The Great Heritage: Hirabai Barodekar

The Great Heritage: Hirabai Barodekar is a compilation album released in 2011 under the Saregama label. The album features recordings by Hirabai Barodekar, a prominent vocalist of the Kirana gharana in Hindustani classical music. The release format is a CD containing 30 tracks, showcasing her renditions of khayal, thumri, hori, and bhajan compositions.

Hirabai Barodekar performed the album’s repertoire in the traditional khayal style, with notable tracks including Raga Ahir Bhairav in the composition Rasiya Mhara Mharoji and Raga Todi in Kankariya Ji Na Maro and Begun Gun Allah Ke Saamne. The collection also features a thumri in Kahe Piya Bin Chain and a hori in Hori Khelo Mose Nand. Devotional bhajans such as Radhe Krishna Bol and Chakar Rakho Ji Sanwariya are included, alongside classical bandishes in ragas like Deskar (Hun To Tere Kaaran Jaagi), Sarang (Jaa Re Bhawaraa Door), and Brindawani Sarang (Madhumadan Man Kare).

The album spans lesser-heard ragas such as Patadeep (Piya Nahin Aaye) and Multani (Balamwa Kaisi Preet Lagai). Saregama compiled the tracks from archival recordings, though the original recording dates remain undocumented in available sources. The release serves as a posthumous tribute to Barodekar, preserving her contributions to the Kirana gharana and her influence on 20th-century Hindustani vocal music.

The 2011 edition forms part of Saregama’s The Great Heritage series, which aims to digitize and reintroduce classical recordings by legendary Indian artists. The album’s liner notes or accompanying documentation, if any, are not detailed in public records. The tracklist reflects Barodekar’s versatility across semi-classical and devotional genres while emphasizing her mastery of raga exploration.