About Dagar Bani - Dhrupad Voices
Dagar Bani – Dhrupad Voices is a studio album by Indian classical vocalist Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar, released on January 1, 2010. The recording presents the Dagar bani style of dhrupad, a vocal genre in Hindustani classical music known for its emphasis on sustained tonal exploration and rhythmic precision. The album appeared in CD format with a total of three tracks.
Nasir Faiyazuddin Dagar performed all vocal renditions on the release. The tracklist includes an alap (unmetered improvisation) and a composed section in chautaal (a 12-beat rhythmic cycle) for Raga Lalit, followed by a second track featuring a composition and layakari (rhythmic play) in the same raga and taal. The third track combines alap and a composition in chautaal for Raga Sohini. No accompanying instrumentalists or label information are documented in available sources.
The album exemplifies the Dagar tradition, characterized by deep tonal modulation, meditative phrasing, and adherence to the structural rigor of dhrupad. The recordings capture the artist’s interpretation of two morning ragas, Lalit and Sohini, both associated with the komal re (flattened second) and shuddha ma (natural fourth) scales. The absence of instrumental accompaniment beyond the tanpura drone aligns with the Dagar bani preference for vocal purity. Further details on production, recording location, or additional personnel remain unverified in public records.