About Rāg Darbārī / Rāg Chandra Kānhṛā
Rāg Darbārī / Rāg Chandra Kānhṛā is a studio album by sitarist Imrat Khan. Khan recorded the album in an unaccompanied solo format, presenting two extended raga performances without additional instrumental or vocal support. Nimbus Records released the album on compact disc in 1988.
The album features two compositions. The first track performs Rāg Darbārī, a raga associated with the late evening or early night in the Hindustani classical tradition. The second track presents Rāg Chandra Kānhṛā, a less common raga linked to the Kafi thaat. Both performances adhere to the ālāp-jor-jhālā structure, followed by a gradual development into faster rhythmic sections. The exact duration of each track remains undocumented in available sources.
Imrat Khan employed a surbahar for the ālāp sections and transitioned to the sitar for the subsequent rhythmic elaborations. The recording captures Khan’s use of meend (glissando) and gamak (ornamentation) techniques, characteristic of the Imdadkhani gharana to which he belonged. The album omits tabla accompaniment, placing emphasis on the melodic and technical intricacies of the sitar.
Nimbus Records produced the album as part of its series on Indian classical music. The release date coincided with Khan’s international touring period, during which he performed extensively in Europe and North America. The liner notes, where present, provide minimal contextual information, focusing instead on the raga forms and Khan’s interpretive approach. No reissues or remastered editions have been confirmed in public records.
The album serves as a documented example of Imrat Khan’s late-career work, reflecting his adherence to traditional raga structures while demonstrating his individual stylistic refinements. Additional details regarding the recording location, session musicians, or production personnel are not available in verified sources.