Raga Kedara played by Ali Hussein (shahnai)
First of three programmes presented by William Coatea
In the music of classical Hindustan the ragas are not to be thought of as ' modes' in the normal sense but as 'moods' which by their nature and spirit determine the choice of certain notes and not others. The special character of the Raga Kedara is given it by a multitude of particularities in the handling of the tones, the most obvious of which is the use of the fourth above the tonic as a ' chief-note ' (vadi). The shahnai is a reed instrument similar to the oboe but with a distinctive tinge.