About Maestro's Choice: Sarangi
Maestro’s Choice: Sarangi is a studio album by Indian classical musician Ustad Sultan Khan. Released in 2003 under the Music Today label, the album presents a curated selection of North Indian classical compositions performed on the sarangi, a bowed string instrument central to Hindustani music. The recording captures Khan’s mastery of the instrument through three extended tracks, each showcasing distinct raga structures and improvisational techniques.
The album opens with Raga Ahir Bhairav, a morning raga known for its meditative and introspective character. Khan’s interpretation emphasizes the raga’s deep emotional resonance, employing intricate meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) techniques. The second track, Raga Patdeep, explores a late-night raga marked by its fluid melodic phrases and rhythmic complexity. Khan’s rendition balances technical precision with expressive phrasing, accompanied by minimal percussive support to highlight the sarangi’s tonal depth.
The final track, a Thumri, shifts to a lighter, semi-classical form rooted in the folk traditions of Uttar Pradesh. Khan’s performance in this piece demonstrates his versatility, blending lyrical melodic lines with rhythmic playfulness. The composition’s thematic focus on devotion and longing aligns with the thumri genre’s characteristic emotional immediacy.
The album was released as a single CD with a total runtime spanning the three tracks. Music Today, the producing label, positioned the recording within its Maestro’s Choice series, which featured solo performances by eminent Indian classical artists. The liner notes, where included, provide contextual background on the ragas and Khan’s interpretive approach, though specific session details such as accompanying artists or recording locations remain undocumented in available sources.
Ustad Sultan Khan (1940–2011) was a prominent exponent of the sarangi and a recipient of India’s Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. His contributions to Hindustani classical music included collaborations with vocalists and instrumentalists across genres, as well as solo recordings like this album. Maestro’s Choice: Sarangi stands as a representative example of his late-career work, emphasizing the instrument’s role in both traditional and semi-classical repertoires.