About The Forty Minute Raga: Raga Marwa
The Forty Minute Raga: Raga Marwa is an Indian classical music album by sarod maestro Ali Akbar Khan. The release presents a single raga, Marwa, performed in two continuous parts. The album was issued in 1968.
Ali Akbar Khan recorded the performance on sarod. The album consists of two tracks: Raga Marwa, Part One: Alap and Raga Marwa, Part Two: Gat. The first track, Alap, introduces the raga through a slow, meditative exploration of its melodic framework. The second track, Gat, incorporates rhythmic accompaniment, developing the raga with structured compositions and improvisations.
The album follows the traditional Hindustani classical format. The Alap section establishes the raga’s tonal center and emotional character without rhythmic support. The Gat section introduces tabla, though the specific tabla player is not documented in available sources. The performance adheres to the conventions of the Maihar gharana, the musical lineage to which Ali Akbar Khan belonged.
The release does not specify a record label. The original format of the album is not confirmed in available sources. The total duration of the performance is approximately forty minutes, as indicated by the album’s title.