About Kala
Kala is a studio album by Indian classical violinist Kala Ramnath, released in 2004 under the label Sense World Music. The album presents a collection of North Indian classical (Hindustani) instrumental compositions performed on the violin, accompanied by traditional percussion.
Ramnath composed and performed all tracks, showcasing her training in the Mewati gharana under the guidance of her uncle, the late sitarist Pandit Jasraj. The release features five tracks that explore varied tempos and rhythmic cycles (taals). The opening piece, Vilambit ektaal, establishes a slow, meditative introduction in the 12-beat ektaal cycle. This progresses into Madhyalay (medium tempo) ada chautaal, a composition set in the 14-beat ada chautaal, demonstrating intricate melodic development.
The third track, Taranah in Drut (fast) ektaal, accelerates the tempo while retaining the ektaal structure, incorporating the vocalized tarana form adapted for violin. The album continues with Madhyalay teental, a medium-paced exploration of the 16-beat teental, followed by the concluding Drut ektaal, which revisits the 12-beat cycle at an increased speed. The percussion accompaniment, though uncredited in available sources, adheres to the conventions of tabla or pakhawaj support in Hindustani classical performances.
The album was issued in CD format with a total runtime spanning approximately 60 minutes. Sense World Music, a label specializing in global traditional and fusion music, distributed the release in 2004. Critical reception and commercial performance details remain undocumented in accessible archives. The recording emphasizes Ramnath’s technical precision and her interpretation of raga-based improvisation, a hallmark of her contributions to the Hindustani violin tradition.