Inde du Nord: Raga Marwa - Surbahar

Kushal Das released the 2004 Indian classical album Inde du Nord: Raga Marwa – Surbahar. The album features a full Raga Marwa performance on surbahar, a deeper-toned bass sitar, with six tracks in t

Inde du Nord: Raga Marwa – Surbahar is a 2004 Indian classical music album by sitar and surbahar player Kushal Das. The album presents a full-length performance of Raga Marwa, a late-afternoon raga in the Hindustani classical tradition. The release consists of six tracks that follow the traditional structure of a raga performance, including Alap, Jhor, Jhala, and composed gats in Jhaptal and Drut Tintal.

Kushal Das performs on the surbahar, a bass sitar with a deeper tonal range, which he uses to explore the meditative and introspective qualities of Raga Marwa. The album opens with the Alap, a slow, unmetered introduction that establishes the raga’s melodic framework. The Jhor follows, introducing a rhythmic pulse while maintaining improvisational freedom. The Jhala section accelerates the tempo, emphasizing the interplay of melody and drone strings.

The second half of the album features composed gats. The Jhaptal-Gat is set in a 10-beat cycle, showcasing rhythmic complexity and melodic development. The Drut Tintal – Gat shifts to a faster 16-beat cycle, increasing the intensity of the performance. The album concludes with the Drut Tintal – Jhala, a climactic section that integrates rapid plucking patterns with rhythmic precision.

The album was released on October 15, 2004. The label and production details for this release are not specified in available sources. The recording captures a live or studio performance without additional accompaniment, focusing solely on the surbahar’s tonal and rhythmic capabilities.