About Rãga du début de la nuit
Rāga du début de la nuit is a studio album released in 1993 under the Adès label. The recording features a collaboration between sarangi virtuoso Ustad Sultan Khan and tabla maestro Zakir Hussain. The album presents a single extended performance in the CD format.
The album centers on a rendition of Rāga Yaman, a prominent evening rāga in the Hindustani classical tradition. The composition unfolds as an ālāp-jor-jhālā progression followed by a structured gat in vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) tempos. Sultan Khan performs on the sarangi, while Zakir Hussain provides rhythmic accompaniment on the tabla. The recording captures the improvisational interplay characteristic of North Indian classical music, with emphasis on melodic development and percussive dialogue.
The release date aligns with the album’s official distribution in 1993. Adès, a French label specializing in world and classical music, produced the physical CD. No additional tracks, alternate takes, or supplementary material accompany the primary recording. The liner notes or packaging details remain undocumented in available sources, and the exact duration of the performance is not specified.
Critically, the album exemplifies the partnership between Sultan Khan and Zakir Hussain, both renowned for their contributions to Hindustani classical music. Their collaboration on this project reflects the fusion of instrumental mastery and rhythmic innovation within the rāga framework. Further contextual information about live performances, recording sessions, or subsequent reissues is not confirmed in public records.