About The Multifaceted
The Multifaceted is a studio album by Indian classical vocalist Bhimsen Joshi, released in 1991. The Gramophone Company of India Limited produced and distributed the recording in CD format. The album showcases Joshi’s interpretations of seven ragas, each rendered in the khayal style of Hindustani classical music.
Joshi selected ragas spanning diverse melodic structures and emotional expressions. The tracklist includes Raga Shudha Kedar, Raga Shudha Kalyan, Raga Jaijaiwanti, Raga Chhaya Malhar, Raga Abhogi, Raga Suha Kanada, and Raga Darbari. Each composition adheres to the traditional alaap-jor-jhala progression followed by a bandish (fixed composition) with improvisational elaborations. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, but the recordings align with Joshi’s established collaborative approach involving tabla and tanpura support.
The album emerged during a period when Joshi actively expanded his discography through major Indian labels. The Gramophone Company of India Limited, a subsidiary of EMI, marketed the release as part of its classical music catalog. The 1991 publication date coincides with Joshi’s later career phase, characterized by refined explorations of less commonly performed ragas alongside mainstream repertoire.
Critical reception and commercial performance metrics for The Multifaceted are not widely archived. The work contributes to Joshi’s broader legacy as a proponent of the Kirana gharana, emphasizing sustained note development and rhythmic complexity. The CD format reflected the industry’s transition from vinyl and cassette to digital media during the early 1990s.
No live performance recordings or alternate versions of the album’s tracks are confirmed in public records. The original release remains the sole documented edition under this title.