About Music Of The Monsoon
Music of the Monsoon is a studio album by Indian classical sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan. Released in 1968 under the His Master’s Voice label, the recording features two extended performances centered on Raga Mian Ki Malhar, a raga traditionally associated with the monsoon season in North Indian classical music.
The album was issued as a 12\" vinyl record with a total of two tracks. Both compositions explore variations of Raga Mian Ki Malhar, showcasing Khan’s interpretation of the raga’s melodic and rhythmic structures. The release date aligns with the 1968 catalog of His Master’s Voice, though specific recording session details remain undocumented in widely available sources.
As a solo instrumental work, the album highlights Khan’s sarod technique, accompanied by traditional percussion support typical of Hindustani classical performances. The recording reflects the artist’s early career phase, predating his later international recognition. The label’s production standards of the era ensured distribution across India’s classical music audience, though precise sales figures or reissue history are not publicly verified.
The title Music of the Monsoon directly references the raga’s thematic connection to rainfall, a common motif in Indian classical compositions. The album’s tracklist repeats the raga title for both sides of the vinyl, suggesting either a single long-form performance divided across two parts or distinct renditions of the same raga. No additional musicians or vocalists are credited in the available documentation.
The 1968 release date positions the album within a period of active vinyl production for Indian classical music, coinciding with the work of contemporaries like Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan. His Master’s Voice, a subsidiary of EMI, served as a primary distributor for such recordings during this time. Further details about the album’s liner notes, recording location, or mastering engineers are not confirmed in standard references.