About Music for Mughal India
Music for Mughal India is a studio album by sitar and surbahar virtuoso Baluji Shrivastav. Released in 2012 by the British Library, the album presents a fusion of North Indian classical traditions with global folk influences. The recording spans seven tracks and adopts a thematic approach that blends raga-based compositions with devotional and cross-cultural motifs.
Baluji Shrivastav composed and performed the primary instrumental works on sitar and surbahar. The album opens with Raga Nat Bhairav, a morning raga rendered in the vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) styles. The second track introduces a Folk Melody Based on Raga Des, incorporating regional melodic elements into the classical framework. The third piece, Bhajan Vaishnav, Jana To Tene Kamije, draws from the bhajan tradition and features devotional lyrics associated with the Vaishnav sect.
The latter half of the album expands beyond Indian classical conventions. Yemanja (Queen of the Ocean) integrates Afro-Brazilian rhythmic and melodic themes, while Dance of the Erzulie (Goddess of Love) references Haitian Vodou traditions. Guan Yin (the Merciful) adopts East Asian tonalities, and the closing track, Journey to Sedna, explores Inuit mythological narratives through instrumental storytelling. The album context does not specify contributing vocalists or additional instrumentalists, though Shrivastav’s arrangements suggest layered production.
The release format is a single compact disc under the British Library’s world music catalog. The label’s archival focus aligns with the album’s documentary intent, capturing Shrivastav’s interpretive range across cultural and spiritual themes. No live performance or reissue details are documented for this release. The track sequence and thematic cohesion reflect a curated progression from classical Indian forms to syncretic global expressions.