the 7th and 8th holes, and how to improvise.

Remember that the first string of your tanpura (or tanpuras) should be set to Shuddh Ma while playing Malkauns.

https://youtu.be/4PdNFFcIi-0

This lesson was recorded Sunday October 17th, 2021 in Ibague, Tolima, Colombia as part of a Bansuri Bliss Members Lesson.

Dr. Kriger is playing with the tanpura tuned to Sa (three holes closed) = F (+12 cents).

Bansuri Bliss Members Can Download The Malkauns PDF

Bansuri Bliss

VIDEO: Malkauns Teental Lesson

In this video, Bansuri Bliss Founder Dr. Kerry Kriger teaches Malkauns teental exercises and then a composition he learned from his guru, Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao.

Dr. Kriger composed the teental exercises to help you become more adept in Malkauns. Though they are called exercises here, you could easily play them during an actual performance. Practice them at single and double speed, with and without gamaks.

The teental exercises take up the first 36 minutes of the video and include an introduction to the scale of the raga. From 36 minutes onward is the teental composition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxUgpF0s6RY

This lesson was recorded September 20th, 2020 in Barra da Tijuca, Brazil and broadcast on YouTube Live.

Dr. Kriger is playing with the tanpura tuned to Sa (three holes closed) = F (+8 cents). Tabla is set at 178 beats per minute (bpm).

Listen To Vijay Raghav Rao Play Malkauns With Alla Rakha

Click play to hear a classic recording of Pandit Vijay Raghav Rao play Malkauns, accompanied by the legendary Ustad Alla Rakha on tabla.

Vijayji teaching a class in Virginia, June 2008

If it is true that…

Your Goal Is To Play Amazing Malkauns

Go deeper in your Malkauns learning by becoming a Bansuri Bliss Member. You will gain access to the full Malkauns course, in which you will learn a Malkauns composition, and also improvisations such as alap, taans and jhala. Perfect for beginning as well as advanced bansuri players.

Become A Bansuri Bliss Member Today