About Rāg Rāmkalī / Rāg Jhiñjoṭī
Rāg Rāmkalī / Rāg Jhiñjoṭī is a studio album by Indian classical sitarist Budhaditya Mukherjee. Released on January 1, 1990, the album features two extended raga performances in the Hindustani classical tradition. The recording format is a commercial CD with a total of two tracks.
Budhaditya Mukherjee composed and performed both raga interpretations on the sitar. The first track presents Rāg Rāmkalī, a raga associated with the late morning hours and characterized by its contemplative and devotional mood. The second track showcases Rāg Jhiñjoṭī, a raga traditionally performed during the early evening and known for its emotive depth and intricate melodic phrasing.
The album captures Mukherjee’s adherence to the gayaki ang (vocal-style) approach on the sitar, a technique he refined under the guidance of his guru, the legendary sitarist Nikhil Banerjee. The recordings emphasize ālāp-jor-jhālā development followed by structured gat compositions in teental, a 16-beat rhythmic cycle. Accompaniment details remain undocumented in available sources, though the format suggests the presence of tabla support typical of solo sitar recitals.
The release date aligns with Mukherjee’s active period in the late 20th century, during which he contributed to the preservation and dissemination of the Maihar-Senia gharana style. No label information is explicitly confirmed in the provided context. The album serves as a representative example of Mukherjee’s interpretive focus on lesser-performed ragas, distinguishing his repertoire within the broader Hindustani classical discourse.