About Classical Music From Pakistan
Classical Music From Pakistan is a 1959 vinyl record by Pakistani classical vocalists Nazakat Ali Khan and Salamat Ali Khan. His Master’s Voice released the album as a 12-inch LP in 1959. The record features two extended performances in the dhrupad and khyal traditions of Hindustani classical music.
Nazakat Ali Khan and Salamat Ali Khan, collectively known as the Sham Chaurasia gharana, recorded the album. The gharana traces its lineage to Mian Chand Khan and Mian Suraj Khan, disciples of Mian Tansen’s descendants. Nazakat Ali Khan and Salamat Ali Khan specialized in duet performances, blending precise taans, intricate layakari, and synchronized melodic improvisations.
The album contains two tracks. The first track presents Raga Durbari, a late-night raga associated with the Asavari thaat. The performance follows the vilambit khyal format in Teentaal, followed by a drut composition in Ektaal. The second track features Raga Kalavati, a raga from the Kafi thaat, performed in a medium-tempo Teentaal and concluding with a fast-paced drut section.
His Master’s Voice distributed the record in Pakistan and India. The label marketed it as part of its classical music series, targeting connoisseurs of Hindustani vocal traditions. The album remains a documented example of mid-20th-century Pakistani classical music, though specific sales figures or critical reception details are not publicly available.
The original release format was a 12-inch vinyl record. No digital remaster or reissue details have been confirmed by the label or the artists’ estate.