About Chandrakaush Khamaj 1967
Chandrakaush Khamaj is a studio album by Indian classical sitarist Nikhil Banerjee, originally recorded in 1967 and released on compact disc in 1988. The label Raga Records issued the recording as part of its catalog of North Indian classical music. The album features two extended performances: one in Raga Chandrakaush and another in Raga Khamaj, both rendered in the Etawah gharana style associated with Banerjee’s training under Mushtaq Ali Khan and Allauddin Khan.
The Raga Chandrakaush performance opens with a detailed alap, followed by the rhythmic sections jor and jhalla. The Raga Khamaj segment begins with a concise alap and transitions into two gats: the first in rupak tal (7 beats) and the second in a fast tintal (16 beats). The album comprises two tracks, each representing one raga. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though Banerjee typically performed with tabla support in live and studio settings.
The 1988 CD release marked the first commercial issuance of the 1967 recording. The original session context—whether a live concert, studio take, or private recording—is not specified in surviving records. The album exemplifies Banerjee’s interpretive approach to the khayal-ang sitar tradition, emphasizing melodic development and rhythmic precision. No alternate editions or reissues of this specific recording have been confirmed.
