Ragas: Beyond Just Scales

Plus, Five Questions for Theresa Bentley

Usually at concerts, I am asked what a raga is.

“Is it like reggae?” (the Caribbean citizens often ask this question.

In the Caribbean, "raga" refers to a hybrid of Indian classical and local Caribbean rhythms with African influences that were the handed down from generations of forms like taan singing (rapid melodic improvisations—almost double time from the first tune), blended with with calypso and soca, often incorporating instruments like the harmonium, dhantal, and tabla.

There are so many ragas, and in the hundreds (compare this your 12 major and 12 minor scales found in Western Music, which has existed for about 1,500 years). Ragas originated over 7,000 years ago.

I often explain this to wide-eyed audiences and the beautiful fact that each raga is meant to be played at a certain time of day. I have found great joy in composing morning ragas like Sankarabaranam (from my album The Book of Ragas Vol 2), a Carnatic (South Indian) raga that is meant to be played at sunrise and dovetails with the major scale or Ionian mode (I call them happy coincidences, considering that these birthing civilizations flourished independently); evening ragas like Kalyani, and late night ragas like Bagesri, a pentatonic scale.

More posts on what are ragas are, coming soon.

Five Short Questions for harpist Theresa Bentley

In my new Substack initiative, I interview musicians across various genres. Here is a short interview with harpist Theresa Bentley, who has a new album soon.

What are some of your favorite plays(places?) to perform in and travel to?

My favorite city that I have performed at was in Spoleto, Italy. It was rich with wonderful 5-8th century churches and ancient places to perform chamber music. A highlight in my life and adored it there!

Your most memorable show?

My most memorable show was playing french horn in an orchestra for Roger Daltrey from the Who.

It was an outdoor concert that had storms during our rehearsal which had to be canceled halfway through. As a result, we sightread the rest of the concert that night (Tommy, the rock opera) in front of 10,000 people. It went off gloriously and was so fun I gave up french horn to more seriously take up piano, harp, and voice so that I could write music. I just didn’t want to go back to Mozart as amazing as he is after that.

Why New Age music?

I have always loved impression music as a classically trained musician. Then, when I became exposed to Windham Hill and Andreas Vollenweider , I just fell in love with the peacefulness of new age and personally saw it as an off shoot of impressionism. In such a crazy world, I decided to write this type of music for myself and others as a healthy way to relax. I had no idea writing it would become such a passion and outlet.

What’s next for you?

I just finished a new album called “Soft Winds” with a brilliant collaborator, Dino Pacifici, that I met through Wayfarer Music Group. It is releasing on June 12,2026. Soft Winds is a beautiful album with hints of new age jazz chill on the first half and more ambient/purer new age on the 2nd half. Each song explores a type of human relationship. I am so proud of this album and can’t wait to share it!

Any travel tips to share as a musician?

Stay grounded and connected with what is stabilizing to you(family, friends, faith). Keep your boundaries and values no matter what. Self care is incredibly important as we cannot give our art to the world if we are spent.

Follow Theresa on her website and social channels.

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