About Classical Music of India
Classical Music of India is a vinyl album by sitarist Nikhil Banerjee. The label His Master’s Voice released the recording in 1969 as an official commercial publication. The album features two extended raga performances that showcase Banerjee’s interpretation of the Imdadkhani gharana style.
The album contains two tracks. The first track presents Hemant, a raga associated with the late evening or early night. Banerjee performs an alap followed by jor and jhala, emphasizing the raga’s contemplative and expansive character. The second track features Bhatiyar, rendered in a structured progression of alap, a slow vilambit section, and a faster drut composition set to Teentaal, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. The accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources.
Banerjee recorded the album during a period when he gained recognition for his technical precision and emotional depth in sitar recitals. His Master’s Voice distributed the vinyl in India, though specific pressings or reissues are not verified in public records. The release date aligns with Banerjee’s active years as a performer and composer in the Hindustani classical tradition.
The album’s production context reflects the era’s emphasis on long-form raga presentations in studio recordings. No additional session musicians or producers are credited in the original release notes. The artwork and liner details, if included, are not preserved in accessible archives.