About Golden Strings of the Sarode
Golden Strings of the Sarode is a studio album featuring sarod virtuoso Aashish Khan and tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. The collaboration showcases North Indian classical music through three extended raga-based compositions.
Aashish Khan composed and performed the sarod parts while Zakir Hussain provided tabla accompaniment. The album was recorded in an unspecified studio and released on March 1, 2007, under the Living Media India label. The primary format is a commercial audio CD with a total runtime that remains undocumented in available sources.
The tracklist consists of three pieces. The opening track presents Raag Lalita Gouri in an alaap exposition, emphasizing the meditative development of the raga. The second composition features a gat in Raag Bhimpalashree set to jhaptal, a 10-beat rhythmic cycle. The final track offers a gat in Raag Mishra Bhairavi structured in dadra, a six-beat cycle often associated with lighter classical and semi-classical forms.
The album title references Khan’s sarod craftsmanship, described in promotional materials as highlighting the instrument’s golden tonal qualities. No additional session musicians or production personnel are credited in the primary release documentation. The recording session dates and specific studio location are not publicly confirmed.
Living Media India distributed the CD in India and select international markets. The release did not include liner notes detailing performance dates or historical context, though it aligns with both artists’ broader discography of classical collaborations. The artwork features a photograph of Khan with his sarod, designed in a minimalist style consistent with classical music releases of the period.