From Father to Son (Ragini Puriya Dhanasri)

From Father to Son (Ragini Puriya Dhanasri) is a studio recording of North Indian classical music released on January 1, 2002. The album features a single extended performance of Ragini Puriya Dhanasri in the alaap-jor-jhala and gat styles characteristic of the Maihar gharana. The release captures a live-to-tape session with minimal post-production intervention.

Ali Akbar Khan performs on the sarod as the primary artist. He leads the rendition with an extended alaap that establishes the raga’s melodic framework. Swapan Chaudhuri accompanies on the tabla, providing rhythmic support during the jor and jat sections. Alam Khan, son of Ali Akbar Khan, contributes tanpura drone throughout the performance. The recording emphasizes the improvisational dialogue between sarod and tabla, a hallmark of the Maihar tradition.

The album was issued on compact disc by an unspecified label. The total runtime exceeds sixty minutes, with the single track structured as a continuous exploration of Ragini Puriya Dhanasri. The composition progresses from a slow, meditative alaap to faster rhythmic passages in teentaal. No additional tracks or alternate takes appear on the release.

The performance context and recording location remain undocumented in available sources. The album title references the generational transmission of the Maihar gharana, with Alam Khan’s participation symbolizing the lineage’s continuation. The release date aligns with Ali Akbar Khan’s later career period, during which he frequently recorded with longstanding collaborators like Chaudhuri.

Notable aspects of the track include Ali Akbar Khan’s use of meend (sliding notes) and gamak (ornamentation) to delineate the raga’s komal re and komal dha swaras. Chaudhuri’s tabla accompaniment incorporates traditional kaida and rela patterns, while the tanpura provides a sustained harmonic foundation. The recording concludes with a jhala section marked by rapid stroking and percussive interplay.